Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-06-15
A Strange Romance.


| Of his friend Tom Meredith, as the TIVE
sauntered alc1g Broadway one tint
spring morning.
Because could never find any We
man who would have me, 1 suppose,
answered Tom, laugbingly.
No use to tell me that, old fellow,
reioined Harry. 'Girls are not so feolisi
as to decline good looking man lik'
ysu, with plenty Of money; yet here
you are nearly thirty years old, and M
more prospect Of settling than you hat
ten years ago. Now, if it were me
| why the case is very different. a
doctsr just struggling into practice il
scarcely considered, eligible by the
match. making mammas, to say nothing
| of their wsrldly-wise daughters; bu
they are all ready and eager to smile
| upon ysu, and you might as we'll make
your choice"
Thank you,' answered Tom, still
laughing; when 1 can find a young
lady who can come up to my grand
mothers standard ofdomestic virtues, ]
will invite her TO become Mrs. Tom
Meredith
And what was your grandmother
peculiar doctrine on the subject p asked
Harry.
4 presume she had more thar one,
said Tom, but this She particularly i'm.
pressed upon my mind Always look
at a woman's dish towels, she would
remark with much solemnity. Nc
matter how we'll she plays the piano OF
how many languages she can speak,
never marry unless yeu see that she
uses soft, dry towels, and plenty OF
them, when she wipes her dishes. Be
sure that girl whe uses solid or wet
dish towels does not know enough to De
the wife Of an honest man.
Harry laughed at this dehniiisn oil
house.wifely knowledge, but presently
be said, in serious tone:
There IS considerable truth in the
old lady's idea after all, but 1 don't
quite understand how, IN these, days,
you can apply the test. Most young
ladies that we know have perhaps never
seen dish towel. Now think OF it, |
promised TO Introduce you TO my cous-
ms. There are three Of them, all
bright, pretty girls, though 1 think 1t
doubtful whether they would hlld Jeur
grandmother requirements as a wife.
Still, you may find them plasant ac-
suaintances, and If you like we will 90
there now.'
Agreed responded Tom, and the
two friends soon found themselves In
the parlor Of Mrs. Renshaw, Harry's
aunt.
The young ladies were all at home,
and as Harry had said, were bright,
pretty girls. Ida, the eldest, was tall
queenly brunette, whose magnificent
dark eyes and abundant raven tresses
seemed to compel universal admiration
though she had a powerful rival in
Adele, the second daughter, whose
delicate blonde beauty showed to fresh
advantage beside her more brilliant
sister. The two were knowledsed
bellies in their own circle, and few who
knew them ever paused TO give second
glance at their younger sister, little
Violet. As shy and shrinking as her
foral namesake, she avoided the gay
assemblage ID which her sisters loved
to shine, and passed her tune pleasantly
and peacefully with her books, her
music and her flowers. She was net
present when Harry and bis friend
entered; but when her cousin, with
whom she seemed a great iavorile,
asked expressly for her, Miss Adele de-
sired the servant TO call her Tom, who
was sonyersing with Ida. did not no.
tice her entraace till aroused by Harry's
voice saying:
'Mr, Meredith, let me introduce you
| to nv cousin, Miss Violet Renshaw.'
And turning quickly, he was surpris-
ed at the sight of the tiny creature, 80
! unlike her elder sisters. There was
nothing magnificent, and little that
could be strictly termed beautiful, in the
almost childish figure, bat there was
something indsscribably winning In the
clear, gray eyes, and IN the rich
chestnut curls that clustered about the
broad, low brow.
Tom had little time for observation
however, as Ida and Adele claimed all
bis attention, while Harry monopollzed
Violet in frank, brotherly way, quite
unlike bis more formal and ceremoniou'
manner with the elder sisters:
sWeIl, what do you think Of my three
lceusinss' was Harry's natural question
when he and TEN we're once more II
the street.
II can Only express my admiration
by saying that I wish II were possible