The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-12-21
CHOOSING A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
BIZ RUTH RANSOM.

shall be-wretched ~
Felix Eastwood, a tall, handsome
young man, of three or four-and-twenty.
looked in dismay at his mother.
Dearest MOTHER said he. 'swhat is
the trouble with Madeline? / am sure
she is all that is sweet and lovablei'
Felix Eastwood had committed a
fault that is not uncommon to man.
He was trying to make his mother see
through the medium of his own eyes.
He had fallen desperately in love with
young beauty, proposed to her in the
fever-heat of the moment. and brought
her home to Eastwood Hall TO receive
the maternal blessing. And Madeline
Westford. as theoretical and inexperi-
cnced as was he himself, had never
doubted but that Felix's mother would
love her as tenderly and devotedly as
Felix had done.
She was pretty, blue-eyed girl, with
deep nipple in her cheek. lips as red
as cora, and q profuseness of FURNISHED
golden hair, which floated over her
shoulders like a cascade of yellow
brightness.
INLAY call you motherP' said Mad
cline, prettily, when she first came to
Eastwood Hall.
CERTAINLY said Mrs. Eastwood,
stiffiy. ''But don't you think your hair
would be neater put up in netP''
''All the girls at school wore it so,''
said Madeline, who was just graduated
from Madame Estelle's seminary for
young ladies. .'And nobody sees a net
nowadays"
Those long, trailing dresses, too"
said Mrs. Eastwood, critically eying
the fan-shaped train cf Made!ine's
cream-colored serge dress. I'm the
country here we mostly wear our skirts
of a walking length"
Madeline looked doubtfallv down at
the lovely dress, with its founces and
fittings.
Il have always worn trains" she
said; land doesn't it seem almost pity
to cut them offP''
"Just as you please" said Mrs. Dash
wood, chilling risibly.
Madeline did not enjoy her visit to
Eastwood Hall half SO much as she had
expected; and Mrs. Eastwood inwardly
determined that of all daughters in
law whom Felix could possibly have Sc
lected Miss Westford was the least sat
isfactory. But it never occurred to her
that she did not quite fathom all the
depths of Madeline's character; nor
that she was looking for o woman s
matured virtues in a girl of seventeen,
just out of a boarding.
81 don't approve" said she stiffiy,
'sof girls who lie on sofas and read po-
etry all day, instead of trying to learn
little housekeeping; and as for needle
work, all the kensington stitch and
crewel patterns in creation won't take
the place-in nay estimation, at least
of good plain stitching and stocking
darning. Madeline Westford and can
never, never become congenialn'
'.But, mother
To Felix Dashwood's infinite amaze
ment, however, the conversation was
here interrupted by Madeline herself in
the offending cream serge dress, with
the lovely, cloudy tresses of gold franz
ing her flashed face, and Il new glitter
in her blue eyes.
81 didn't mean to be listener" said
she. s.but was half asleep i'll the shady
drawing-room, and when / heard my
own name l couldn't, help sitting still
for moment; and perhaps it is just as
well. II have feared this for long
time. l am quite certain of it now.
You don't like me, Mrs. Dashwood?"
ITO be frank" said the frigid mat
ron. Il do not -
81 am sorry" said Madeline. softly.
81 should have liked you 10 love me.
And you do not wish me to marry Fe-
Iix?''
'.If Won wish me TO answer sincere
"" said Mrs. Dashwood-''no."
s"Thcn | won't marry him." said
Madeline, pulling of the little turquoise
RING wiich Felix had given her for an
engagement ring in those bright, sweet
DAVIS which seemed so long-ah, so long
ago! 81 win snarry no man whose
mother is not ready to take me into her
heart OF heartsr'
So the engagement was broken off,
and Madeline went home again.
don't fret, Felix coaxed she.
sIt's deal better for you, if you can
get used to the idea. If ever l have a
mother-ifl-law, / mean that she shall
love me--oh. SO dearlyr'
To Mrs. Dashwood's surprise, Felix
took this overthrow of his hearts dear
est hop very cooily.
al had hoped that you would learn to
love Madeline" he said .'lndced, L
do not know how any one could help IL.
But if you can't-why, there an enc OF
the matter !'
Within few days Mrs. EASTWOOD re-
ceived a letter from Cousin Thespia, a
Young lady from the West. Cousin
Thespia was coming to Eastwood Hall,
to get acquainted with her unknown
relations The old lady's heart leaped
up within her.
perhaps Felix will take fancy to
Thespia,' said she to herself.
And she made haste to refurnish the
little blue boudoir. fill the tiny conserv-
atory with fresh fiowers-for the chill
November days were beginning to
ploam across the horizon now-and lay
out a programme of amusement for the
promised guest.
Cousin Thespia came, black-eyeo
girl nearly six feet high, who laughed
like peal Of bells, talked all the slang
of the modern young lady, and declared
OPENLY that she found the East unutter,
ably slow.
Il shouldn't have come here at all i
hadn't AN idea of going on the stage,
said she. Il suppose it's the best place
to study up and get new ideas "
..Mv DEAR" said seandalized Mrs
Eastwood. .'why on earth should yot
go on to the-the stage?"
because like it, - said Thespia IN
differently.
Apparently Cousin Thespia liked Fe
lix Eastwood also. She followed hin
out even to the stables-horses, she de
cIared, were her delight; she chattec
with him in the long, fire-lighted dusks
she sang. daslnng ballads to the piano
for bis especial delectation-ballad'
that Were widely different from poo