The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-09
MANKATO, MINNESOTA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1881.

Poor Mrs. Dashwood's maternal
heart sank within her.
"Felix," she said, on one of the rare
twilights during which Mr.. Eastwood
was not monopolized by his loud. voiced
cousin, II do hope you won't become
interested in Thespia Clifton"
He smiled.
mother" said he, 'your counsel
comes too late. I am already inter.
ested.' as you call it. in my cousin
Thespia."
Felix" she almost screamed, "you
are not-engagedP"
Eyes, mother, am engaged. Was
not that the very thing for which you
wished?"
Mrs. Eastwood burst into tears.
"a girl who laughs like plow-boy,"
said shea girl who is determined to
60 on the stage-a girl WHO suggests
improvements in ones very stables, and
calls us Eastern ladies IAN awful sight
too slowr Felix, Felix! you will break
my hearth
at seems TO me, mother" said the
young man, with shrug of his shout
ders. "that you are very difficult to
please. Madeline Westford did not suit
you. and this young lady from the
West-"
Mrs. Eastwood lifted her hand dep
recatingly, and began to shed a few fee
BILE tears.
Felix 7" she sobbed; ooh. Felix! l
have been so foolish! If this girl were
only gone-ifyou were only re-engaged
to Madeline think should be quito,
quite happy again! For indeed l did
not know how sweet, and womanly and
perfect dear Madeline was until
Until it was too late" quietly ut
tered her son. "But here is Thespia.
Let her speak for herself"
Miss Thespia Clifton came in like a
gust of Wind, dragging one of the house
| dogs by the collar.
"He's lame, think" said she nois-
lily. 81 brought him in to look at his
foot by the lamplight. Eli? What!
Mrs. Eastwood crying! Why, what
the dickens is the matter with you
all?'
'Thespia," said Felix gravely; ''my
mother wishes to ask you few ques-
| tons"
"The catechism, eh?" said Miss Cliff
ton, comfortably seating herself. "Wc!',
drive on, cousin Eastwood. A fair
field and no favor, eh?''
s.Is-is it true" whimpered the old
lady, ''that you are engaged?"
.'Of course Pm engaged" nodded
the fair Amazon. Sand, what's more,
we are to be married in April"
married - gasped the poor old Ia
dy. .'Oh. Thespia, Thespia, give up
the mad idea! You are not suited to
him. Your tastes do not agree; you
never, never would make him happy!'
"How do you know?' blurted out
Thespia. "You never saw him in your
life."
"Never saw him p echoed Mrs.
Eastwood. Never saw my own sonr'
'.But it isn't your own son ~ said
Thespia, indifferently. 'It's Major
Miles Keatly, of Leadville. Colorado,
that Pm engaged to. Your Eastern
men can't hold candle to him !''
Thank heavenr' cried poor Mrs.
Eastwood; 'thank heavenm
$50 Isay," remarked Miss Thespia,
who was now busted in. examining the
setter-dog's foot.
"And now" faltered Mrs. Eastwood,
with averted face, IF Madeline would
only forgive you, dear FELIX"
Il am engaged TO Madeline as close
ly as ever" said Eastwood. II loved
her too dearly ever to give her up"
"But-but will she ever pardon
me?'
TRY her and see," said Felix, laugh
ing.
Madeline came back the next day, all
smiles and sunshine, and ran into the
old lady's wide-open arms.
"Dear, dear mother" said she, II
shall be so glad if YOU will only love me
with all your heart"
Indeed, indeed willr' said the old
lady, joyously. ''Of all daughters in
the world, you shall be dearest to me"
For Mrs. Eastwood had arrived at
the conclusion that it is q disastrous
thing to NEEDLE with the current of true
love,