The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-11-24
CHOOSING A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.
BE RUTH RANSOM.

BE RUTH RANSOM.
"It's Of no use," said Mrs. Dashwood
plaintively. II can never learn to like
that GIRL And il Felix marries her
shall be-wretched !'
young man. Of three or fnur-and-twenty.
looked in dismay at his mother.
dearest mother" said he, "what is
the trouble with Madeline? l am sure
she b al that u sweet and lovxbler'
Felix Dashwood had committed q
fault that b not uncommon to man.
He WIS trying 10 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-hcat of the moment and brought
her home to Dashwood Hall to receive
the maternal blessing. And Madeline
Westford. as theoretical and inexperi-
enced 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 q pretty. blue-eyed girl. with
deep dimple in her cheek. lips as red
a coral, and profuseness of FURNISHED
golden hair. which foated over her
Shoulders like . cascade of yellow
brightness
..M.y call you mothere' said Mad
cline, prettily. when she first came to
Dashwood Hall.
3 Certainly" said Mrs. Dashwood,
stifay. "But don't you think your hair
would be neater put up in . net?''
''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 net
nowadays"
Those long. trailing dresses, too."
said Mrs. Dashw0od, critically eying
the f&nsshsped train Of Madeline's
crcam-colored serge dress. ''In the
country hero we mostly wear our skirts
Of . walking length.
Madeline looked doubtfully down at
the lovely dress, with its Aounces and
nutings.
...I have always worn trains." she
said; land doesn't it seem almost pity
to cut them Off"
dust ~ yeu please" said Mrs. Dash
wood. chilling .yisibly.
Dashwood Hall half SO much as she had
expected; and Mn. Dashwood inwardly
deterrnSued that OF all daughters. in
law whom Felix could possibly have Sc
lected Miss Wexford was the leest sat-
isfactory. But Il never occurred to her
that she. did not quite fa,hom all the
depths of Hadeiine's character; nor
that she was looking for q woman's
Matured virtues in q girl of seventeen,
Just out Of . boarding-school.
'4don't approve" said she stiffly,
'4of girls who lie on sefas and read po-
etry Midday. instead Of trying to learn
. little housekeeping; and a. for needle-
work. III the Kensington stitch and
crewel patterns IN creation won't take
the Plsce-in ay estimation. at least
of good p@etn stitching and stocking
darning Madeline Westford and can
never, never become congenialr'
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 flushed face, and q new glitter
in her blue eyes.
81 didn't mean to be listener" said
she. .'but was half asleep in the shady
drawing-room, and when / heard my
own name couldn't help sitting still
for . moment; and perhaps it Is just as
well IL have feared this for long
time. am quite certain of it now.
You don't like me. Mrs. Dashwoodp"
ITO be frank" said the frigid mat
ron. II do not p
w 81 am sorry" said Madeline. softly.
II should have liked you to love me.
And you do not wish me to marry Fe-
lixr
..If you wish me to answer sincere
ly," said Mrs. Dash hwood-''no."
.sThen I won't marry him." said
Madeline, pulling Of the little turquoise
ring which Felix had given her for an
engagement ring in those bright. sweet
days which seemed 50 long-ah. 80 long
ago! 81 will marry no man whose
mother is not ready 10 take me into her
heart Of heartsr'
So the engagement was broken of.
and Madeline went home again.
Don't fret. Felix" coaxed she.
"It's deal better for you, il you can
get used to the idea. II ever have a
mother-in-law. mean that she shall
love mc-oh, SO dearly y
To Mrs. Dashwood's surprise. Felix
took this overthrow of his hearts dear
est hop 8 very coolly.
"I had hoped that you would learn to
love Madeline" he said. ''Indeed. l
do not know how any one could help is.
But If you can't-why. there's an end of
the matter r.
Within few days Mrs. Dashwood re-
ceived letter from Cousin Thespia. a
young lady from the West. Cousin
Thcspia 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
'htts blue boudoir. fill the tiny conserv-
atory with fresh howers-for the chill
November days were beginning to
glOam across the horizon nOw-and lay
ont programme of amusement for the
promised guest
girl nearly six feet high. who laughed
Of the modern young lady, and declared
ably slow.
Il shouldn't have come here at all if
/ 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
Dashwood, .'why on earth should you
..Recau.e I like #. said Thespia in
differently.
Apparently Cousin Thespia liked Fe-
hx bashwood alsoA 0Ae 3ollavea him
- syaA = ~ elaA19Q-lelh - q.