The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-02-11


tion near her.
Among Mrs. Groves guests that night
was q rather good-Ioolling man, who
certainly was no longer young. Having
lost one wife, lie was now looking for ans
other, When lie was presented 10 Viola
she was barely civil. Mr.. NicOlson
seemed to like It.
Frank Thorpe had ceased being
frozen. To tell tile truth, Viola made
the advances. There was 4 shade more
OF languor III his manner, and his snd
gray eyes had an added shadow but he
sought no explanation from her.
One frosty, sparkling morning Viola
had been out for walk. On the way
she met Frank Thorpe, as Size was very
apt to do. He accompanied her home
and entered the house with her. Then
Viola, feeling bright herself, began lect-
Hring him on his purposeless life.
III were man-- 'emphatically.
Thank heaven you are not How
ever, SO on"
You put me out, MIR. Thorpe Why
don't You do something I? y"
~ Do something2 Don't r.? / am
yonr devoted attendant three.tourths III
my waking life z
about by everybody. Not that / care.
certainly" hurriedly to recover her
blunder. shall choose my friends
where please, making matters worse,
Of course.
You see,' lie said, leaning forward
and laying his hand confiden6ally Oh
her arm, cannot bear to see clear
hearted, honest girl lowering herself to
l1n FTot f,f II
girls, who have been bred up all their
lives N the business Of catching a hus-
baad. Tou don't need any paltry ambi-
tion. Wait until you find man worth
falling in love with, and then marry Inn.
Wait forever, if You don't ind him.
Viola sat motionless with astonish-
ment. Ii any dumb thing had found
voice she would not have been moro
amazed. And SHE felt 50 fully called 10
administer advice. While she sat, Lis
hand still on her arm, and his eyes still
on her face, the door opened, and John
Ellsworth was ushcred in. Viola swept
toward him with eager, outstretched
hands.
Frank Thorpe, beingdisturbed By this
newcomer, who was called John. and W.
ceiye6 with such an outbreak Of enthusi
asm, gathered himself up and lounged
away.
John Ellsworth was in town for fort
night. Viola always accepted his invi-
tations, and when the time came for
their fultillment there was soinc unayoid-
able obstacle in the way.
Then Lent came and there was a,sud-
den cessation Of gayety. John was
called away by lis fathers illness, and
Viola felt the inevitable reaction.
1t was alike everywhere. In the mar
row circle ont Of which she had come
there were jealousies and ndheart-bmnings
and petty scheming better and no
worse than she had come to know in the
past weeks, though possibly less dis
guised by smooth, conventional polish of
manner. Wait till she met man She
loved She might wait until she was
gray and blind. There had never ap-
peared one to whom she could give Il
second thought, unless il was--well, per-
haps, John Ellsworth, ii the life that
would follow with him we're not too nar-
row to breathe in o. Frank Thorpe, If
he were not too lazy to speak. And
then, by contrast, there came a vision of
Mr.. Nicolson and all his wealth.
If she had shown the first symptoms
bf her moods TO Mr.. Nicolson lie would
have desisted from hisattentions aft once
Here was youth and beauty iii stntu-
esque state OF perfection. That was
what he wanted--the statuesqueness,
and everybody considered it settled
affair.
think Viola began to consider ii her-
self. She had Just one letter from John
Ellsworth after his return, and he said
/ love you, Viola, and am waiting for
you.
She did not even answer the letter.
But she was cross, even with Mrs. Morn
ington. for two days after il.
Then she was seized with fit Of
homesicllness, and, had her friend not
been taken very suddenly i'll, nothing
would have kept her there. Mr. Mic
olson came more frequently than ever;
in his way, very kim and considerate.
One night in early spring Frank
Thorpe came and took Viola out for Il
drive.
You are looking tired. We may not
have another such night for month, Z
Frank said.
la the half hour they did not speak
halr dozen sentences, and yet when he
set her down at her own door, and hel6
her hand for minnie as he said Fare
well, !" Viola felt that they were nearer
each other than ever before.
Viola was one morning summoned to
the drawing-room to meet Mr.. Nicolson.
In the occupation of the past weeks she
had had very little opportunity to think
about him or his purposes. No
girl ever went TO meet the final question
with less determination as to her answer.
She knew his errand the moment she
entered the room. Not that he was con-
fused or hesitating, or in any way dis
I concerted.
MY dear young lady" he said, II
want your permission to ask you per-
sonal question.
"You have it, sir, she said.
And then, in speech which was more
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