The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-05-20
Kate Yale's Marriage.

IF ever marry, Katie Yale used to
say, half III Jest, halt III earnest -'If
ever ] marry, the happy manor the
unhappy one, if you please hat hal
shall be q person possessing these three
qualifications;
First, fortune.
Second, good looks.
"And thirdly, common sense.
II mention the fortune first, because ]
think it the most needful and desirable
qualification Of the three. Although /
could never think Of marrying fool, or
man whose ugliness | would be
ashamed Of; still think TO talk sense for
tho one and shine for the other, with
plenty Of money, would he preferable to
living obscurely with a handsome intelli-
gent man to whom economy might be
necessary.
do not know how much Of this senti-
ment came from Raties heart. She un-
doubtedly indulged lofty ideas Of station
and style--for her education in the
duties and aims Of life Ind been de
ticient, or rather erroneous; but that she
was capable Of deeper, better feelings
none doubted, who had ever obtained
even partinl glimpse Of her true wo-
mans nature.
And the time arrived at length, when
Katie was to take that all important step
Of which She had often spoken solightly;
when she was to demonstrate to her
friends how much of her heart was iii
the words We have quoted
At the enchanting ige Of eighteen she
had many suitors; but as she never gave
q serious Thought to more than two. we
will follow her example, disearding all
except those favored ones, and consider
their relative claims.
Ii this were another than true story,
should certainly use an artists privil-
ege, and aim to produce an effect by
making a strong contrast between these
two favored individuals. If could have
my way, one should be poor genius
and somewhat of n hero; the other a
wealthy fool and somewhat Of knaye.
But the truth is:
Uur poor genus was not much of
genius, nor very poor, either He was
by professor teacher Of music, and he
could live very comfortably in exercise
thereof-without the most distant hope,
however, of ever attaining to wealth.
Moreover, Frank Minot possessed ex-
cellent qualities, which entitled him to
be called by discreet elderly people a
''fine character" by his companions a
"noble, good fellow" and by the ladies
generally darling"
Katie could not help loving Mr.. Frank,
and he knew it. He was certain she
preferred his society even to that OF Mr..
Wellington, whom alone he saw fit to
honor with the appellation Of rival
This Mr.. Wellington (his companions
called him "duke') was noidiot or hump
back, as / could have wished him to be,
in order to make good story. On the
contrary, he was man OF sense, educa-
tion, good looks, and fine manners; and
there was nothing Of the knave about
him, that / could ever ascertain.
Besides this, his income was sufficient
to enable him to live superbly. Also he
was considered two or three degrees
handsomer than Mr.. Frank Minot.
Therefore, the only thing on which
Frank had to depend was the power he
possessed over Katie's sympathies and
affections. The ''duke"-although jus
the man for her in every sense, beinl
blessed with fortune, good looks, ant
common sense-had never been able t.
draw these ont; and the amlabiy concerted
Mr.. Frank was not willing to believe tina
she would suffer mere worldly considera
tions to control the aspirations Of th'
heart.
However, she said to him one day
when he pressed her to decide his fate
she said to him with sigh:
"Oh, Frank | am sorry we have eve
metz
"Sorry?"
''Yes-for we must part now
Part?" repeated Frank, turning
pale.
It was evident he had not expecte'
"Yes-yes,," said Katie, casting. dow
her eyes with another piteous sigh.