Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1882-02-11
CHOOSING A DAUGHTER-IN-LA w.

CHOOSING A DAIssHI IEIs-lN-LA ".
'It's Of no use, said Mrs. Dashwoot
plaintively. II can never learn to like
that girl. And if Felix marrics her
shall be-wretched."
Felix Dashwool, a tall, handsome
Young man. of three or four-and twenty
looked in dismay ut his mother
dearest mother" said he. "wAat Is
tn. trouble with Madeline? / am sure
she is all that is sweet and lcvable!'
Felix Dnshwood had committed q
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 III the
fever-heat of the moment, and brought
her home to Dashwood hall to receive
tho maternal blessing, And Madeline
Westford, as theoretical and inexperi-
.nced as was he himself, had never
doubted but that Felix's mother would
love hor as tepderly and devotedly as
Felix had done,
She was a pretty, bluc-eyed girl, with
a deep dimple i'll her cheek, lips as red
as coral, and profuseness Of FURNISHED
golden hair, which tloated over her
shoulders like a cascade Of yellow
brightness.
MAY l call you mother?' said Mad
cline, prettily, whom she first came to
Dushwood Hall.
Certainly said Mrs, Eastwood,
stiffly. "But don. you think your hair
would be ncater put up in a net?'
"All the girls at school wore it 50,
said Madeline, who was just graduated
from Madame Estelle's seminary for
voung ladies. "Aud nobody sees net
nowadays
Those long, trailing dresses too,
said Mrs. Dashwo.d. critically eying
the n-shaped train of Madelines
cream -colored serge dress. "ln the
country here we mostly wear our skirts
of II walking length.
Madeline looked doubtfully down at
the lovely dress, with its tlouuces and
hutings.
II have always worl1 trains, she
said; "and doesn't it seem almost pity
to cut them off?'
Just as you please said Mrs. Dash
wood, chilling visibly.
Madeline did not ENJOY her visit TO
Dashwood Hall half SO much AS she had
expected; and Mrs. Dashwood lnwardly
determined that of al daughters in
law whom Felix could possibly have Sc
lect,d Miss Wcstforl was the least sat
isfactory But it never occurred to her
that she did not quite fathom all the
depths of Maleline's character; nor
that she was looking for womans
matured virtues in girl Of seventeen,
Just out Of boarding -scnool.
Il don't approve" said she stihy,
"of girls who lie ON sofas and read po-
etry all day. instead Of trying to learn
n little housekeeping; and rs for needle
work, all the kensinatng stitch and
crewel patterns in creation won't take
the place in my estimation, at least
Of good plain stitching and stocking
durning. Madeline Westford and lean
never. never become congenial!'
but, mother"
To Felix Dashwoods infinite amaZa-
ment, however, the conversation was
here interrupted 10y 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.
II didn't mean to be q listener, said
abe. "but / was half asleep III the shady
drawing room, and when / heard my
own name l couldn't help sitting still
for moment and perhaps it is just AS
we'll. II have feared this for long
time. am quite certain of it now.
You don I like me, Mrs. Dashwood?'
ITO be frank" said the figid mat
ron, Il do not
II am sorry" said Madeline, soity.
II should have liked you to love me
And you 10 not wish me to marry Fe-
ix?"
'If you wish me to answer sincere
y," said Mrs. Dashwood-''no
Then I won't marry him, said
pulling OFT the little turquoise
ring which Felix had given her for an
engagement ring in those bright, sweet