The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-06-08
SOPHIE'S STRATAGEM.

Nothing could be more suitable than
such Il match, all our friends said, and
was too young, too inexperienced, and
above all-at the time my future was
decided upon-tOO heartwhOle to pro-
test, even had been allowed any voice
in the matterthat was to decide my woe
or happiness for life; and so it came
about in the most natural way in the
world that. before was eighteen, Ihad
been pllrsuaded by my family to engage
myself to my cousin Robert. His moth
er, indeed considered me as by no means
good enough tor her son; but she was
accustomed to defer to her brother,
Uncle Marcus with whom happened to
be- a great favorite. and who had set his
heart upon the match, declaring that l
would make just the right kind Of wife
for his rather peculiar nephew.
Robert himself, on his uncle's propos-
ing the match; had yielded an indifferent
assent. observing that / was pretty
enough. and that he was glad TO be
spared the trouble of looking for a wife.
lie was good-looking and gentleman
ly, but sickly, delicat&almost as girl.
and to my idea wholly uninteresting.
Still. | had not, nj this early age, strength
of mind sufficient to resist the united
persuasions of my family; and the mar
riage was arranged to take place in
about two years, during which time Rob
ert would. by his physicians advice, re.
side chiefly in the South OF France, where
his mother accompanied him.
Unfortunately for my own happiness
/ during this time became acquainted
with Philip Warning. whom soon uncOn
sciously learned to look up to and al
mire rs the perfection Of all manly ex
| cellence.
Andnow the two years of Roberts alb
~scncc were completed. and he wrote tina
he was about returning home to CLAIM
| his bride. But, he added, his phys
ician having recommended his spendin:
the winter i'm Italy, he proposed 10 take
me thither Immediately after the mar
riage. lie hoped there would be no un
necessary delay or preparation, ant
would prefer having the wedding Al
private as possible.
This last clause was great disap
pointment to my mothers sister, Aun
FORESTER. who had arranged to have TIN
wedding from her own handsome resi-
dence in London.
/ However, I should at least have q sty
fish rousseau; and so she took tn
trouble of coming all the way to our lit
tie country town, and carrying me hom
with her, in order to make the neces
sary preparations. -
As, on our arrival at my aunts resi-
dence we entered the hall, her two litti
daughters came joyfully.r,shingg..to NEE
us.
"Here, Christine" she said, turnin
to me '.here are my darlings. Hav
they not grown? And this is their gov
erness, Miss Dane ~
turned, and saw a young girl stand
ing quietly ut the foot of the staircase
looking on with smile at the scene.
She was SO exceedingly pretty. wit
her delicate, regular features and gOlt
en- hair, and exquisite complexion, ths
/ was quite taken by surprise.
"What remarkable pretty goyernes
YOU have, Aunt LOttien' | observed
when, an hour after, stood at her dress
ing-room window, looking into ti
garden. where the children were at pla.
while Miss Dane, with II bit of crOche
work i'm her hands, walked slowly u
and down; land how graceful and lad!
like she isl
yes" my aunt replied with a smile
'and do you know; Christine, we thin
her wonderfully like yourselfp Not onl
has she the same cOlored hair and eye
but her features and something in h,
D WAYS and expression, remind us OF yo
| have but one fault to find with her,
added my aunt-"she is too. reserve!
Despite her pleasant manner, and WI
of talking, have always an uneOenfof
able feeling that don't knowshef.s
"How stylish she looks, despite b
plain dress. /"
"Yes, indeed. If that girl were. RIG
w and becomingly dressed. she wOu
be handsomer than you Chrissie,u
: Here the subject dropped. and bust
n engaged as ! was in my bridal proper
l. tions, / at first saw but little of SQph
Dane. But one day, when a dress h.
come from the naodfste which did not
actly please us, the gOyerpess happen'
to be present, and on being half-careles
- ly appealed to, at once pointed out {
If defect and how to remedy 1t.
r. Thereupon it was discovered that s.
" possessed an exquisite taste in dress al
r millinery. -.
n NV aunt was delighted and thene
h. forth Miss Dane was constantly call
{, upon for advice in matters of taste.
e Occasionally she was requested to t
Sc on some article of dress, q bat, or
10 10 mantle, in order that l might the bett
SO Judge of their effect; and we could n
j. but be struck with the extreme beco1
N ingness of these things 70 her.
40 She herself was quite aware of tn
and / more than once saw her cheek flu
~ and her eye brighten as she glanced
q the mirror at her own reflection VIII
9 thus arrayed.
s "Poor girl!' my aunt said. ut seel
= really pity that such attractions shot
- not be set off by the advantages of Dire
i. in which, after all, l am inclined
rs, think half the effect Of beauty Ii
~ lna,,,;t., l,a,. huu,hlp origin. SOtIhie Da