Daily Republican., 1883-09-11
BETTER THAN WEALTH.


And when you and the girls are or
for Newport, what are you going to IL
with Madge?"
Grandma Vavasour settled her lac
cap-stringS, and looked grim as she ask
I'd the question.
Mrs. Raleigh sighed plaintively,t twist
ing her heavy gold chain listlessly owe
her jeweled fingers.
Dear me, don't KNOW she ejacu
lated. Was ever mother situated
az / am? Four manageable daughters
on my hands, and my income scarcely
three thousand a year. Grandma Vav
asour, what shal. ! do with Madge:
rely on your advice"
Grandma, who was little, and bent
and old, leaned heavily upon her oaker
staff. and eyed the pretty, plaintivt
widow with u glance of almost con
tempt.
you ought to thank Heaven that
your children are spared to you, Mary
Raleigh !" she returned, tersely. Be
sides, four pretty girls like yours need
not 90 a-begging"
"Pretty Yes, they are all pretty
hut Madge, and she, hunlph is"
"The prettiest OF them all y
"Good Heaven How can you say
such a thing? Look at the Other
three !"
And Mrs. Raleigh aroused herself
from her listless attitude and pointed tt
q group upon the green lawn outside
Such pretty group.
Edith, tall and fair, and dainty. -
Blanche, with her laughing brown eyes
and shining chestnut curls. Rose, a
perfect brunette, and stately as a Juno.
And there in the background-Madge.
Madge with pale, thoughtful face and
gray eyes, with long, sweeping black
lashes and a coronef of gold brown hair
wound round her shapely head ; a deli.
cate, refined spirituelle girl of eighteen.
Mrs. Raleigh sighed.
81 want my girls to marry we'll -
she went on, slowly. With their
beauty and accomplishments and the
money expended upon them, think
they ought TO make excellent matches!'
in other words, wealthy - snapped
grandma. " agree with you, Mary.
They ought to marry men of means, for
not one Of them understands anything
save the art of spending
money, except Ma,lge And mark my
words, Mary Raleigh, Madge will make
the best match of the family -
PreposterOus :" cried Mrs. Raleigh,
excitedly. She had devoted her exist
ence to the education and adOrnnient of
the three elder sisters 10 tue exclusion
of simple Madge, VIII" wore the discard
ed dresses of the other girls, and made
over and economical to the best of her
ability. Yet she somehow managed to
look quite AS well as her sisters.
"Mne is but plain, simple home,
went on Grandma Vavasour, slowly,
"but will take Maige with me when
| return to ill-dgtville. She shall
not br in your way, Mary >"
Mrs. Raleigh looked immensely re-
lieved
"How can thank YOU ~ she cried,
etfusively.
Appreciate Madge as she deserves.
retorled the old lady, land remember
my prophecy she will ma e the best
match Of them all -
The next week Mrs. Raleigh with hel
elder daughters aud a dozen Saratoga
trunks, started for Newport, where
they preferred broiling TO death in tiny
sitting rooms at the top Of a fashionable
hotel to enjoying peace and quiet al
their own home.
And Madge, glad to he relieved OF
their trivilous society, packed her one
small trunk and prepared 10 20 home
with Grandma Navasonr.
In neat travelling dress Of gray
linen with hat, veil and gloves tt
match, she looked cool aud sweet a.
they stepped on board the train and
were soon whlrling away towards the
home of Mrs. Navasour.
Only Il single cottage in small vii
lage, but it was the home Of peace and
con:entlnent Madge was happy and
care-free, roaming about all day in thu
strip Of cool, green pine woods which
bor,lered the place, or in the pretty
parIor playing soft, sweet airs upon tht
cottage piano, or'tahiug .ong drives ii
the little, low phantom with grandma,
and after II time with Walter Linden.
He was IA civil engineer passing a few
weeks vacation at the Milledgevillt
hotel, an old friend Of Mrs. Navasour
Handsome and educated, descendent OF
an old Virginia family, a great tavoritt
of the old lady, he soon came to be more
than merely friendly with Maige. In
fact, from the first lie was quite de-
voted to her.
And ere the summer was over he had
asked Madg- to be his wife, and had
been accepted, with Grandma Nava
sour's most cordial appreciation and en-
cOuragcment.
"Since your own mother has left you
to me-" the old lady cried, ri take
the liberty OF conserving to your mar,
riage, and when the wedding comes off
let it be soon, Madge, for long engage
ments are pieces Of folly and sometimes
work great deal of mischief, will
give you away myself, and God bless
you both.
And the queer little old lady pressed
the girl to her mo'her|y breast and
kissed her foudly, while her kind old
eyes filed with tender tears.
Poor in worldly goods the world be.
ieved Mrs. Vavasonr, but her heart
was full Of sympathy and affection, and
Madge was as "the apple of her eye.
The summer was over al last, The
great campaign ended.
Worn out with dissipation and hall
sick in mind as well aS body, Mrs
Raleigh brought her daughters back IL
their own quiet home. Madge was
still absent, but few days later
Grandma Navasomr unexpectedly ap
peared.
II ran up to tell you that Madge il
married, she announced, brnsgnely.
"Madge married ." Shrleked Mrs
Raleigh, going of straightway into a
fit Of Mysteries. As soon as she was able
to speak, she burst forth into storm OF
reproaches.
"How could you allow it," she de.
manded Of Mrs. Navasour, "when
had trusted my girl TO your care
had rather see her dead than married to
a country clown!
"Mary Raleigh, listen to me.
Grandma Navasour was white with
anger.
"You have neglected Madge simply
e. ~