Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-04-11
ALPENA WEEKLY ARGUS.
MISCELLANEOUS.
CHOOSING ADAUGmTER.IN.LAw.

cts of no USE" said Mrs. Dash.
wood plaintively. 81 can never learn
to like that girl. And if Felix mar
ries her | shall be-wretched |"
Felix Eastwood, a tall, handsome
young man, Of three or four-and-
twenty, looked in dismay at his
Dearest mother" said he, "what is
the trouble with Madeline? | am sure
she is all that is sweet and lovablep
Felix Eastwood had committed a
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
a young beauty, proposed to her in
the fever heat of the moment, and
brought her home to Eastwood Hall
to receive the maternal blessing.
And Madeline Westford, as theoreti-
cal and inexperienced as was he him.
self, had never doubted but that
Felix's mother would love her as ten
derby and devotedly as Felix had
done.
She was pretty, blue-eyed girl,
with a deep dimple in her cheek, lips
as red as coral, and profuseness OF
FURNISHED golden hair, which floated
over her shoulders like a cascade OF
yellow brightness.
"May | call You mother?" said
Madeline, prettily, when she first
came to Eastwood Kall.
Certainly" said Mrs. EASTWOOD
stiffly. "But don't you think your
hair would be neater put upin metz
"All the girls at school wore it SO,
said Madeline, who had just gradual
ed from Madame Estelle's seminary
for young ladies. "And nobody sees
a net nowadays"
"Those long, trailing dresses, too,
said Mrs. Eastwood, critically cycling
the fan-shaped train of Madeline
cream-colored serge dress. "ln the
country here we mostly wear our skirts
of a walking length"
Madeline looked doubtfully down
at the lovely dress, with its founces
and fittings.
81 have always worn trains she
said "and doesn't it seem almost a
pity to cut them OFF,
"Just as you please" said Mrs
Eastwood, chilling visibly.
Madeline did not enjoy her visit to
Eastwood Hall half so much as she
had expected; and Mrs. Eastwood in
wardly determined that of all daugh-
ters.in-law whom Felix could possibly
have selected Miss Westford was the
least satisfactory. But it never oc-
Cured to her that she did not quite
fathom all the depths of Madeline's
character nor that she was looking
for n woman's matured virtues in a
girl of seventeen, just out of board
81 don't approve" said she stiffiy,
"of girls who lie on sofas and read
poetry all day, instead of trying to
learn little housekeeping; and SO
for needle work, all the Kensingston
stitch and crewel patterns in creation
won't take the place-in my estima-
ton, at least-of good plain stitching
and stocking darning. Madeline
and can never, never be-
come congenial %
"But, mother"
To Felix Dashwood's infinite amaze
ment, however, the conversation was
here interrupted by Madeline herself
in the offending cream serge dress,
with the lovely, cloudy tresses of gold
her flushed face, and new
glitter in her blue eyes.
81 didn't mean to be n listner," said
she, "but | was half asleep in the
shady drawing-room, and when Iheard
my own name | couldn't help sitting
still for a moment; and perhaps it is
Just as well. II have feared this
for a long time. am quite certain
of it now. You don't like me, Mrs.
Eastwood ?"
"To be frank" said the frigid mat
ron, 81 do not !"
81 am sorry" said Madeline, softly.
81 should have liked you to love me.
And you do not wish me to marry
Felix?"
"If you wish me to answer sincere
ly," said Mrs. Dashwood-"no."
"Then / won't marry him." said
pulling off the little tur.
quoise ring which Felix had given hei
for an engagement ring in those bright
sweet days which seemed so long-ab
so long ago! 81 will marry no man
whose mother is not ready to take me
into her heart of hearts !"
So the engagement was broken off
and Madeline went home again.
Don't fret, Felix" coaxed she
"It's a deal better for you, if you cal
get used to the idea. If ever / hav,