The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-04-12
ALIOE'S MISTAKE.

"Refused him. exclaims Mrs. Stat
ford, throwing up her hands with a ges-
tur1 of Mortified dismay; child! what
ever can have possessed you?
Refused him! absurd!' cries EN-
incline. the elder Miss Stafford.
absurd, indeed!' echoes Adela;
''such chance never comes twice in a
girl lifetime.
'.Of course he's very nice and agree
able says Alice Stafford. And hand
some too, if one fancies that dark. escap-
ed-brigand style But don't think I
like himr'
"Alice, how can you?" Indignantly
demonstrates Emmeline.
'.And when things are all but settled
between your groaned Adela, the sec
oud Miss Stafford.
Alice was undeniably the beauty of
the family. Emmeline was hard-fea-
tured and practical. Adela was short
and stout, with flmly, grey eyes, and
brows so light that they were scarcely
perceptible on the level plain of her
face.
But e-fresh-cheeked, rosy-lip-
ped little Alice, with straight, small
features, and the liquid, sapphire-blue
eyes-she had always been the family
baby.
She practiced little sometimes, on
the modest cottage piano, which was all
their limited means could afford, for
Mrs. Stafford had but small income;
she made up frills and laces for the 9TH
er girls. embroidered pretty trifles on
plush, and took care of the canary and
81 Nn1- r. Il DE
setting Alice to perform any of the hard
er, more menial duties of the house
hold.
And great wasthe family satisfaction
when Frank Kingsdale fell in love with
Alice.
'.Now she will have the home she de-
serves" said Emmeline.
"And husband who will worship
her!' added Adela, who, alas, had never
had an offer in her life.
Perhaps if Mr.. Kingsdale had not dis
played his infatuation so plainly, Alice
Stafford would have accepted him.
As it was, she did not. She believed
in the old proverb about the over-ripe-
ness of the apple which fell too readily
from the bough.
She was slightly fastidious, and very
capricious. And she made up her mind
after much deliberation, that Mr.. Kings
dale was not ''her ideal"
Its of no use, said Mrs Stafford;
''she won't have him."
is the girl crazy?' said Adela, dole
fully.
.'She must have been," said Emme-
line, who, as a strong-minded female,
believed in the efficacy of strict disci-
pline.
Il don't love him." said Alice. Am
| TO fall in love with every man who
chooses to take n fancy to me?"
Love don't signify so much-not if
YOU like and respect him." sighed poor
Mrs. Stafford, who had eloped at six
teen, and had led a sorry life of it for
thirty odd years in consequence there
of.
''Oh, mamma" said Alice. Il never
could marry q man if didn't love
him
You're a silly goosel" replied Ade-
Ia.
I'm not an old maid, anyhow!" re-
torted saucy Alice.
ut would serve you right if Frank
Kingsdale went and married Olivia
Danesburry." asserted Emmeline.
He will not do that" said Alice
"You viii see that he will never marry
anybody"
Then you have blighted his life"
said Adela, in accents of reproval.
That isn't my fault said Alice.
Mr.. hingsdale accepted his dismissal.
Contrary 10 Alice's expectations, he
came to the little bijou residence in
kensington no more. The bouquets,
new books. and parcels of music ceased
to arrive by special messenger.
There We're no more private boxes at
the opera; no more pleasant drives at
the park. 1t was little dull.
BIT Alice Stafford felt that she had
vindicated herself, and when he had ov-
ercome his first chagrin, she was certain
that he would come again-of course he
would come again.
Old Mrs. Wyndham Jones called one
day-a powdered, cyer-dressed old hag.
with false hair. false teeth, false every
thing, who believed herself still to be as
beautiful as Venus. She went every
where, ana knew everybody and was as
good as daily newspaper.
''Well, declareln cackled the vener-
able interpreter of society, Miss Alice
has gone OF IN her looks, hasn't shsf