Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-11-22

anything but girls. She had no special
friend to whom she wrote daily half a
ream of paper, and called it a letter.
She had struck up a great friendship
i with Master Thomas Pierce, the eldes,
hope of her guardian. and Laura, his
wife. Thomas and his sisters adored
her. She had early gained from Mr..
/ Pierce the soubriquet of 1.-The Incor-
rigible," and he had called her by il
ever since.
Yet Margaret, as she stood in the
window, silently slipping her tea, and SO
allowing me time for this long digress-
/ ion, did not look a very incorrigible
person. or very bad person in any
way. Indeed, one was particularly
struck with the womanly softness of all
her traits-a softness tempered by a GER
tain fire, but which never for a moment
| disappeared. She was indisputably a
i beautiful creature; tall, and formed on
the lines of a Juno rather than of a
/ Hebe, none of her features, taken sepa-
rately, could be called handsome; but
the tout ensemble was charming. When
she smiled, sunny, generous smile, one
quite forgot that her face was more
broad than oval; one pardoned the IT.
regular shape of her nose, because no
other nose would have been suited to
the rest of her face; and there was no
possibility of disputing the beauty of
| her red-gold hair, of the true Titan
esque hue, or of the curious, luminous,
| golden-brown eyes, which were enthu-
| siastic, but neither dreamy nor short
| sighted. She was taller, more amply
formed, more richly colored, than most
English girls of her. age, and with this
southern luxuriance of life and vitality
there was mingled also some Southern
haste and impetuousness. She had
never made herself anything but agree
able and amiable in her guardian s
household, but both Mr.. and Mrs.
Pierce considered that Margaret had
many "odd' ideas; they were both
somewhat apprehensive as TO the use
she might make of her fortune and her
! liberty. She never treated them to any
wild schemes; but they had an intuitive
suspicion that her views as to the use of
money differed from theirs-and would
be more likely. for instance, to take the
shape of founding a scholarship than of
giving ball. AS to her real and serious
views about life-if she had any, which
they doubted they knew nothing.
You ought to feel yourself a very
happy girl, to-dayr' observed Mrs.
Pierce, presently.
"Why, Iwonder?'
"Most women (and men, too would
tell you the same thing. You know per-
fectly well, why"
"1f were young man, dare say I
should feel very happy. should have
a career before me then-at least /
would make one"
"You have much pleasanter career
before you as it is -"
IL wonder what?"
"That of a happy wife and mother
Really, Laura, you exasperate me
sometimes. That is stupid of me, I
know. 1t simply shows that we don't
agree. 1 am not going to marry at
present; and if | were, it does not fol-
low that should be happy wife and
mother. l might never be IA mother at
all, and if were, my children might be
bad Ten to one, my husband would be
MOT if you were guided in your
choice by the wishes of your friends
Margaret shrugged her shoulders,
again smiling with dubious express
sion.
"Youvare already admired,'' pur-
sued Mrs. Pierce; Il might almost say,
beloved"
"You might almost say many curious
things"
81 do know that if you were any one
else, I should give you some advice"
said Laura, plaintively.
''Consider me some one else, and give
me the advice"
81 should say, look at me-" Mrs.
Pierce said, solemnly.
"With pleasure. What lesson am I
to derive from the contemplation of so
charming an object? Do you advise
me to get a gown like yours, Or"
sLook at me! When was eighteen
Robert proposed to me. My aunt, with
whom / lived-since dead-and whom
l consulted, said: DO not hesitate; &C
cept him. Did hesitate?''
Il should fancy not,'' said Mss Bar
rington. her mouth grave, her eyes
filed with an elfin light.
.s'Not for moment. I accepted him;
and see the resultn'
81 can see many results. Which
do you wish me most particularly to
notice?"a
THAT I established myself in life.
found happy home, and have never
had an hours real care since"
IS don't quite see the point of it. 1
am sure Robert is good husband-in- |
deed, sometimes / look upon him as an |
angel; but, you see, no one has pro-
posed to me. And if some one did, l |
already have a home; and have no
need to have any particular cares that |
l know of. Well, but your further adj
vice? Surely you had something more
to say than Look at me!'''
at is only, dear, that Robert and I,
who, have, Your welfare at heart, and
who feel sure that your intentions, at
least. are good"
THAT is kind. Well?''
1--WE hope you will not do any
thing-anything that would be pecul-
lar. or compromise your chances after
ward"
'Chances!" echoed Margaret, her
head suddenly elevated. 81 suppose
that means that if do not behave very
prettily, l may not find the sort of hus-
band YOU would think desirable for me.