Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-08-02
MAUD AND MABEL.
The Illustrated World.

~
Said Mabel, who was some Is minutes
Maud's Junior:
81 really did think that you cared for
treated him so cruelty"
"Why do you care for him 2" blushed
Maud. "If you do, Mabel, you are well
come to him, I'm sure ; for II there ia
anything do despise in this world it is a
man who doesn't know his own mind"
"Then he did impress you rather
fayorably at first 2"
"There was no at first about it.. Mr..
Allen Foster, in my opinion, is CON
oeited idiot 70
And Maud gave her handsome head a
very emphatic toss.
Mabel affected look Of intense amaze
ment,
ga eoneeited idiot, indeed What would
his fond mamma say If she were to hear
you speak so disrespectiully of her only
son f''
Ellis mamma may say and think what
she plesses. He Ia conoeited idiot 70
Mabel played with her fsn moment,
before replying:
Don't you know, Maud, dear, that he
that Mr.. Foster proposed to me once,
or as good as proposed ~
"And TO me also, you dear, silly, little
goose. He ia always proposing, or as
good as proposing, to somebody. 1t was
while was visiting at Aunt June's last
simmer. Mr.. Foster was there, spending
his vacation with Cousin Viii, and we
had a nice time until"
He proposed 2'
tNn until yn1t non,a -
"on and before that you had not
thought him 30 very stupid 2'i
"Bstore that he had done nothing to
make me- doubt his honor, or compel
me to believe him about as stable in his
affections 80 q weather-yane is constant
to one point of tho eompsss,' replied
Miss Maud, with great dignity.
Honor Yes; we'll, what then Up TO
the time OF my unfortunate arrival, you
surely liked him" returned Mabel.
Liking and loving are two very
different sentiments. MIR. Foster could,
if he tried, make himself quite agreeable;
and for rowing, lawn-tennis, croquet,
pienies, and dreary things OF that kind,
he did very we'll"
"ob, yes, l know that 20 innocently
responded Mabel; sand he could tiirt a
little-just little, you know, Maud,
when there was no better amusement to
be had and he has really handsome
eyes"
"Pm sure ] can't say as to his eyes
being handsome or otherwise, for never
trubled myself to look at them; but
when you came, and | overheard him say
to you, in the summer-house, just where
he had previously told me the very same
thing, that he loved You, I-''
"oh, no; not that he loved me, but
that he could not for the life of him tell
which of the twin Elsinore sisters he
loved the best. 1t was simply choice
between black eyes and hlne, black
cusls or golden, brunette or blonde y
hastily corrected Mabel.
"Well, don't care; It was unmanly
OF him, and I've had nothing to say t
him SINCE"
"But he is coming with Cousin Will tt
spend the summer holidays with us, and
vs. must be civil to him, at least, Maud
Certainly but it does not follow that
We must be his slaves"
No, of course not bus he Is worth /
half-mlllion, my proud sister, and though
love be pleasant, money is omnipotent.
$40 some it may be, but not to me, fol
little do care for his half.million."
And as little do /; but, then, Vol
must admit that Foster Hall is a fine oil
plaoe."
"Yes and pity it is 1t has not bette
master.h
And, with this final and very sever
remark, Maud msjestically left the room
August came in due time, and with i
came Cousin Will and his dearest colles
friend, the ''coneeited" Mr.. AlleI
Foster.
Alone In the conservatory, one morn
ing, with Maud, who looked no end q
mischief from under her long, darl
lashes, he took her hand in his, and, i,
tone OF enchanting sweetness
Whispered
miss Eljinore-Asui, you must hav,
seen, long ago, that love you that m,
whole heart is yours. cannot live with
out you-l really can't. say that yot
return my love p growing every momen
more and more iervent in his tende
appeal. BE mine, sweet Maud, and m,
only thought, wish or purpose in Iii
shall be to make you happy Assure me
here and now, that | do not plead /,
vain, and that you will be nay own, owl
darling wife ~
swell, no, think not, Mr. Foster ,
cody replied Maud In fact | can,
make up my mind as TO wlstLer I Low,
you or Charlie Ashton III. beat an,
until come to some def-i;a conclusion
on tina. important poin' i. would |,
dresses"
Mr.. Foster looked blank. Was
possible that Miss Maud Elsinors hat
refused him Incredible!
And yet, horrible truth, she was gone
With mocking smile on her lips, and
LOOK expressive Of anything but regret ii
her scorAful black eyes,
Most fortunately for him, in hi
present stste OF mortified seIf.1 anity. Mr.
Foster naturally mad Yery excellen
opinion Of himself, and was / a man t,
grie7e long or deeply over the non
success Of his suit.
Maud WAS not so very handsome, afte
all, he thought, acknowledgement half 4
handsome SIS Mabel, nor anything like s.
amiable.
He knew now well enough which OF tn
two sisters 1t vas he loved the beat. II
had secretly felt himself to be PARTIAL,
committed to Maud, but since she de-
elined to change her name for Lis. h,
would forthwith transfer lis affections /
Mabel.
Acting promptly on this brave decision
he managed one evening to lead by.po
means reluctant Miss Mabel to a retire,
place within the safe seolusion of IN
heavily-curtained bay window, and ther
pour out his enrEptured soul In words 4
fondest love.
Darling Mabel p he began, catohip
his breath hysterioslly, and a triile M
certain Of his ground-''darling Mabel
can you not guess what 1t ia that woul
say love you dearly, madly, passion
ately For months l have thought an
dreamed Of no one else. To me the wind
whisper Mabel, the birds sing Mabel, an
the streams murmur joyonsly your name
VtoIeta remind NE of your eyes, roses ,
your cheeks, and golden lilies of you
hair. adore you, Mabel, my ow
beloved, and here at your feet / off,
heart, hand and fortune -
And with that he fell on his knees h,
fore her, and sighed quite impressiyel,
But instead of being pleased and graf,
full, as he had supposed that she woul
be, Miss Mabel actually laughed In h
face-such happy, irrepressible bur
OF real, unfeigned merriment, as brougl
him up from his knees call standing,
and made him wish every indiyidn,
woman on the face OF the earth 80 fathou
deep III the Red Sea.
GLOW rldiculously amusing you a,
this evening, Mr.. Foster For eoodne,
sake, compose yourself | would not, /,
the world, lave people see you in such
Comicslly -absurd poaitioo A5ora ~