Morris tribune., 1883-06-02
READING HER OWN HEART.

| HUI.
"Alice, how can your" indignant,
demonstrated Emmeline, the elder sister
"And when things are all but settle,
between you," groaned Althea, the sec
ond Miss Stafford.
Alice was undeniably the beauty ofthe
family. Emmeline was hard featured
and practical, and occupied the post o
vice. rincipal in a neighboring primar,
school. Althea was short and stout, will
filmy grey eyes, and brows 80 light tina
they were scarcely perceptible on thu
level plain of her face.
She was housekeeper, and performed
marvels in the pie and pudding line, be-
sides making the family income go twice
as far as it would otherwise have done.
But ce-fresh-cheeked, rosy-lippeC
little Alice, with the straight, small fea
lures, and the liquid, sapphire-blue eyes
she had always been the family baby.
She practiced a little, sometimes, Oh
the cabinet piano, which was hired a
four dollars month; she made up frilli
and laces for the other girls, embroidered
pretty trihes on plush, and took care OF
the canary and the eerianums. Nobody
dreamed of setting Alice to perform any
of the harder, more mental duties of the
household.
And great was the family satisfaction
when Mr. Frank kingsdale fell in love
with Alice.
snow she will have the home she de-
serves" said Emmeline.
"And husband who will worship
her." added Althea, who alas! had
never an offer in her life.
Perhaps if Mr.. King5dale had not d is
played his infatuation so plainly, Alice
Stafford would have accepted him:
AS il was, she did not. She believed
in the old proverb about the oyer-ripe-
ness of the apple which fell too readily
from the Dough.
She was slightly fastidious, and very
capricious. And she made up her mind
after much deliberation, that Mr.. Kings
dale was not "her ideal.
ats of mousse" said Mrs. Stafford; ''she
won't have him."
sis the girl crazy?" said Althea, dole
fully.
"She must have been," said Emeline,
who, as as full-hedged vice-principal
believed in the efficacy of strict disci-
pline.
81 don't love him." said Alice. Am I
to fall in love with every gentleman
who chooses to take a fancy to me?"
"Love don't signify so much-not if
you like andrespect him, ''said poor Mrs.
Stafford, who had 'eloped at sixteen and
had led sorry life of it for thirty odd
wears in consequence thereof.
ooh mamma" said Alice, 81 never
could marry man if didn't love him."
You're silly goose" declared AL
thea.
"Tm not an old maid, anyhow" re-
torted saucy Alice.
SIT would serve you right if Frank
Kingsdale went and married Hippolyta
Danesbury." asserted Emmeline.
''He will not do that" said Alice.
"You will see that he will never marry
'Then you have bIghted his life,"
said Althea, in accents of reproval.
"rhat isn't my fault" said Alice.
Mr.. Kingsdale accepted his dismissal
Contrary to Alice's expectations, he
came to the little hearthstone in the
"Montefore Flats" no more. The
new books and boxes ofFrench
chocolate ceased to arrive by special
There were no more private boxes at
the opera; no pleasant drives in the park.
1t was little dull.
But Alice Stafford felt that she had
vindicated herself, and when he had
overcome his first chagrin, she was GER
tain that he would come again.
Old Mrs. Wyndham Jones called one
iay-a powdered, overdressed old bag,
With false hair, false teeth, false every
thing, who believed herself still to be as
beautiful as Venus. She went every
where and knew every body, and was as
good as many newspaper.
"Well, l declare" cackled this ven
cradle interpreter of society, ''Miss
Alice has gone off in her looks, hasn't
she? And that accounts for it. I told
never would have thrown her over I'M
YOU know that he was becoming
quite devoted to General S4lsifys niece,
Miss Maugenet2 Everybody's talking
about it,
Emmeline looked grim. Alice blushed
scarlet, Althea observed, tartly, that
'they didn't take much interest in draw
ing-room gossip"
mo; of course not" said Mrs. Wynd-
ham Jones. "Being so entirely out OF
society, all these things are new to you.
But it's pity about young Kingsdale,
isn't it? He would have been such a
catch for Miss Alice, there?"
Alice's cheeks famed deeper than be-
fore.
THANK you. Mrs. JONES'" said she,
emitting the WynGham, on
which the.old harridan especially prid-
ed herself; 81 am not in g. hurry to be
say, hh"'S ch %hde all Mrs. '0e wygn 1ris
ham Jones. "But, good gracious, they
can't deceive me! And Frank Kings
dale is one in thousand! They say
Miss Maugenet's trousseau is to come
direct fro N Paris. On, well, it's dress
that makes her! She isn't pretty, only
stylish. And she must be full five years
older than Frank"
Alice said nothing after Mrs. Wynd-
ham Jones had taken her departure.
She busted herself with practicing new
''Nocturne," and gave the double chord
with great spirit.
The next day, at breakfast, Mrs. SAT-
lord looked very worn and haggard.
tGirls," said she, 1--WE i'll news for
you. I'm sorry ever invested in those
mining bonds. Ten per
cent. in gold seemed very attractive, but
[ ought to have followed your Uncle
advice, and let them alon 9.
The whole thing has exploded. We've
ost six thousand dollars, and what's
worse, we're liable to the stockholdersW
"Oh, mother!' cried Alice; "what are
we to dor"
1--WE must all go to work." said the
widow, pitiously. L will take few
ooarders- Althea can help me; and you,
Alice, do you think, darling, you would
mind genteel place in millinery or
1ressmaking establishment-sonething
hat was light and lucrative?"
Mamma, said Alice, ciasping her
hands, 81 would 90 as common SER
7ant maid, if you only would not look 80
white and terriiedp
ooh, if only you had married Kings
lalep' sighed Emmeline, wringing her
hands.
at isn't worth while to talk about
hat now" said Miss Alice, quickly.
Mrs. Stitchall, on Fourte enth street,
greed to initiate Miss Saffor d into the |
Irt OF first-class dressmaking. The girl |