Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-03-03

AS 1t was, Sno Ql0 nOy. one OeuoVe0
i'll the cid proverb about the over
ripeness 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.. Kingsdale was not cher ideal" /"
"It's of no use," said Mrs. Stafford;
"she won't have him."
els the girl crazy?" said Althea.
dolefully.
"She must have been." said Emme-
line, who, as a full-1edged vice-prlnci-
pal, believed in the efficacy OF strict
discipline.
al don't love him." said Alice.
cam l to fall in love with every gen.
tleman who chooses to take fancy to
me?"
"Love don't signify SO much-not if
you like and respect him." sighed poor
Mrs. Stafford, who had eloped at sixteen
and had led a sorry life Of it for thirty
odd years in consequence thereof.
"Oh, mamma" said Alice. +" / never
could marry man if l didn't love
him"
YOU'RE a silly goose" declared
Althea.
sim not an old maid, anyhow" re-
torted saucy Alice.
at 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 be will never marry
anybody"
"Then you have blighted his life"
said Althea. in accents of reproval
"That isn't my fault" said Alice.
Mr.. Kingsdale accepted his dismis-
sal Contrary to Alice's expectations,
he came to the little hearthstone in
the "Montefiore Flats" no more. The
bouquets, new books and boxes OF
French chocolate ceased to arrive by
special messenger.
There were no more private boxes
at the opera; no pleasant drives in the
park. 1t was a little dukS
: But Alice Stafford felt that she had
indicated herself, and when he had
overcome his first chagrln she was
certain that he would come again-of
course he would come again.
Old Mrs. Wyndham Jones calledone
day-a powdered, overdressed old hag,
with false hair, false teeth, false every
thing, who believed herself still TO be
as beautiful as Venus. She went
everywhere and knew everybody and
a
We'll, I declare !" cackled this ven
erable interpreter of society. "Miss
Alice has gone off in her looks. hasn't
shep" And that accounts for
it. 1 told Mrs. Fitz Arbine
that Frank KiDgsdale never
would have thrown her over unless
there was some good cause. Did you
know that he was becoming quite de-
voted to General Salsify's niece, Miss
Maugenet? Everybody's talking
about it."
Emmeline looked grim. Alice
blushed scarlet. Althea observed,
tartly, that ''they didn't take much in
terest in drawing-room gossip"
"No; of course no., said Mrs.
Wyndham 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 catch for Miss Alice,
there!'
Alice's cheeks famed deeper than
before.
"Thank you, Mrs. Jones I" said she,
purposely omitting the Wyndham, on
which the old harridan especially
prided herself; 81 am not in hurry
to be married"
"That's what all the girls say"
chuckled Mrs. Wyndham Jones. "But.
good gracious, they can't deceive mel
And Frank Kingsdale is one in a
thousand They say Miss Mauge-
nets trosseau is to come direct from
Paris. Oh, well, it's dress that makes
heri 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 gavet the double
chords with great spirit.
The next day, at breakfast. Mrs
Stafford looked very worn and hag
gard.
"GIrls," said she, "I've i'll news fol
you. I'm sorry ever invested In
those Tennegridge mining bonds
Ten per cent. in gold seemed very at
tractive, but ought TO have FOLLOWED
your Uncle Canna5y's advice and LEI
them alone. TIE whole thing ha'
exploded. We've lost the 5000. ant