The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-06

He is a gentleman, and so hand
some, with position and dignity,
Ida, darling, you ought to be proud,
happy girl"
And then Ida laughed-and such
a laugh as she had, like ripping cas-
cades of silvery water, Or the sweet,
soft murmer of summer breeze in
a wood-it reminded you of any
thing that was lovely and merry.
"Of course l am proud and hap
py, mamma, naturally a girl would
be under the circumstances; but,
mamma, you must not think l feel
honored by Mr.. Warren's preference
no mans gracious preferences
would make me feel that l was hon
ored. 1t is l who honor him p
And the rich crimson leaped to Ida
Inglis' ivory-fair cheeks and def
ant flash to her eyes that Mr.. Floyd
Warren had certainly not seen there
yet. -.!'
"And | had actually feared you
were becoming interested in Paul
Crawford am so thankful dear.
"Paul Crawford As if 1 ever
cared for him beyond the fact of his
being the best dancer in the crowd,
mamma !"
"Nor would Mr.. Warren approve
of him, dear; he"
And then Ida stopped over and
silenced the mother with a loving
little kiss.
81 know just what you mean
mamma dear. Floyd would moi
approve Of him, nor would I, except
in the most conventional way. But
one thing is sure and certain, il
would not do for Floyd to presume
to dictate to me about his likings oil
dislikings, or my tastes or distates
He must take me as / am-Ida In.
glis just as Ida Inglis is, or-let me
entirely alone"
And in answer to Mrs Inglis' ap,
palled look Ida laughed merrily.
81 am an anomaly, am | mott
And dreadful creature, | know"
~ wouldn't have a hair of youl
head different, darling-you are my
dutiful, loving, noble daughter"
And with warm glow in hel
heart, Ida went off to her daily
work-sucf-aR "anomaly," really
as she called herself.
Proud, sensitive, passionate, non
orable, truthful and independent
despite her sensitiveness, frank ant
free, cold and sarcastic by turns, she
was like a human kaleidoscope, {
character worth closest study, vel
worth warmest interest and cage
winning
'Love him ? Love him" sht
thought to herself; "indeed l Low,
him with all my heart and soul anC
strength. The question is-does h,
love me?" And can | retain hin
always? ?"
But with Floyd Warren's natur
grave, positive, steady, and firm
as a rock bedded in the sea-anC
) hers, an inharmonious jarring wa
sure to come at one time or another
And it came on one August moon
,, light night, when Mr.. Warren picket
up an invitation-card lying on tn
table in the Inglis parlor.
"Of course you'll not go, Ida" h
said.
"Whatl Not go to the moonligh
dance at Fern Dale ?" she answered
quickly. "Why, shouldn't I? Al
the other girls are going"
"It will be rather a promiscuou
crowd"
"But | am not an aristocrat, yol
know" she retorted coolly.
"No, dear, that isn't what mean
Butt understand the Judyth sis
ters, and the Crawfords, and tn
Watchleys are among the invited
guests, and, Ida-frankly, l woulC
rather you would not associate will
such people"
A saucy, cold little smile answered
him.
son that point, as ON severa
others, we do not agree.
"But you won't go, Ida? Tt
oblige me, dearest. I ask it as per
sonal favor"
If his manly patience and consid
crate tenderness touched her, she
gave no sign.
"Indeed, I'll not give it upl The
music, the moonlight, the dancing
the river-I worship them all. Il
will be like a living dream-I'd moi
miss it for all the world"
He looked gravely at the sweet
defiant face, all aAush, and asked
himself-after all, was Beth right
when she said men so recklessly
marry girls, knowing so little, really
of them?