St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-23
MAGNIFICENT MISS
STANLEY.

It was pretty scene. Tall forest trees,
with shining foliage, green hedges and lawn,
and a large pond covered with rustic bridges
and fantastic ornaments. A young girl sat
in half-reclining posture upon the grass
watching the goldfish as they appeared from
time to time upon the surface of the water.
She was not pretty, but there was something
very piquant d,pleasing in the expression
of her face, which was unusually serious for
one SO young The day was warm and sultry,
and she was just sinking into a quiet slumber
when little dog sprang toward her, barking
shrilly.
"Why, you little horrid thingl" she ex-
claimed. 81 wonder if your master is as
homely as you are"
"You can judge for yourself miss" said
voice close beside her, and springing to her
feet she was confronted by tall, good
natured-looking young man, who, although
not very handsome was by no means very
homely, either. "Wel, what do you think"
he asked, as she stood staring at him in utter
amazement
~ think you are very bold to intrude in
this way" she said at last, making very
palpable effort to be digni1ed and indignant.
"Intrude? Now that is pretty cool, con-
sidering that [ am on my own ground"
care you Mr.. Greshamp
81 had no doubt of it until this moment
Are you Miss Stanley2"
ooh, my no. What an ideal am only
Miss Stanley's cousin. l will go and tell her
that you have returned"
mo, don't [ have seen my aunt, and that
is enough. Sit down again, if you please"
"But we have not been introducedm
ayes, we have; we have introduced our
selves; and that is a great deal pleasanter
than to have some one say: 'Mr. Gresham,
let me present you to Miss"
NO. no; Miss Stanley would say: Mr..
Gresham, this is my little cousin;" and she
drew herself up in stately manner and
spoke very slowly and precisely.
He laughed and said:
"But you have not told me your name
yeti"
"Amy GLADDEN., at your pleasure"
"That is very pretty name for young
lady"
"But Pm not young lady"
"Nota young lady!" he repeated, with a
look of surprise and disappointment in his
face. "You are not married, hopes"
ooh, dear, no-but am only little grill"
"a little girlE"
dyes. How can 1 be anything else when
have three unmarried sisters older than my
Bell! Sue tiSh6u, III du cS9LI0E6Q OOuS, WHICH,
made him laugh heartily.
"True enough" he said at last; "but how
is it that your sisters are still unmarried?
They cannot be as pretty as you are"
"Pretty as am, Mr.. Greshams 1 am the
fright of the family"
"Indeedl Then, if you are the fright, 1
should like to see the beauties They must
be paragons."
90, Miriam is lovelyI She has the bright
est golden hair!"
Tprefer brown" he said, glancing, at the
head before him, crowned with bands of
shining chestnut-colored hair.
"And the loveliest blue eyesl"
81 prefer brown" he said again, looking
straight into the soft, liquid eyes of his COM
panion.
"And she is so tall and elegant"
u like little women best"
"Pshaw!" she cried impatiently; "you are
just trying to fatter! You know that am
as honely as"
"My dogP and then helaughed again.
CHOW you do laughs What makes you
laugh SO much?"
Because Iam young, suppose. And
wish that you would laugh alsol" he said
growing serious all at once. at pains me to
see youlook so grave"
"lfyou were a poor minister's daughter,
with five sisters, I think you would look
grave, too But do laugh sometimes, just
when l ought not to. If there is anything
absurd that should be passed by unnoticed, 1
am sure to see it and laugh"
"You have keen sense Of the ridculousn
81 suppose so, and it is really dreadful 1
think it is great misfortune"
"If you were writer you would probably
find 1t an advantage"
"But 1 am not writer, thank fortune"
"Why thank fortune9"
because my sister Julia writes, and she is
always tormenting, me to listen to her articles
-'outpourings of genius she calls them
and 1 wish her genius would cease outpour-
ing"
Don't you like to read?"
ooh, yes, indeedl but don't like to listen
when other people read. I get so impatient"
II am sorry"
"Why?"
because 1 imagined myself spending many
a pleasant hour by your side, reading aloud
to you, while you embroidered, knit or
sketched."
"But I never embroider, knit or sketch"
"You do not?"
"No; my sister Emma embroiders and
neighborhood that has not posed for her.
And Emma has made six big, historical
pictures in worsted. Oh, it is fearful to
think Of"
Hasn't she lost fiesh?"
"Oh, no; she gains it, and that is her cross
In life. But you can read to Miss Stanley"
"Hang Miss StanleyI"
"That is not polite. Have you ever seen
herr"
'No, and don't want to. asked auntuo
to have any young ladies here Oh, L beg
pardonl But then you are a little girl"
eyes, I am just IT,"
"Well, 1 think we can manage to have
some gay times together, in spite of Miss
Stanley"
"You will not want to look atme after YOU
have seen her."
"Why? Is she gorgeousw
lawfully! fearfully She is nearly six feet
tall; and when she wears her crimson velvet
dress, you'll think of Cleopatra and Lucretia
Borgia."
"That is not a flattering comparison"
"Oh, l mean in appearance merely; be-
cause Miss Stanley is as good as she is hand
some. She is SO admirable in every way
that it makes me feel tired. like people to
be wicked once in while-don't you?"
eyes, it makes more variety, of course"
"You will admire her beyond words to ex-
press! Everybody does. When she comes
into room, it seems as if she filled every
portion Of it. never see any one else"
"She never would prevent me from seeing
you"
"You have not been tried yet"
IT prefer violets to sunfowers"
"OhI don't compare her to great sun
flower! They are ugly, even if they are
eesthetic, Call her dahlia."