Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-07-22


proposed to her. She had wondered
at his audacity, and for a moment felt
inclined to box his ears; but in the
next remembered his house in town,
his pretty place on the Thames and his
reputed wealth, and she had reversed
the picture, studying both attentively.
A good name long list of ancestors, a
widowed mother, and three marriage
able sisters as beautiful as herself;
home with an outside show of aff1uence
but with some pinching within, and a
pile of unpaid bills; and how weary she
was of cutting and continuing dresses
for her mother, sisters and herself! 1t
was a marriage of convenience, of
course, and she knew it must be so
when she made up her mind to accept
him. Onlookers said, "What could
that handsome Miss Laura see in that
mani" And she asked herself the
same question dozen of times in the
if somewhat cynical, was not altogether
discontented; and when Mr.. Roley was
not in her 81 ght she told herself that
she had not made an altogether bad
speculation.
Mrs. Roley did not share in her hus-
bands love of saving. She spent his
money royalty, and he dared not say
her nay. There were times when he
looked like a dog who fain would bite,
but feared his master. Mrs. Rolev I'M
doubtedly was his master, and it was
perhaps, all the better that it should be
so; for it prevented his faults from COM
ing too prominently forward, and
those who had not known him previous
to his marriage might live without the
knowledge of the fact that he was still in
heart "a screw.' He was very proud
of his wife, and liked to talk of her
titled relations: and it detracted moth
ing from his pleasure that they had
never tried to assist Mrs. de Lara out
of her difficulties. He liked his pretty
sisters-in-law. and allowed their hand
some mother to make much of him,
which she always did when she wanted
anything.
Mrs. Roley was five and twenty at
the time of her marriage, and her Sis
tiers were younger, the third then not
being out of the school-room.
During these five years she had not
been idle. She had got her husband
into society, and she thoroughly en-
joyed life; she was not troubled with a
heart, nor with children, so she went
where she liked and did what she
pleased.
Mrs. Roley had no lack of admirers,
but they were chiefly of the cavaliere
servente type, and people did not dream
of talking any scandal about her, what
ever they might think. She had OBJ
tanned husbands for two of her sisters,
and now was bringing out the third.
Maud de Lara was the most enchant-
ing little creature, but she was totally
unlike her sister, and, therefore, that
lady took less interest in her than she
had done in the other two girls, who
were second and third editions of her.
self
These three were perfect De Laras,
whereas Maud was like no one in par
ticular, and took after her mother
family, which was not SO distinguished
a one as her fathers.
"You must not expect Maud to marry
as the others have done,' Mrs. Roley
had said decidedly to her mother; ''she
is not so good-looking, and has not the
same STYLE
"Maudie is short, certainly, and is
not so handsome as you are, of course,
my dear; but she is sweet-looking
girl, l think" returned the mother.
"Oh, yes; she is pretty enough, but
she must not be too particularly and
Beatrice Roley had dismissed the SUBJ
ject.
When the nominal master of the
house descended from rehabili-
tating himself, most of his guests had
arrived. One thing he had done, how
ever, to punish his wife. He was
aware that anything in bad taste gave
her mental toothache; and he knew,
too, that her sense of good breeding
would prevent her making any remark
before her visitors, however cross she
might be. On the other hand, he had
no taste, and blending of bri ght col
ors were pleasant to his eyes. So when
he appeared on the lawn among the
merry assemblage, his wife simply
shuddered as she beheld the ''tie'' he
had selected; but in another moment
she recovered herself, and spoke to him.
Everything is now ready, but that
sister of mine is always late,' said Mrs.
Roley.
Then, at a wave of her delicately-
gloved hand, they all thronged on board
the Swan, who carried her name visi-
bly, upon her bows without words,
therefore part of the boat representing
that graceful bird with feathers both
carved and painted. When all the
guests were seated, Mr.. Roley and his
sister-in-law came hurrying over the
| lawn.
| 'Oh, dear, l am so sorry to be late,
but lost myself in a most delightful
novel, and forgot it was time to dresse
And she turned a pair of laughing blue
eyes upon them all.
Don't look severe, Beatrice, dear, ]
will never do it again, if you will for
give me this once" she pleaded, plan
ting tiny foot upon the side of the
| boat. "Now tell me where am to sit,
and | won't keep you moment wait
ing
"Whcreever you can find room,
Maud,' replied Mrs. Roley. ''Now,
George, are you ready?'
Of course he had to be, whether he
was or not; and in a few moments the
Swan, with its white wings lin the
shape of the awning) spread, was
making it's way against the stream OF
the river.
| Maud de Lara had found seat, but
it was not a very lively one, being be-
tween a somewhat stiff matron and an
old maid who was not all sugar; but as
little Maud never could be stiff, she
did her best to get conversation out Of
them, to the amusement of those oppo'
site, and more especially to Mr.. Edwin
Dunstan, who thought her the pletties1
most winsome little fairy he ever saw
in his life; and seeing his intent gaze
and the interest he took in her sallies
a mutual understanding seemed te
arise between these, and the blue eyes
sought the deep-set gray ones of the
young man with shy consciousness, 8
delicate blush stealing over the pretty