Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-10
MISS MADISON'S MATCH.

pump, nor 100 ShlililF' 'oHe Hdu d ciedI
complexion, regular features, and a won
derfully attractive liquid gray eyes. She
had also an undeniable knack of so mani
pulating her sometimes rather shabby
clothes that the beholder ceased to remark
their shabbiness in the distinction of the
wearer. Not that she liked shabby clothes
she ioathed them with fervor few peo-
pie credited her with, but she was essen
TALLY self-contained person, and endured
the minor ills of life with great fortitude.
The Madisons had never had any money
to speak OF, and Just now things had come
TO crisis with them.
"What on earth's to be done with all
you girls?' Colonel Madison had asked,
helplessly, of his four motherleSs daugh-
tiers that morning at breakfast
1t was the Christmas holidays and the
three younger ones had, of course, turned
up with the Christmas bills, equally inn
Fortunate and inopportune to their impe-
cunious father. Three more mouths to be
filled. three fine, tall, growing girls to be
clad in something, ard the school bills GO
ing on merrily all the time. No wonder
the wretched Colonel groaned over his
culver full.
We must marry said Lillian, the
beauty.
We must work." said Ethel, who took
life serious, and had "views."
Thank goodness, I'm too young for
anything heroic to be expected of ME"
said Barbara, the baby, pouting.
Has anything particular happened p
asked Madge.
"The bank has gone, and with it all l
had, except my pension" said the unfortu
nate Colonel, signing deeply. "When |
die you will all Of you be paupers, 50 ii Will
be better for You to set about doing some
thing for yourselves before the bad day
comes. For your sakes, children, | shall
take every imaginable care of myself; but,
alas the best of us is but mortal" The
affecting thought was too much for the
unlucky parent He lapsed into a melan-
choly taciturnity for the remainder of the
meal
At its conclusion, Madge, who had been
thinking matters over, said 4" Father. YOU
are right about our doing something for
ourselves. | can't be 4 governess. | don't
know enough; but old Lady Dumbledon
wants company-keeper. I'll ask her to
take me. l shall be earning $50 year,
and at the same time relieving you of ore
Of your membranes
You're a good girl, Madge. am sorry
t. sacrifice you, | am sure; bat / don't see
any help for it."
Miss Madison was girl of action. She
speedily had all the preiiminaries settled
with Lady Dumbledon, whose service she
was To enter towards the end of January
But before taking up her new duties she
permitted herself the relaxation of visit
to school friend, now well married and
living in Kensington.
She returned from this outing somewhat
pensiye, and, in reply to the atectionate
badinaSe Of her sisters, suffered it to be
ELECTED that she had met a man at her
friends house whom in more fortunate cir
cumstances she could have cared good deal
for Unhappily if, as she owned that she
suspected, the favorable impression had
been mutual, there could be no results
from it. Her too brief visit had come to
an end: and she and her delightful fellow
guest had separated after their three days
chance acquaintanceship,in all human prob
ability never to meet again. Such Is life
and-luck
She had, however, miscalculated the
power Of her own attractions. On the eve
of starting for Lady Dumbledon's she re-
ceived singular letter from the man
whose good fortune it had been 50 strongly
to recommend himself to her.
He had been irresistibly drawn to
her" he said, in the few days they had
been thrown together, but he had then
been too poor a man to let the dictates Of
his heart find utterance He had let her
60 in silence and had suffered much in so
doing. Now things were changed with
him. He had most Unexpectedly come
into property of 10000 year by the
sudden death of relative, and he fastened
10 offer himself and his newly acquired
fortune for her acceptance. Circumstances
connected with his accession to fortune.ne-
cessitated his Immediately starting for
Australia. and would keep him ont of Eng
land for q wear. Would she forgive his
preoiFitate wooing out Of charity for the
violence Of his passion for her, and prom
Use TO Ice his wife Is soon IL he returned
h0me?'
This, denuded of many passionate ex-
pressions Of regard, was the substance Of
the letter.
Mis- Madison carried it to her father.
What shall you do ~ he asked anx-
iously.
II will take your advice, but am in
clinea to accept Mr.. Whites offer" she
added, casting down her eyes and growing
little pale.
You were always most sensible girl,
Madee, and 70 be trusted about your own
affairs. Accept him by all means if you
feel YOU can
Thus encouraged Ivy her family Miss
Madison accepted her fate. In return for
complaisanee she received y rapiurous
Registered letter of thanks, iucloSing
magnificent diamond betrothal ring. Mr..
White passionately deplored his hard luck
in being obliged TO embark without snatch
in. one brief interview with his betrothed
but his ship was sailing that might, and he
lad no time to come down to Norwood.
Mis- Madiscu's circumstances having
undergone this startling change the posi-
ton of humble companion, even to q lady
Of title, appeared inappropriate to her
The dowaSer Lady Dumbledon, being APP
prised Of recent events, sraciousIy released
her from her engagement, and, further
more, invited her to spend few days on a
friendly visit. Being kind old lady, with
romantic proclivities, the dowager even
gave the bride-elect many pretty little
presents, ont of sheer benevolence towards
a girl about to do so well tor herself 1t
was Madge's first realization of the great
truth. that to those who have Tor are going
to have much, much shall be given.
The months flew by Each mail brought
long. loving letters from her betrothed,