Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-03-05
My CHARMER.
BY NJ. A. b.

felt vexed that my mother did not
enter..intoE NV. raptures concerning
"She's the sweetest grim the world y
cried, enthusiastically. $50 natural,
so innocent, so free from anything like
deceit. don't think any other man in
all this world will have so lovely a wife
as will have"
Ny mother only smiled and answered
nothing.
"She is so beautiful, and she has
such winning way with her that il
attracts every one. Then she loves me
so devotedly that she never gives q
thought to any other man."
Still my maternal relative spoke not.
Nov, mother" cried 1, losing
patience, "why don't you tell me what
you think of Lulu? Surely you can't
think there is any other girl who would
be more suitable for me"'
"Well," said my mother, slowly,
"since you want my candid opinion, 1
can only say that 1 do not like your
ySSg %d c RRt than Old &9ResR and
look at girl with the same eyes.
"But what objection have you to
Lulu for q daughter? L persisted
isn't she beautiful, graceful, intelli-
gent and refined? Is it because she is
poor that you object to her?"
mo, Frederic, not on account of her
lack of fortune. L believe her to be a
heartless, mercenary girl, who is not so
devoted to you as you suppose"
"That is very unkind of you, mother.
You don't know her as we'll as i do"
Il suspect / know her great deal
better. But if you have made up your
mind, my son, suppose it is of no use
to argue the matter with you. would
have greatly preferred Inez baltimore
for daughter, but of course it is
useless to speak of that now. Yet /
used to think that you really liked
her."
"That was before met Lulu" said /,
with significance.
vnMA xi my0ther sighed and looked ont of
"They say love is blind, and 1 think
it is truly so in your case. Inez is a
loyal, true-hearted girl as well as a
beauty and an heiress, while l believe
Lulu to be a mere fortune-hunter.
Mother" cried, holly, IF you and
are to remain friends you must not
speak in that way of my future wife. Z"
"You asked my opinion and gave it.
Now let us drop the subject"
In no very good humor took my hat
and stalked out of the room. Leaving
the hotel, 1 bent my footsteps to q
grove near by, which was favorite re-
sort in warm weather.
"No doubt Lulu is in her room, read
ing or sleeping" thought. at is
really too warm to do anything else
these sultry afternoons.
Finding apleasant spot beside huge
fallen tree, lay down and fell to mus
ing.
Mother is the best woman in the
world, but she can not appreciate my
beautiful Lulu The idea of for O
moment comparing her with Inez Rath-
more? OF course, Inez IS we'll enough,
but she is not an angel like my Lulu. "
1 commenced to feel drowsy, and at
length fell asleep. Voices on the other
side of the fallen tree aroused me from
my uneasy slumber Reluctance to
playing the eavesdropper was overcome
by desire to hear the conversation,
for recognized one of the voices; 80
i lay perfectly still and listened.
Yes, it is very tiresome," Lulu was
saying, in her sweet, gentle tones, ITO
marry a man do not love. But, Cyril
dear, must. 1 have always been ac-
customed to luxury in my uncle's home,
and he expects me to make good
match, for he will give me nothing
when L marry. But, love, do not look
80 sad. You will find some other girl
to marry"
1 ground my teeth in rage. Who
was this man she called "love" and
dear?" When he spoke. my an
swer came, for i knew the voice TO be
that of Cyril Helstone, a young man
who had been Lulu's lover before !
came.
"You do not care for me as care for
you, Lulu" he said, cor you could not
talk So"
"Now, Cyril, ii is you who are talk.
ing foolishly. I love you with all my
heart, but have more prudence than
you. Were we to marry, what would we
live on? You have nothing but your
profession, and 1 am dependent upon
my uncle. No, no; much as love you,
will have to marry Frederic Car
lyle"
On the other side of the tree, ]