Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-07-11
EDITH'S VICTORIES.
Her Triumph Over Quaker Gus
toms and Prejudices-

81 would offer TO help you, Edith,
only don't know what you mean to
take" said Helena Marvin, looking into
the room where her sister was pack
Ing.
"TakeP" said Edith, hardly pausing
TO answer as she moved about the open
trunks from closet and bureau, "why,
am going TO take every thing"
Don't you mean to make any con-
cessonsp"
mot concession.
you think it will be better to defy
themp"
defy them! no, indeed! what hor-
rible ideal"
Then what do you mean to doP"
II mean to please them.
but how can you possibly please
them if you wear silk dresses and curl
your harp
81 don't know; perhaps | sha'n't; but
Tn going to try. And | know l never
should please anybody if ] left my hair
straight"; and the pretty Cambridge
belle thought to herself that II would
be pity, indeed, if she, who had al
ways pleased everybody without try
Ing, could not please Roberts relatives
II she did try.
But this visit to Roberts relatives
was naturally contemplated with even
more than the usual trembling excite
ment of the young .fancce. For Rob-
s,-tfo g. 80
were all 0uakers, with traditions and
beliefs and customs according to which
they ought to contemplate with horror
and distress this union of their only
son and brother with world
ling! And such wording!
Such a fascinating combination of
laughing eyes and merry lips and curl
Ing hair and tinkling bangles and
rustling long silk skirts and coquet-
tish bonnets and bewilderlng laces and
ribbons and little slippers. oh, dear!
oh, dear! how they would hate her!
And Edith did not want thom to hate
her. She had not the slightest desire
to defy or to horrify them. She was
very anxious, indeed, to please them.
But combined with this anxious desire
to please was II quito unconscious,
though equally firm, determination not
to win their affection by concessions.
Not SO much rs the bow of n
slipper would she offer up on
the shrine of devotion to Rob-
ert's relations. Worldly she was;
worldly she would be sure to remain;
and 1t was best that they should under
stand from the first that she was
thoroughly addicted to silk, satin and
lace whenever she could get it. But
she had faint hope that, once brought
In contact with her worldliness, they
would find it pleasanter than they
thought Why not' She had con-
quered Robert; why should she not
conquer them? Robert had not fallen
In love with her in spite Of her airs and
graces; he had fallen in love with the
airs and graces themselves. He had
often told her so. He had repeatedly
pointed out the particular little curl
over her adorable forehead that had
FIRST won his attention, and had assured
her that 1t was n certain bit of lovely
lace about her throat that had COM
pleted his subiugation. And that dear
little curl was not only curl but 1t
was bOughtcn curl, held in its place
by hairpins, and as iictitiously world
ly as a curl could possibly be. True,
Robert was not exactly Quaker; he
was only descendant of Quakers.
He had not definitely renowned the
world, although there chung to him
from the force of hercdity and train
Ing and circumstance, n certain
grave demeanor and atmosphere
OF earnestness. He did not dances;
he didn't even want to dance;
but he did not exactly disapprove Of
other people dancing il anybody did
choose TO indulge in so foolish ca
price; and on the evening when he had
been lured by friend TO one of the
Cambridge Assemblies, and had met
there his Immediate, unquestionable,
irresistible, worldly little fate, he had
even felt suddenly sort of impotent
rage with himself at not being able to
dance. True, he didn't want TO dance
any more than he ever did; but then,
she wanted to dance, and how could
he ever please her If he couldn't do en-
actly the things she didP Still, he had
pleased her, and with very little effort;
for the quiet, earnest youth was tall
and very handsome, and would gradu-
ate with honors; In consideration OF
which attractions his earnestness might
easily be forgiven, even, indeed, il the
earncstness itself had not u certain
charm of its own, rs ut least a novelty.
So, II Robert had pleased her, and she
had pleased Robert, unlike each other,
rs they were, and everybody acknowl-
edged that II was perfect love match
on both sides, why might 1t not be pos.
siblo that she would please Roberts re.
lationsP though not So much as Il slip
per-bow would she sacrifice from hel
pleasant worldlincss TO secure that
much-to-bc-dcsirod result.
As 1t CHANGED u test If her resolution
IN this respect was offered immediate.
\ ly. Mrs Marvin aud Edith had hardl,
been shown to their chamber. after
their arrival'at tho Longworth home
before Edith opened her lraveling-bas
and exclaimed In dismay:
uQh, dearl oh, dear! Mamma. IN,