Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-02-01

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But Bernardina speedily relieved
him of his misgivings.
"Why, you delightful creature !"
she cried, with her blue eyes smiling
dark and brilliant from under the
lace border of the parasol. "You
have quite restored my selfrespect,
and made it possible for me to fancy
myself one of Worth's confections."
So Bernardina ate her former
words with perfect cheerfulness, and
was whirled away to the fete in
state of complacency, second only to
Mr.. Maunder's sense of satisfaction.
Arrived at the scene of festivity,
people were not slow to discover this
new beauty, who was the obvious OBJ
iect of Mr.. Maunder's devotion. If
the ladies were inclined to he critical
about the set of her gown, the men
found no such barrier to their admira-
tion-and in point of fact, Bernar-
dina did look sufficiently charming
in her simple cream-white gown, with
folds of tulle caressing the white col
umn of her throat, and the big bunch
of roses beneath her dimpled chin Wy
ing with the color in her cheeks. For
once at least Bernardipa drained the
intoxication cup of social success,
with a gay and whole-hearted enjoy
ment which some pronounced the
perfection of art, and the masculine
element declared to be adorable.
But it was over and next morning
poor Jack had to hear his sisters crit
icisms at breakfast.
Fancy my feelings" said the eldest
Miss Maundcr, with dignity, appeal
ing to her mother for sympathy;
"when / showed her Jacks picture
of The Sylph,' she asked me if l
did not think the legs resembled
champagne bottles-and half dozen
people standing around"
"If knew her BETTER" said another
Miss Maunder, sitting yawn, II
should advise her to change her man
tuamaker."
But this was too much for Jacks
equanimity. Before his mental vision
arose picture of Bernardina, with
her pretty perplexed face and hopeful
gayety, while she planned and contriv-
ed the costume which these world
lings now would criticise.
Mother and sisters" he said, rising
manfully to the occasion, should like
you to know that the lady you are
discussing I intend. if possible, to make
my wife," And then he was gone,
leaving this thunderbolt behind him.
But his head was in a whirl as he
took the well-known road to Bernar-
dina's.
He would ask her to marry him
that very morning-his pretty darl-
ing, who was worth dozen of those
cold-hearted conventional creatures /;
but he would let them see he didn't
exactly know what, but he kept up
his wrath and resolution, until he
had poured out his heart at Bernar-
dina's feet.
But Bernardina took the recital
very coolly. SHOULD you feel justi-
fled in marrying against your mothers
wishes, when you are dependent upon
her bounty?" she demanded little
scornfully. May l inquire what
other means you have to marry upon,
Mr.. Maunder ?" she asked with a
portentous calm.
But this was practical question
which visibly discounted Mr.. Manu-
der, and tended to check the fowery
rhetoric of his declaration. He even
looked little foolish.
II have some sort of farm in Vir-
ginia, but I've never seen it," he adj
mitted sulkily, after somewhat
blank pause.
And then the storm broke.
Then my advice to you is, Jack
Maunder," she said bitingly, "to
learn how to earn your own bread, be-
fore you invite wife to share it with
you. Do you think | would thrust
myself upon an unwilling family and
ask to be supported Not l, Jack
Maunder. My own poor mother
ruined her whole life, by just such
marriage as you invite me to make;
but because | have been foolish and
happy and light-hearted, l am not al
together lacking in common sense
and sooner than marry the way you
ask me, I'll live and die an old maid,
Jack Maunder."
With which awful declaration Ber-
nardina came to the epd of her breath,
with several emphatic shakes of her
head, and her blue eyes flashing dan
gcrously.
"At least, you have not spared me
any," said poor Jack, with his lipsI
trembling boyishly under his long,
fair moustache and under the re-
proachful gaze of these miserable
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