Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-05-21
Not Uncommon.

"You will not like this nephew OF
mine," Agnes said. "But you must
tolerate him for my sake, while he
stays"
"And why, pray, do you make an
assertion like that?' queried Mrs.
Bedford, toying with the rings on
Agnes's hand. as he so very dis
agreeable ?"
ooh, no, indeed" Agnes fastened
to reply. "He can be very agreeable,
and, as have told you, he is quite
my ideal. Yet he has cold unde-
monstrative nature, and, as you are
so warm and full of sweet emotion, /
am sure he will impress you unpleasant
ly. He often makes people think he
dislikes them, because of his reserve.
| am sorry he is so shy. 1t would be
pleasanter for you, otherwise"
"If he were one who would button
my gloves, you mean," she said, "and
hold my fan, and turn delicate COM
pliment. Oh, dear, no; | do not want
that sort of thing here, Agnes. |
came to you to rest-body, heart, and
brain-and ] am quite willing to get
away from all the frivulous follies of
the fashionable world. But how old
is he?"
albert is twenty-five. Rather
peculiar. too: rigid in his ideas Of
propriety ; very severe in his Judge
ment"
HAS he ever been in love ?"
mot that ! know Of really
wish he would lose his heart it might
do him good. But he finds young
ladies either too bold, too frivulous,
or too silly. He has some high and
impossible ideal of female divinity in
his mind, some perfect paragon OF
virtue, propriety, and modesty. for
whom he is waiting"
Poor thing" sighed Agnes, as her
friend went to her room to dress.
"What pity she is not appreciated
at home. She is Just starving for
affection"
Mrs. Belford was thirty, looked
twenty, and was lowered with those
magnetic charms and intangible graces
which are so much more powerful
than mere beauty, at least when
coupled with mere tact and taste. She
dressed exquisitely understood the
art of pleasing and seeming pleased
read character swiftly; and was a
thoroughly charming woman.
Welded to a practical matter-of. fact
man, who gave her no sentiment, but
plenty Of money, she supplied the
restless cravings of hungry heart
and romantic mind as best she could.
She had met Agnes in Florida, the
previous winter; the two had become
friends and now she was paying a
visit to Agnes, at the latter's country
residence.
81 am sure not to like her, Aunt
Agnes" Albert said frankly, few
hours later, hearing her description
of Mrs. Bedford. "a woman who
roams around the world without her
husband, and goes to balls and the
aires without him, is not my ideal.
Or one who permits other gentlemen
to admire her-and you tell me she
is much admired by gentlemen.
But her husband will not 90 out
with her." his aunt explained. "He
cares only for business, and the races,
and his dogs. He abominates opera,
has no ear for music, while she is
misic.mad. Moreover, she occupies
social position which compels her to
entertain and be entertained. She went
South to escape Northern winter,
and Mr.. Bedford insisted upon her
going; yet he would not accompany
her."
Twenty-four hours later, Alfred
was not hostile to Mrs. Bedford. She
had fathomed him at once, and, play
ing the part of innocence and modesty,
bad subjugated him at a single inter-
view.
"She's not bit forward, but very
modest and gentle" he said to his
aunt, "and she has pathetic look in
her eyes, which makes me feel sorry
| for her"