Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-08-21
ROMANCE OF A DISH TOWEL.

~
marriedgr asked Harry Stanhope of his
friend, Tom Meredith. as the two saun-
tered slowly along Broadway one fine
spring afternoon.
Because could never find any woman
who would have me, suppose, an
swered Tom laughingly.
"No use to tell me that, old fellow,
reioined Harry. "Girls are not so foolish
ms TO decline taking a good looking man
like you, with plenty of money; yet here
you are, nearly 30years old, and no more
prospect of settling than you had 10 years
ago Now. il il were me, why, the case
is very different. A doctor, just strug-
Cling into practice, is scarcely considered
eligible by the match making mammas,
20 say nothing of their worldly wise
daughters; but they are all ready and
eager TO smile upon you, and you might
as well make your choice. !"
"Thank you," answered Tom, still
laughing. "When / find young lady
who can come up to my grandmother's
standard of domestic virtues | viii in
vite her to become Mrs. Thomas Mere
dith
And what was your grandmother's
peculiar doctrine on the subjectf" in
quired Harry.
Il presume she had more than one,
said Tom, but this she particularly inn
pressed upon my mind: Always look at
q woman's dish towels she would re-
mark with much solemnity. mo matter
how well she plays the piano, or sings, or
how many languages she can speak, never
marry her, unless you see that she uses
soft, dry towels, and plenty of them,
when she wipes dishes Be sure that
girl who uses soiled or wet dish towels
does not know enough to be the wife of
any honest man."
Harry laughed at this definition Of
housewifely knowledge
"There is consid> able truth in the old
lady's ideas after all, he said, "but I
don't quite understand how, in these days
you can apply tue test; most young
ladies that we know, have, perhaps,
never seen dish towel. Now think Of
it, promised to introduce you to my
cousins. There are three of them, all
bright, pretty girls, though / think it
doubtful whether they would fulfill your
grandmother's requirements as a wife.
Still you may find them pleasant ac-
quaintances, and IL you like l win go
there with you now"
Agreed, responded Tom, and the two
friends soon found themselves in the par
lor Of Mrs. Renshaw, Harry's aunt.
The young ladies were all at home, and,
as Harry had sale, were bright, pretty
girls. Ida, the eldest, was tall, queenly
brunette, though she had a powerful rival
in Adele the second daughter, whose
delicate blonde beauty showed to fresh
advantage beside her more brilliant sis
ter. The two were acknowledged bellies
in their own circle, and few who knew
them ever paused to give a second glance
at their youngest sister--little Violet.
She was not present when Harry and his
friend entered; but when her cousin,
with whom she seemed great favorite,
asked expressly for her, Miss Adele care
lessly desired the servant to call her.
Tom, who was conversing with Ida, did
not notice her entrance till aroused by
Harry's voice saying:
"AIr. Meredith, let me introduce you to
my cousin, Miss Violet Renshaw."
And turning quickly he was surprised
at the sight of the tiny creature, so un-
like her elder sisters. There was nothing
magnificent and little that could be
strictly termed beautiful in the almost
childish figure, but something indescrib-
ably winning in the clear gray eyes, and
in the rich chestnut curls that clustered
about the broad, low brow.
"Well, what do you think of my three
cousinsI 2" was Harry's natural question,
when he and Tom were once more in the
street.
. can only express my admiration by
saying that wish it were possible to
divide myself into three separate and dis
tinct individuals that might offer each
of the fair enslavers a hand and heart, /"
| replied Tom with much solemnity.
"What, without even waiting to dis
cover whether their dish towels are in
proper order 2" retorted his friend.
Tom laughed.
IL have presentiment that shall for
get my revered grandmother's advice
until it is too late, when the important
event Of meeting my fate shall arrive"
Weeks passed on. Tom was devoted
in his attentions to the Misses Renshaw.
Almost every day brought some good
and sufficient excuse for him to call at
Mrs. Renshaw's pleasant house; new
poem, the latest song, an invitation for a
drive, or plan for some excursion.
One lovely June morning he presented
himself at Mrs. Renshaw's at quite an
early hour, intending to invite the three
sisters to pass the beautiful summer day
in long country drive.
He noticed that there was some delay
in answering his ring, which was not
usually the case with Mrs. Renshaw's
well trained servants, but at length he
heard light footstep In the hall, and in
another moment the door was opened by
Violet She had broom in her hand,
and busting cap covered her bright
curls, but she bade good morning with
as much cordiality as usual, and invited
him to enter, adding:
Please walk into the dining room, fol
am Just sweeping the parlors.
Secretly wondering, Tom obeyed. AS
he turned the handle of the dining room
door there was sudden rush, hasty
bang Of door, and hurried exciama-
ton of OH Violetl how could you 2" and
he found himself in the presence of the
fair Adele, though for a moment he
scarcely recognized her In the sIovenly
aan