The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-10-03
ROMANCE OF 4 DISH TOWEL.


Because I could never find any woman
who would have me, I suppose" an
swered Tom laughingly.
"No use to tell me that, old fellow, {"
rejoined Harry. "Girlsare not so foolish
as to decline taking 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, if it were me, why, the case
is very different. A doctor, just strug-
Cling into practice, is scarcely considered
eligible by the match making mammas,
to 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 a young lady
who can come up to my grandmother's
standard Of domestic virtues 1 will in
vite her to become Mrs. Thomas Mere
dith. a"
"And what was your grandmother's
peculiar doctrine on the subject?" in
quired Harry.
81 presume she had more than one, I"
said Tom, but this she particularly inn
pressed upon my mind: Always look at
a wOrnan's dish towels she would re-
mark with much solemnity. No 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 disbesl Be sure that a
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.
rThere is considerable truth in the old
lady's ideas after ALL " he said, "but 1
don't quite understand how, in these days
you can apply the test most young
ladies that we know, have, perhaps,
never seen a dish towel. Now think of
it, promised to introduce you to my
cousins. There are zee of them, all
bright, pretty girls, though I think it
doubtful whether they would fulfill your
grandmothers requ.. ,ments as a wife,
Still you may find them pleasant ac-
quaintances, and if you like l win go
Illele NlOh 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 said, were bright, pretty
girls. Ida, the eldest, was tall, queenly
brunette, though she had 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 cv T paused to give a second glance
at the youngest sister-little Violet.
She was not present when Harry and his
friend entered; but when her cousin,
with whom she seemed a 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:
"MT. Meredith, let me introduce you to
my cousin, Miss Violet RenshaNw."
And turning quickly he was surprised
at the sight Of the tiny creature, so I'M
like her elder sisters. There was nothin,-
magnificent and little that could 10
strictly termed beautiful in the almoss
childish figure, but something indescrih-
ably winning in the clear gray eyes. and
in the rich chestnut curls that clustered
about the broad, low brow.
swell, what do you think of my t''rc
cousins?" was Harry's natural quest or
when he and Tom were once more in tn
street.
can only express my admiration By
saying that l wish it were possible to
divide myself into three separate and dis
tinct individuals that ! might offer each
of the fair enslavers hand and heart,
replied Tom with much solemnity.
What, without even waiting to { d.
cover whether their dish towels are
proper order ?" retorted his friend.
Tom laughed.
81 have a 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 spficiehtSexcuse for. him to call at
MIS-, Bensliasw's pleasant house, a new
1 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
i 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 a broom in her hand,
Eandr a. dusting cap covered her bright
curls, but she Babe good smefning with
as much corliality as. usual, and invited
him to enter, adding? "
hrf Please walk into the dining room, foi
am just sweeping the parlors. >"
~Sdo 81 nveHdeHhg, Tom 9beyed. Az
he turned the handle of the dining room
door tFare was a2sudden rush, hasty
bang of a door, and a hurried exelama
tiopof Obi Violet how could you r. ant
he found himself in the presence Of th'
fac Aslele though for a moment h
scarcely recognized lieis Ia the slovenlJ
dressed girl, with disheveled hair, r,iwht
stood by the breakfast table dabbling th'
cups and saucers in some greasy waite
and wiping them on a towel, which, t
say the least, was very far from beinl
spotlessly clean. She colored, and witt
some confusion. of manner said:
"Ah, good morning, Mr. Meredith. s.
you have come. to find us all at work thi
morning? It happens thatwe have 70
our three servants a brother and tw'
I sisters. They received this morning tn
news of their mothers dangerous illness
and mamma at once gave them all per
Highest Of all in Leavening