Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-05-05

through the foliage of the scarlet
geraniums in the window.
Mrs. Wilde, in her slowly-moving
rocking chair. shook her plum'cOlOred
csp.striugs.
ave heard young men talk that way
before" observed she.
"She will be all to you that dauyh'
ter could be- pleadel Marcus. "All
that your little Nelly would have been,
had she lived"
"Perhaps," said Mrs. Wilde, knitting
energeticslly away, "peE lp' not.
Makes her Twin monding + don't
shel"
"Why, yes"
"Ain't much of preparation for up
and-down New England housekeePin',
is itl'
No; but she's anxious TO Learn"
"Per apps she is, perhaps not"
ats beautiful work that she does,
mother-Mechln lace, Point de Venise.
The materials look 10 me like fairy webs
ia her basket. See, here's her photo
graph that she sent you" passing his
arm caressingly around her shoulder, and
holding the picture so that it should
gain the best light.
But Mrs. Wilde turned her obdurate
old face away.
IL don't like photographs, said she.
"They stare you out of countenance,
and they don't never look like people. I"
'But this does look like Alice"
''Perhaps it does, perhaps not"
"Sbe would so like to know you,
mother"
"Perhaps she would, perhaps not.
Girls IL say most anything to please
their lovers"
"lIother, she's an orphan, who has
always been alone in the world. She
will be so glad to have a mother"
"Perhaps she will, perhaps not"
Marcus bit his lip. Dearly as he loved
this unreasonable old lady, it was diff.
cult to preserve his temper at times.
"lIrs. Stayner can tell you all about
her." said he, wisely changing his base.
"That old Mrs. S:ayner, don't you re-
member, who used TO live at the parson
agel She keeps house in the next suit
OF rO)ms. Alice often runs in there"
"Does shel" in the most uninterested
way. "Well, guess when want tC
find out about my own daughter-in-law,
shan't go pryin' and questiOOin' t.
Maria Stayner."
MAY bring her down to visit you
motherl"
"Not this week, Marcus" drily re
sponded the old lady. "rm looSin' fol
Bessie Ann Holley pretty soon, anC
there's your Unclc and Aunt Jepson
from Maine, expected every day"
"Well," swallowing his disappoint
ment as best he might, "there'll be
chance for Alice to come laterl"
"Perhaps there willard perhap
not"
AMI Marcus Wilde went back to th
city, feeling bafflsd at every point.
Alice Hooper listened With that sweet
funshiny smile Of hers.
"Never mind, Marcus - soothed she
ats perfectly natural. What mothe
wouldn't feel just sol OF course sh
looks upon me as perfect pirate, tryin;
to get away her only son. But I shaI
conquer her prejudices es-only see if
do1'tp
You're an angel, Alicel' cried th
lover.
And Alice told him he was talkinl
nonsense, which perhaps DC was.
Scarcely week hal elapsed, when al
elderly lady, round and comfortable o
v,ssgc aud plum of figure, with gree
veil pinned over her brown felt bOnne
aud a covered basket on her arm, stoos
knocking at Mrs. Stayuer's door, whic'l
after the fashion Of city fats, almost ad
,iued that of pretty Alice Hooper.
1t was Mrs. Wilde.
"dush-sh- shr r shc whispered to OF
Irs. Stayner when that venerable ie
ale would have uttered a CRY OF hos
Itab.e surprise. 81 doa't want nobod,
,snow I'm here. I've just run up i