Middletown transcript., 1893-11-11
A MODERN INSTANCE,
The Girl OF the Period not 50 Easily

flushed from the angry discussion il
which he had been participating a
home. His blue eyes were angry, too
but as they scanned the farm-hous'
porch and caught glimpse of blu'
gown disappearing in the door the.
frightened. A little smile came abou
the corners of his young mouth, ant
he started his horse into brisk trot.
When he leaped from it before th'
broad, white-pillared piazza and threw
the reins to the little colored urchir
who promptly appeared from thu
stables, the blue gown futtered ou
again. Young Lawton stepped swiftly
on to the piazza and towards the girl
He thought her the fairest object hil
eyes had ever seen, this brown-haired
smooth voiced young cousin Of tht
household. His eyes told her so as BIZ
took the gracious hand she offered.
"Why is it." she began with gentle
raillery. "that Uncle Henry complains
of the farmers life as hard one? You
seem to have such an easy time, Mr.
Lawton. Upon my werd, I don't know
single man in town who has time fol
o'clock calls"
Lawton flushed again. He disliked
raillery from Alice. Besides. he had
come to say something to this summer
guest, and he feared that airy bandiage
would not put her in the right mood
for it. So he plunged in with the i'm
petuousity Of early youth:
81 came early because I had some
thing to say to you.
..'Oh, I'm glad to see you, of course, !"
remarked Alice, airily. 81 hope you
didn't think I was SO rude as TO criti-
ciseP No, / was merely meditating,
And I do think you farmers have lot
of spare time"
'Well, | suppose we have as much as
anyone else." answered Lawton. ''Es-
pecially when we aren't farmers at all,
but merely idle young sons
sThat would make difference"
Alice assented.
''But I had something to say to you
You have met my mother?n
Eyes. Isn't she dear? / should
think you'd be SO proud and fond of
her. She has absolutely the pret-
tiest white hair-and such a digni6ed,
manneri''
Lawton bit his lip. He was very
young and very impetuous, and knew
his mothers commanding manner full
well. He thought of how she had
looked an hour before, when she had
told MIN that if he proposed to Alice
Munro he should never spend another
night beneath her roof. For Miss
Munro's pleasantly expressed admira-
ton for Mrs. Lawton was not recipro-
ca, ed.
OF course, the effect of his mothers
remarks was merely to send
the young fellow post haste to Alice,
and here he was, wondering whether she
would marry him, and where they could
live if she did, and whether he would
live at all if she didn't. Still hs was
fairly conceited, and not many doubts
troubled him. He thought complac
emily of the number of girls who he
knew would marry him. His mother
Df course was right in saying that it
was no light thing for Lawton to pro-
pose matrimony to any woman. He
knew that. But exactly why she should |
follow up that statement with the one
about his being an idiot if lie proposed |
% Alice Munro, he didn't see. Alice |
vas very superior woman. She
would be an adornment to the Lawton
amily.
Alice, watching him through sop
listicated city eyes during the silence
hat followed her praise of his mother,
loted that something was wrong. She
vas cogi'ating upon what it was when
le spoke again.
"But it wasn't of mother I was
,oing to speak. I was-You like the
country, don't you?"
His voice was trife less assured
han usual. Sudden compreh4 nsion of
he situation flashed upon Alice.
s'You know that / love it, !" said she,
enthusiastically. 81 mean to live
Iere some day." Lawton beamed.
YES, I've selected the very place. It's
he old Sumner one between Uncle
Ienry's and yours" Lawton's look
vas one of ecstasy. s'And I shall go
bout every day on my rounds"-
"Whatl'' said Lawton.
"Why, yes, of course" replied Alice.
But you don't know, do you? I'm 60
ng to study medicine. I just had
vord from the Woman's Medical
School that my entrance examinations
we're all right. Isn't it jolly?o
And as she prattled gayly on of dis
ecting-rooms and chemical labora-
ories, young Lawton suddenly ap-
,reciared his mothers statement that
lie would be consummate idiot if he
proposed to ''that neice of Henry
fared's."
1t wasn't because his mother thought |
Alice unworthy to become Lawton,
,ut because she foresaw that Alice |
Eouldn'tl He looked dazed and stupid. |
It was unpleasant TO discover in one
instant both that the girl one loved |
wouldn't marry one, and that ones
,wn mother could see it.
ut would have been good for him."
,aid Alice when she told her cousin the
ale, ito have been sternly rejected.
But somehow | liked old Mrs. Lawton,