The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-02-11

more than mere shelter. In the open
CRATE the gas log burned with irritating
regularity and precision, Haunting It's
beams in the face Of the useful but
unromantic steam-coil.
Behind a gay screen slightly ajar,
There was a tiny g%as-stove and a sing
NC kettle; the half-open door of a cabl-
net revealed odd pieces Of china and
shining silver.
This is what the II shone upon
through the big east bay window on
this morning of which I write.
This an Alice Kingsley at her break
fast table. She makes a pretty picture
rs she sits thus. The domestic signs
and symbols are becoming to her. They
give her an air of homeiness that
makes one wish for q cup of the fra
grant coffee Just for the sake of see
ing her pour it out.
She has a wealth Of brown hair. sin
cere hazel eyes, and a most expressive
mouth. She is tall, slow OF motion and
of speech No one would speak of her
as a pretty woman, but any observing
person would see that h had not
stopped at prettiness but had passed
on to some thing better.
She turns away from the table and
burying her feet in the fur rug before
the CRATE reads her morning mail.
There are notes from two of her pupils
asking to be excused from lessons that
day. Also one from Sig. Viranti who
informs her in his best dictionary Eng
lish that owing to the sudden illness Of
certain prominent singers the concert
arranged for that evening will be post
poned. and that, therefore. her services
as accompanies will not be required.
Then there is another, and this she
read twice, yes, three times. Then she
said-she had 4 fashion of talking aloud
when alone: There's n unalloyed
pleasure in this world, sure. Now,
owing to the deferred lessons and con-
cert, a long day and evening stretched
out before me in which to think my
own thoughts and do such work as
pleases me. And here Is this wretched
letter to worry and torment me. Why
should the writer fancy himself in love
with me? And why should he do such
an utterly absurd and useless thing as
to ask me to marry him? For it
is useless, of ourse Still, perhaps
might do worse-possibly." The
she rose and walked to the mir,
ror. The reflection was not unpleas-
ant She smiled as she locked at
it. But she said: There's no use in
being flattered, Alice; the fact re.
mains that this is your birthday and
that you are thirty-6ve years old to.
day-Valentipe's day at that. Here in
YOUR hand is an offer of marriage from
an eminently worthy and respectable
man who is apparently willing and
anxious u take you away from cell
t~wenty-six and its kitcheny-parlor air
and set you in a handsome house where
YOU wouldn't have to hide your head in
a bureau drawer, bake and boil in
single dish or eat boughten pie: who
would make a lady Of leisure of yor
and who, best of all. or what ought &c
he best of all. would love you and b
good to you; aud yet" she continued
you hesitate, with the little lines com
ing thicker and faster around your eye!
and mouth; with work and worry anc
WEAKNESS stretching out indefinitely
before you You are tired of teaching
music. Your voice will fail you on,
of these days, and your position as frs
soprano in ST. Marks will be given t.
some one else. And You hesitate
whereas you ought to fall on YOU
knees sRd thank the Lerd Tor such