The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-04-28
TOO OLD A DAUGHTER.
nY ELIZABETH CHERRY HARE.

80 so
they kissed mo goodbye on the steamer
dock before they sailed for Liverpool
and on a Continental tour. l do not
think they would have gone so cheerful.
ly II what might happen had appeared
upon tho horizon OF tho future. They
fancicd that l was most suitably pro-
vided for until their return. | was
placed with n cousin OF mature years,
VINO IN turn, was living with a relative
OF more mature years. They dwclt in
n beautiful suburban villa, some five
miles from n large inland city.
l was loft behind because my mother
was iashianble and still young. When,
at n provingly early age, l had gradu.
ated from 4 fashionable. school, it was
decided by my mother that must en-
ter a college, and, whether or no, l was
enrolled ior tho September term. In
the meantime /. was TO rccuperatc in
this country suburb. l had more than
gently hintcd that q European journey
would be of intereat and advantage TO
me, but had been scorniully told that
cit was not TO be considered q momeu.."
My father looked n little wistiul, but he
never interfercd with mammals educa.
tional plans.
l was entirely too much Of q woman
for mamma to accept at this time. She
loved me devotedly, but. rs girl and
woman, had been queen OF q court.
Queens can gracefully accept young
children as belongings. but it is a little
embarrassing 10 own q daughter who
was Coming ON" to a moro decided
beauty and style.
Fleeing to Europe was mammals last
resort. | ovcrtop her by two inches.
She looks dumpy if she has to walk
with me. l was arranged for with
Cousin Kate, whom mamma had not
seen for years, but who was supposed
to be { settled-down spinster, although
she ls five years mammals junior.
When l had been at Cousin Hates
two days went out into the garden
alone and INDUCED in some unseemly
mirth Mt the expense OF my mother.
She had placed me. figuratively speak
ing, in u den Of lions. In mammals
widest dreams she would not have
imagined that Cousin Kate had ripened
into n most gracious and attractive NO.
man, whose house was the centre Of n
circle OF people, young and moro ma
ture, who were more creatures OF brain
than OF fashion, hut who were also
much more attractive to me than tho
tops and chappios OF mammals king
dom Loto ,ntaJ rn ~ &c
woman and openly admired me. The
matnrcr relative who c~haperoned us be-
cause she had possessed a husband in
bygone days was the most agreeable
and compliment OF noodles. She read
novels and slept through the most
beautiful music. Tho long, old-tash-
toned parlors were the scene, evening
after evening, OF pleasant chat, readings
and music. There were those who came
liabitually who seemed to regard it as a
great privilege to be at homo here and
to pass in and out O.; the long windows
and sit and swing in tho hamlnocks and
easy chairs on the porches.
This is Castle Easy" said Turney
Lee to mo on the second evening. at
is also a second paradise
Maybe l did not onioy it! Remember
1t was n girls first glimpse ut life, and it
presented itself in this alluring fashion.
Mrs. Lacey and Cousin Kate had some
magic which regulated tho household
machinery SO that it went on well.oiled
wheels. We lollcd on the porches
under the shade Of the vines in tho hot
mornings, We dozed an hour or two
alter QUE luncheon and arose for q drive
in the late afternoon or 4 stroll to the
river, returning to 4 6 o'clock dinner,
for which We could appear in evening
dress or not, as sweet will had it. Then
later, by car or upon horseback or in
carriages "Kate's court" gathered in the
twilight. viii I cvor forget those twi-
lights?
This was the enchanted life into
which my mother had banished me.
why don't you marry?" | said to
Kate after q week. ~ had been taught
that it was n duty in life"
She laughed. 81 have been afraid to
break the spell. l will marry when he
who comes is moro than this pleasant
life I lead"
So you see Cousin Kate was romantic
or sentimental, call it what you wish.
| soon saw that there were two men
whose attentions we're more than serious
toward my cousin Kate. Those were
Erness Sprague aud Turnsy Lee. Both
wore very much in love with her, as l
thought. With all the rash prdor OF a
girl l proceeded to choose a iavorite Tor
her and push forward this matrimonial
scheme. 1t seemed to me that Kate
only needed tho prestige OF being amar.
rlcd woman to make her perfect. l had
heard my mother rather sneer at her
continued spinsterhood and l wanted to
DO able to forward some wedding cards
to tho travellers, with u glowing account
OF q wedding and its consequent splen.
doris. l devoted my time and attention
to tho matter and was much surprised
when tho true state OF the case was
borne in upon my understanding. Kate
cared q great deal for Ernest Sprague
aud no was q nan who was very deeply
in love with every woman he met and
Mr.. Ernest Sprague most OF all. As for
Turney Lee, he seemed 10 be so much
more OF what any woman would desire
in a husband, that / became his earn.
est champion and praised him high
and low to Kate. l expatiated upon
his good qualities. his quiet devotion.
his substantial affection until Kate
laughed very much and, in private.
must have impaired to Mr.. Lee some o.
my views upon him, for he began to
treat me with much cordially and seek
my company. Here was my chance. I
was quite as enthusiastic about Kate to
him as I had been about him to her. I
was sure my c%loquence would win the
day. Ieven walked in the rose garden
one morning and planned out the DOR
tons Of my toilette for Rates wedding
which would require the most though,
and sanr;lasaI, ,rnn "a liz ~