The Penn's Grove record., 1894-06-15

Is HSst-LNk IN ASSSSo taOA
@I his curly brow
hair all irradiate
Ej3A by TIL C specks
Sigll sunshine that site
Wa A through the foliag
n 't"I3E''''' of tho scarlt
g%eTaniums in the window.
Mrs. Wilde, in her slowly-movinl
rocking-chair, shook her plum-colore.
car. strings.
ave heard young men talk that IVA
L%cfotc," observed she.
"She will be all to you that a daugh
ter could be-" pleaded Marcus. IA
that your little Nelly would have been
had she liycd!"
"%Perhaps," said Mrs. Wilde, knitting
cnergetically away, ''perhaps not
Makes her livin' mending lace, DON
she's"
"Why, yes"
".Aiu'G much Of a preparation for up.
and. down New England housekeepin',
is ill'
mo; but she's anxious to learn"
"Perhaps she is, perhaps not"
'lt's beautiful work that she does,
mother-Mechlin lace, Point de Venise.
The materials look to me like fairy webs
in her basket. See, here's her photo
graph that she sen 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.
81 don't like photographs" said she.
''They stare you out of countenauce,
and they don't never look like people,"
"But this does look like Alice"
"Perhaps it does, perhaps not"
"She would SO like to know you,
mother"
"Perhaps sue would, perhaps not.
Girls ii say most anything to please
their lovers"
'Mother, she's an orphan, who has
always been alone in tho 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.
"Mrs. Stayner can tell you all about
her." said he, wisely changing his base.
"That old Mrs. Stayner, don't you re-
member, who used to live at the parson.
age2 She keeps house in the next suit
Of rooms Alice often runs in there"
"Docs she2" in the most uninterested
way. "WelI, l guess when l want to
find out about my own daughtcr-in-law,
/ shan't go pryin' and questiouln' to
Maria S~tayner."
MAY / bring her down to visit you,
motherf"
"Not this week, Marcus" drily re.
sponded the old lady. "Im lookin' for
bessie Ann IEolley pretty soon, and
there's your Uncle aud Aunt Jepson,
from Maine, expected every day."
SWELL" swallowing his disappoint.
meat as best he might, ''thoreW be q
chance for Alice to come %latorl"
"Perhaps there willard perAap.
not"
And Marcus Wilde went back to the
city, feeling bafiled at every point.
Alice Hooper listened with that sweet,
suushiny smile of hers.
"Never mind, Marcus" soothcd she.
cts perfectly natural. What mother
wouldn't feel just so2 OF course she
looks upon me as a perfect pirate, trying
TO get away her only son. But 1 shall
conquer her prejudices-only see if
don'tl"
''You'ro IN angel, Alicel" cried the
lover.
And Alice told him he was talking
nonsense, which perhaps he was.
Scarcely a week had elapsed, when an
elderly lady, round and comfortable of
visa9e and plImp of figure, with a green
veil pinned over her brown felt bonnet
and a covered basket on her arm, stood
knocking ~ MEs. G.-sys7r's door, which,
after the fashion of city flats, almost q.
Joined that of pretty Alice Hooper.
1t was Mrs. Wilde.
"Hush-sh-shin she whispered 10 old
Mrs. Stayner, when that venerable fe-
male would have uttered n cry of hos
pitable surprise. ~ don't want nobody
to know Pm here. I've just run up to
do a little shopping, and l knew you'd
make me welcome"
''But Miss Hooper-youW let me call
herr" gasped the old lady.
"Not for the worldl" cried Mrs.
Wilde. "Do you suppose I want to be
paraded before strangers in this old
travelling suit, all powdered with dust
and cinders1 All l want Is a chance to
sci down and rest, and drink a cup O.
tea. Things has changed-yes, they've
changed. Hushl What's that2"
"Don't be skeered, Mrs. Wilde" said
Mrs. Stayner, in al encouraging whisper.
awe hear all sorts o noises in this Hat.
And, sure's l live, it's your son Marcus,
comm up to spend the evening with
Alice Hooper, Now you'll go ia, sure,
or let nue. send for them"
Mrs. Wilde caught at her friends
dress.
"Not for the worldin she cried again.
'I-Idon't want them to kuow.I'm herer'
and she retreated back into the tiny sit.
ting room of tho fiat. = "Bless me, what
corner cupboards of rooms these are!
All l wan. is to lay down on the sofa and
rest a little, and if you'll make me a cup
o good, stronGgree1 tea, Maria StsyDer,
I'll be greatly obiigedl"
Mrs. Stayner hurried into her kitchen.
Something must ha' happened" said
she. ~ never saw Mrs. Wilde lock SO
Hurried and upset afore. l do wonder
what it is2"
Mrs. Wilde herself stood close to the
pasteboard like partition that separated
the two suits OF rooms, white and trem'
bling.
'I'm a regular conspiratorl" muttered
she to herself. "Td ought to be hung
But-but l must know if that girls
worthy of my Marcus Lowell Hush!
That's n sweet Voice. and bnW-inst like