The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-09

cakes, the whole contents of the molaSscS
jug should not be poured upon them at
once. ."-Criticus.
- HE was the only daughter
of a rich English merchant,
n fact which was pleasing
N in outline, but mad its det-
~ rimental side as WELL for
A only daughters. like only
pet dogs, often suffer from
an overwcening amount Of
family interest. which is bad for both
parties.
Of course. some givls are naturally
fitted with the disposition to carry
them through it all quite admirably;
but Susie Harmon sometimes pro-
nounced 'Armon) had the eccentric,
strong minded, not to- be- guided tenn
perament which cannot accommodate
itself to circumstances and refuses to
Mt into conventional inches.
An only daughter should be pink and
white and proper and lady-like She
should talk well and easily, know how
to entertain, and she should be clever
enough not to manage mamma; but -
be able to raise the family to a higher
social position; and. finally. she should
do her duty well in the matrimonial
way
Susie unfortunately was the possessor
of none of these qualities. She was
dark and freckled, and her straight
hair, which by the help of curling-tongs
she endeavOrCd d to conform to a ia hiln
able fiuffiness, had a surprising habit
of coming OUT and standing on end
in a distressingly unbecoming manner.
She walked atroCiously too, in a hip
pety-hop sort of fashion, and he,
laugh had not that ring about it which
would raise her i'm the social sphere
In fact she was a type of that feminin-
ity which dresses badly, giggles, in
opportunely, and flirtS unnecessarily.
For. in accordance with the prevail
Ing fashion which is especially pro-
nounced among English mammas, shC
had been brought up with the idea that
to remain unmarried was distinctly 4
social crime, and nature and heredity
fostered the sentiment
She was desperately anxious tc
marry. Did not her father mother
aunts, uncles and brothers expect 4
of her? And was it fair to disappoin;
them? She was conscientious to a de
gree in that respect, in that she would
willingly sacrifice herself to anyone, be
he rich or poor, young or old. fair ol
dark mattered not: she would throw
herself into his arms, crying out, Take
all have. only marry me-"
But now she was thirty. and looked
it, and still the possible husband re
manned sternly hidden behind futurity';
veil. Her family began to feel die.
tinctiy nervous. Could it be possible
that Susie was never going to marry,
The only daughter of a rich father too
Impossible, Somebody must turn W
some time
II cannot understand it at all. Mary
Susie's Aunt Emma remarked, conf
dentially, to Susies mamma one day
I'VE have done all we can for Susie
We have entertained; we have giver
dances and dinner parties, and theat.
rical entertainments; she has had every
opportunity, and it all seem wasted.
am very much afraid that the poor cir
will I've and die an old maid"
I'm afraid So" Susie's mamma am
swered sadly, shaking her head as sh,
spoke. She was a stout. et-faced
middle-aged lady with mild, melancholy
lookin" eyes and q placid manner. a
unlike her only daughter as the proven
hial hen with the ugly duckling. "Bu
don't think | am to blame. Emma; an
I?' she asked. pathetically. II am sure
as you say, that we did everything tha
lay in our power, and now I do not foe
like eXerting myself any more; besides
/ am tired of entertaining
well. | think, Mary, | think | SHOULD
keep it up just for this winter and theI
If nothing happens, | really would Civ,
ii up. Susie tells me that there was
young man named Underwood, Georg,
Underwood | think she said who shove
her marked attention at the Crysta
Palace Ball the other night; and-wht
knows?-perhaps he MAJ really b
taken with her"
What is he like, Emma, and wha
does he do?" Mrs. Harmon asked.
"Oh, Susie SAYS he Is tall and fai
and quite gentlemanly, and she fanc!c
ne is hank clerk. but she isn't sur
However, he is going to call on Sunda,
afternoon, and then we can Judge 70
ourselves. | hope we shall like him
though"
Il hope so, indeed" Susie's mamma
calculated, ferVently.