Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-08-27
A FAMILY WOOING.
[copyright, 1902, by T. c. Mcclure. ]

Il
4 Macdune PASSED over his coffee cup
for the second time and helped himself
to a third biscuit from the enveloping
/ folds of the napkin on the taboret.
The gas log was purring cozily. Aro-
ma of the rich Java berry permeated
the room. The soft light threw shad-
ows, the kind in which Cupids love to
| nest.
The room itself was one of those
| dream places calculated to WOO bach
elor away from his sordid self-silky
curtains, delicately tinted walls, books
that looked as if they had rare tales to
tell and chairs that invited with arms
| outstretched
! Macdune inhaled the fragrant atmos-
phere of content and was happy. With
out intending to make an inventory he
permitted his eyes to wander from one
! thing to another. His glance eventual
~ gravitated TO the girl. All, here was
the piece de resistance! What other
could have worn so pretty gown or
worn a pretty gown so well? Who but
| a genius feminine could have arranged
every fold and flounce just where it
| would most fayorably set off the charm
| ing figure?
Miss Wright was looking at him,
| and the victory, almost complete, was
won by her eyes, like masked batteries
behind the dropping lashes. He asked
hesitating question that brought a
reasonably prompt reply. The coffee
urn and the gas log blinked knowingly
| at one another.
Four months from the day that Mac
dune went from the golf links into the
Wright home for bit Of conversation
and sip of coffee he was riding west
ward with her on a Pullman, looking
happy indeed.
Mrs. Macdune beamed over the din
| ing car table at him. She poured the
coffee and plunged a sugar loaf into
| it's amber bath with q merry little
smile aud an air Of domestic proprie-
| torship.
Claire" he said, do you know that
| little luncheon over the gas log that
October AFTERNOON was one Of the
things that convinced me you were the
signpost pointing me along life's high
way? The coffee and the flaky biscuit,
you know. / thought any girl who
could set little repast like that was
worth princes ransom"
The bride thoughtfully snapped
few bits Of rice from her travelling hat.
Here was strong temptation to be
met and conquered and she only three
hours a wife.
Jack" she said at last, my sister
Edith made that luncheon. l am so
! sorry. | know no more about cooking
than do about Arizona politics"
Jack laughed reassuringly.
Il was going on TO say that the cook
Ing was comparatively small matter.
You see, the pretty little den was ar
ranged with such exquisite taste. I
knew a girl who could hang those pic
lures in just those places would make
| any man on earth wife worth hav-
ing"
She looked out Of the window. A
haze obscured the fash Of forest and
| meadow. and when she turned to him
again her lip was trembling. But hon.
esty won again.
ooh, Jack, 1 am awfully sorry! Ny
sister Flo arranged that room while
was in Buffalo last spring. They all
say my taste is despicable when 1t
comes to arranging things"
Macdune seized her hand.
Forget what | said. 1t was only
foolishness. You know. Claire that
the real motive was yourself: your
gowns too. Why. Claire. you are the
envy Of AZ! the girls in town. How
could a plain old peasant like me fail
to fall head over heels in love With
you?'
Jack. don't: oh. don't" she pleaded
..Ch. Jack. my sister Ethel makes all
ms gowns and plans them too
Having INDUCED in the brutal care
lessness OF being specific, Macdule
would have protested that lie loved her
for herself. her personality. her sweet
sympathy. her smile. her voice, but he
| feared she would arise and say. Alas,
they. too. are all borrowed Here he
was. a poor man. welded to a girl who
could neither cook nor sew.
1T seems. Jack" she said after
| painful silence. that you have married
my sisters by mistake She made
pathetic attempt TO smile.
The tear in her voice melted him com
pletely.
Claire" he exclaimed