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, MAGLACELIN, Proprietor, STEVENS POINT. : WISCONSIN, HOW I WON HER, Story of a Mishap That Brought About a Happy Marriage. SCOPYRIGHT, 1894] It happened In this wise, I was atay jog in the neighborhood of Market Corby, and my hostess asked m me to ac company her to an amateur concert in to the ‘Town hall ‘John,” she said, “declares he won't give up a day's hunting for the sake of an entertain ment of this nature, and it to dull work ! Going all alone, Will you play the part of Good Samaritan, and come with me? She was a charming woman, and, be ing her guest, could not well refuse. The concert was in aid of one of the church's numerous needs—an extension association, a missionary society—I really forget precisely what. I only re member that i was an appeal for funds of the usual kind. A leading lady in the county had taken an active part in getting the concert together, and, thanks chiefly to her exertions, the re served newts were well Glled with the “elite” of the neighborhood. I will not weary the reader with a detailed description of the programme. We had the stout, middle-aged lady with the voice that was gone, but who atoned for all vocal deficiencies by an extra amount of expression. She sighed, she gasped, she gurgled in a way to touch a heart of stone. There was pathos enough for a hundred songs. She was all soul, all sentiment. One felt one self a hurl when one wished for a lit tle more purity of intonation. Then came the inevitable duet for pianoforte and riglg, with a Scherza, an anuante, an snadunting, an atlegro ands bravura People clapped it as a matter of course, if only to give expression to their un speakable relief when, at length, it came to amend. Next followed the baritone with his Sun on the Cellarer,” and “Stirrup Cap, and the wiry so prano, whose ambitious high notes and shakes were sti no puo intented— on the extreme ‘This lady delighted in old songs by antiquated composers, with Sunny Vittle twiddles and Aour ishes supplying the place of melody. Astuyy was the only word one could hear—love fierce, love trémuless and love drawn out through a couple of or y it was safe to assume that these pleasing ditties were of an erotic char acter of waven shudder as the estim atio Mist Adda Montmorency wound up with a horribly flat Bin Aln It WiseUngGUrh to a setane’s teeth on edge. “Pie dapmertal William says “that Tausie lath charms to soothe the save age best fe quite ignores that it Auean eqdal power to drmtare If one possesses a tolerably gow ear I know me torenly greater than Ustemimgr to BITMeS Wwhiel is out of fuse, My tothe Pivion smiled at hhe expression of dis qust which, I presume, was visible on TRY Gobtenance, “Have patience,” she whispered, under her breath. Flen she ran her tower dwn almost to the end of the Hrst part of the programme, and aided; UE Dam rot much mistaken, even your critical taste will be pleased when we came to that 7 promise fou ‘ @ treat” ‘That,’ represented a duet by an! Tili had composer of no small renown, Two was sinoly Atseribea as a romance, and Was to be sung by Lads Brownie sans her daughter—a girl whom, may hostess iiformed me, was only just out. A confess that indifferent music bores me. It was getting a little tired of the entertainment When at length Lady and Miss Browning stepped on to the Platform. The elder woman seated herself at the pianoforte, and she had not struck half a dozen introductory hors before , recognized in her a thorough musician. Her touch was exquisitely firm and crisp. It had the precision which comes not only from long practice but also from an innate love of music. In appearance, Lady Browning was one of those charming women who, without being especially young or good looking, inspire others with a sense of their absolute good ness. She was stern and motherly of figure. her face was worn, and there were lines about her eyes and mouth,’ which told ‘that Hfe had not always gone smothly; but her expression was truly delightful in its kindness and cheeriness. Her entry was the signal for an outburst of applause, and as she smiled in response one said to oneself: “Here is a good, high-bred and ac complished woman, who, by the force of a thoroughly kindly and sympa thetic nature, stands out from the com mon crowd.” The duet commenced by a solo for the contralto. Lady Browning pos sessed a magnificent organ. The high notes, perhaps, hat lost something of their youthful clearness, but the mid dle and loser ones were rich and full and sonorous. She sang with the taste and finish of a thorough artist, and it was a pleasure to listen to her. When she ceased singing the echo of her voice seemed to ring through the hall. Then Miss Browning took up the refrain. She stood behind her mother, and with the delightful shyness of a quite young girl, sought to hide her face from the public paze. Through my opera glass I could see a delicate profile, which in its paleness, and purity, resembled a marble statue. The complexion was of that creamy whiteness which, to my mind, posesses a peculiar distinction. Her thick, black hair rested in a knot on the nape of her shapely neck. A faint pink slightly tinged her shell- like car. The eyes were downcast, but T could just see how the dark lashes of the right one swept her cheek. I figure she was tall and slight A cer tain angularity of contour testified to her extreme youth. About her was the charm of an opening bud. Time , no doubt, would mature her attrac tion. Still I wondered if it could add to them. As she stood timidly behind her mother, as if gaining support from the maternal presence, she had an air of modesty and virginity which, to a man of the world, proved fascinating in the extreme, I found myself watching her every movement with intense in herent. And then she began to sing. Her voice was like her mother’s. It was round, and rich, and full, with a steadiness of Intonation remarkable in so young a girl Lovery nore told and fell on the audience like a pearl. She attempted no dificult passages. All was simple and within her power. But the effect produced by that fresh, Young, sympathetic voice was inde scribable. I, for one, felt an emotion I had never felt before. My heart stirred my response to those penetrating utter ances. ‘The dart ended by mother and daughter joining issue Its termina. You was greeted by a burst of applause, which necessitated an encore. As Lady Browning advanced, leading her daughter by the hand, a delicate, rose like flash mounted to the girl's face. It was a very pure and noble face, and it bore an expression which somehow re called to my mind the story of the Sleeping Priocess. “That girl's heart has never been touched,” I said to my self “How magnificent she will be when the right iman makes it flutter. And then an odd thing happened. —I, who for ten years past have been a target for mothers with marriageable daughters, I—who warily avoided the snares set for me, and who had been sent to scoff at matrimony as a delu sion, by some strange, inward meta morphosis took to wishing that I night be that man. My fancy strayed into an unfamiliar chancel [ pictured Mise Browning standing in the same shy posture at the altar, clad in a Row ing robe of white satin, with a wreath of orange flowers about her brow; and I—I was by her side, o nervously finger ing a gold ring, the symbol of our junion. The voice of my companion ‘asking a question aroused me from my dream. I answered incoherently. She Was a Woman accustomed to attention, and she looked at me as if I had sud denly contracted a contagious disease. ‘How absent you are! she exclaimed. “Is anything the matter with you?? “No,” I responded. “Only that girl's voice put some queer ideas into my head. Where did she learn to sing? She has a talent of no common order. “I fancy her mother taught her, and she had some good lessons when they went to Italy last summer.“ ““ind profited by them,” I remarked, turning over the programme to see if, Biss Browning's name appeared again. I saw tommy surprise that she was to play a violoncello accompaniment to a song composed and to be sung by her mother, “Watt ejaculated. “She plays that most dificult of all instrument Why! the girl is a heven-born genius, T thought 49,a few minutes later, where listened to the pure, rich tones wrong from the superd instrument by Ethel Browning's little white hands. She was the success of the concert, and T went home longing to make the ac quaintance of this talented young girl, I must have bored any hostess unutter ably, for instead of dying the polity to our, [raved unceasingly of Miss Brown ing, Pretty women are often Surpris ingly generis to each other. Like a dear, good-natured soul, Mrs Herbert uke me to stay oh and make Ethel's ajaintanes, I gladly profited by the opportunity, and made such ood use of my tine that at the end of a week I went to Lady Browning and asked pure mission to pay my addresses to her daughter. She looked perplexed, and Not altogether as well pleased as I had hoped. “Its very good and honorable of Foi, bar Randalphy she said, “ta hnve spoken to me talker than to Eshel, nd I am glad you have done so, for she as very young—only eighteen.” “To hope you live no objection to me, Treturmel ol shall be thirtyeene next birthday. As for my means, bare wn thousand a year, with expectations on the death of an aunt Jum not afraid of being unable to mate Ethel come fortable, Ml that riches van confer | will be hers . She turned her honest brown eyes pen me kindly, but critically. “It is best for ime to be quite franks with you, Sir Ransdelph, she said, 1 have not any wish for my dangaiter to iarry at present. She about to see something of the world before beinge subjected to the cares, and possibly to the disillusiong of matriauny. More i over, I qidst remind you that a gig like my Ethel dogs not marry for the mere marrying’s sake.” And Lady Brown ing drew herself up with a lttle air of maternal pride that became her well. “No, no, of course not.” I mumbled, feeling somewhat crestfallen, “ILay not such a big ass as to suppose that she would.” “Just mov, she continued, “the child has no thought of marriage in her head. She is entirely taken up with her books, her music, for riding, and a thousand and one things besides. And to tell the truth, I am sinecerely pleased it is so. Many mothers nowadays de sire nothing better than to get rid of their daughters, but” and she gave a pleasant little laugh, “I hate the very idea of parting with mine.” “Do you mean that may not even try?” I asked, in a despondent voice, “No, she answered, gravely, “I have not the right to prevent you from speaking Lo Ether. But if you take my advice you will wait.” I had been very much run after by London mammas, and, like a young fool, considered myself irresistible. I never shall forget the look of pained surprise that came into Ethel's face when I proposed, “Oh, she cried, in tones of genuine distress.““Please—please don't say any more. It is only giving us both need less pain. I don't want to get married. Perhaps I may some day, but I don't yet—not for a very long time. And she turned her face away from me. Utterly crestfallen, I returned $0 Lady Browning and told her of my non success. She heaved a sigh, which I thought was one of relief. “My dear young friend,” she said, “you have been too ardent and im pulsive. Don't you understand that a girl like Ethelma girl who has re sources and interests beyond the or dinary run of girls, is not to be won by the first man who happens to pay her a few compliments. Nothing is further from my desire, Sir Randolph, than to hurt your feelings, but believe me when I say that if you would win Ethel you must first woo her.” “And have ] not already done go? I cried, in the bitterness of my disap pointment. Lady Browning smiled, “From a man’s point of view, per haps yes. After a week's acquaintance it is not only a great compliment, but also a sign of signal confidence on your part, to ask my daughter to become your wife. For, after all, what can you know of her? Nothing, save that she has a pretty face, a simple, pleas ant manner. Woman of the world, as Tam, men surprise me by the rash way in which they plunge into matrimony.” “My affection for Ethel may appear sudden, I returned, “but I assure you it is none the less real.” Lady Browning had laid a kindly hand on my shoulder, “It is not for me to doubt your word. But remember this. A girl of character and understanding is not content with mere surface acquaintances. She re quires to know and thoroughly respect “a the man with whom she is requested to Unk her lot.” In order to prove how thoroughly in earnest Twas I took up house in the county and transferred my entire stock to it Twaleily the hunting round Miurlet Corby was fated for ia excel llence, and many a good run did enjoys over the glorious grass In addition to her other accomplishment, Ethel was an admirable horsewoman, and once or twice a Week we met regularly in the hunting field. Although I paid her every attention I could not matter my self that I made much way. Not a sin gle tender passage took place between us. Whenever I talked sentiment she changed the conversation in the most skillful manner. To cut a long story short, laid siege to that girl for Ave years. At times a tiny ray of hope would flutter across the darkness of my horizon. At others I relapsed into the very depths of de spair. I began to feel that if this sort of thing went on much longer, our youth—or rather mine—would slip away. Lady Browning comforted me occasionally by declaring that she knew Ethel liked me. “If she does, why the deuce don’t she show it?” I retorted. “Besides, I am not content with Jiking; I want love. Really, I begin to believe that your daughter is an icicle, and posses ses no heart at at all.” “Wait, and you will find out,” was Lady Browning’s invariable reply; but I was tired of waiting, it was on the 11th of January, 189—, how well I remember the day. There was a burning scent, and hounds ran like wildfire over the biggest and stiff est part of the Market Corby Vale. ‘The line was simply tremendous. ‘The “itches were like bottomless pits, and thhe fences were topped with such Strong’ binders that they turned horses over if they did but touch them. Men were tumbling about in every direc tion. Empty saddles were the rule, rather than the exception. ‘The ladies --bless their dear hearts!—were gal lant as naual, though this was no wom an’s rug, Ethel Browning was just ahead of me, riding in a most brilliant and artistic fashion. Her perfect hands and seat served her in good stead. Nev ertheless my heart was in my mouth every time she jumped, for the fences, mind you, were real snarters. My ani mal was faster than hers, and I could have passed her again and again had J ehnson, but I purposely kept behind her so as to be near in case of accident. By the end of five and twenty minutes there were not more than a dozen of us left upright with hounds. Ethel's chestnut mare was a good game ani mal but the pice had begun to tell upon her, and I could see by the qinv ering motion of net tail that her belt was pretty well snot “tall hard, for heaven's sake,’ I yelled out, as we neared a huge fence, leaving a timber paling running along the top. I had already seen that it must be jumper clean, and bernew that Ethel’s mare was not in a condition to make the requisite effort But, when the blood is warm, when one holds a foremost place in first-class run, and every onward stride brings an increas ing sense of exhilarating, prudence flees to the w Either Ethel did not hear my warning, or she chose to disre gard it. Aughyn, with a courage that made me tremble, she charged the fence. The mare was done to a turn, and scarcely rose an inch. Then the lowed a hidgens crash, and the next moment rider and animal turned 4 complete semrrsanit My heart stood stil with fright. It was an ugly fall to witness. Steal my horse by the head and steering him a little to the right, mnamaged to get over the ob stacle with a vender on landing. Hasty dismounting, Li rushed to Ethel's assistancs. Meanwhile, in less time almost than it takes to tell, the chase swept by, leaving ag alone Enel lay motionless on the ground, a few yards in advance of the mare, who was too beat to rise. I thought at first that the dear girl was dead, and in my an guish put both my arms around her prostrate form. Thank God! she was only stunned, and began to revive di rectly , poured the contents of my flask down her throat. Little by lit tle, the color returned to her cheek, and opening her eyes, they rested upon mine. And as I held her pressed to my heart, her dear face so close to mine that I could inhale the fragrance of her dewy breath, the passion within me, so long restrained, took fire. Ethel T cried. Oh, Ethel! are you a woman or a statue? I love you! I love you, and you know it, I have been very patient, and the after time have forced back the words that came to my lips, so as not to frighten you. When I first spoke to you you were a shy girl. Now you are grown up, and I—my youth and manhood are fleeting by. Things can go on no longer as they are doing. So am only flesh and blood, and cannot stand the uncertain ty any more. Tomorrow I shall pads up and go off to India, Africa—any where, so as to be removed from your maddening presence. Please God! the worst will then be over.” Gently she freed herself from my grasp, whilst the blood flew to her face in a crimson wave, and, receding, left it deadly pale. Her eyes were fastened oni mine. It was as if she could not withdraw them. For several seconds We gazed deep into each other's souls. Never had we been so near to one an other before. Yet I dared not—I dared not snatch her to my breast. Strong | man as I was, for ones I felt the phys ical fear of a coward. Instinct told me that a crisis was at hand, that my fate trembled in the balance and thus one rash word or movement on mp dart might forever destroy my chance of happiness! Ahi what a beautiful and delicate thing is a woman's heart! How little we men know of it, when with our rough, rude fingers we would break the flower of love from its virgin stem. We are but clumsy buoglers at best. My silence and reserve did no better service than speech. Insensibly her lovely eyes grew humid, her sweet red lips began to quiver. Then, shyly, very shyly, her small, gloved hand stole into mine. “Randolph,” she whispered, almost inaudibly, Don't go.Stay—stay with me. And that was how I won her. She is now Lady Trevelyan, and, as marred man, I can confidently assert that if held to woo, the prize was worth the winning. Ethel has taught me what it is to marry a pure and no ble woman, who appeals to the spiritu al side of a man’s nature rather than to the Laser. and if such women are not the ripe plums, ready to drop into the first hand stretches ant to seize them, surely it is well and fitting. The Rachels of the world are not well in 4 day. Mus, EDwaRpD Kexxarp.
Newspaper Details
Stevens Point Daily Journal
Stevens Point, Wisconsin, US
Sat, Jun 02, 1894
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Michaela M.
