The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-04-26
WHICH TO CHOOSE.

Mrs. Champion, a rich widow Of ONLY thir-
~ summers, and ia the iuil bloom of her beau
u, was In the matrimonial market closely b.
s,egrd by three suifnrs. all of them good look
inc. all gentlemen. and all PROGRESSING unboun-
dcd aud disinrercstri love f,r tn. fair ladv.-
Capt. Trevanicn had been cavalry officer,
hut had retired from the service lie was
tall, dashins faurc. with very aristocratc
manners. a:! like Ned Pepper. Paul Cliff
ords friend. pu>S-ssrd an unkimmon hne
head OF hair." Indeed. IL VAS rumor-d that
his amhro-ial ru'ls were not natures gift to
him. bn' the >i",',a opirpa of some nameless
and more favored individual. procured Of
Boyle bv the Instrumentation of a certain a.
mount al. filthy lurre. r.. captain had IN
her'-.i large fortune.
Suitor No , was Young man about town;
very fashionable polished and pleasant. Hs
,rontrlvtd 10 keri, out o: debt but his fnan-
rial Resources were said tr b. very li,,,it-d.-
Mr.. Ciaut" Careless evidently had a good
prospect oi surrr>s.
The thr'i .uitpr, Mr.. STANLEY Moreton. was
AT art s'u'i-n;. and also cultivated poetry
though very mod st and unaffected he was
slightly ectertr ir in the matter OF costume
wore Rrub,n> hat aud ba.k velvet coat,
and during III. Kos>,rh excitement had seri.
Gus thought OF completing his equipment bv
leather - but his better geuiIs saved him
from tins selection. As he was quite sens-
tive and tmid. had an awkw habit of
tlu>hng. and was silent in company, the
Captain and Careless made light of the rival
ship. and considered the contest as confined
TO themselves.
The Captain proposed. after the most ap-
proved tasis Of ta.h,n. dro,r.ng gracefully
on one knee. and pressing the lips that muir
INJURED his VOWS TO the iair hand he solicited
as his cuer,lon.
When he had retired. Claude paid his De-
voirs. am! ma;ie his proposals with great ear
nes;ne>s. His professions and d,sinterested-
ness were no less cmphatic than the Cap
tains.
The painter came next. When alone with
the lady OF his love he found a voice which
failed him in the presence Of others.
10 each of the suItors she gave the same
reply--nam.ly. that she would return def
mite answrr to bis suit esactlv three weeks
trcn the date OF his proposal. recurring him
in the interval 10 restrain from calling or en-
quiring about her. aud to absent himself from
. the city. Each wooer promised knightlv
obedience. and kept his pledge. The Cap
| tain ran down TO Newport Claude went to
Saratoga. and Stanley carried hi. sketch
. book ~, to the White Mountains.
The widow shut herself up for three weeks
A; the expiration OF that time. punctual to
the appointed dav. hour and minute. the ele-
CANT Captain entered Mrs. Champion draw
ing r Dom. and surveyed hin,sel! from mead to
foot, i'll the Versailles mirror, with smile Of
satisfaction. lie was engaged in selt-admira-
fon when light step recalled him to a sense
of propricty. He turned and behe.d The Wild
ow. but thick veil covered her face. He
drew chair to her side and addressed her.
dearest Isabella sail he. in his most rer
sua>ive 'orI.-s, allow me 10 remove the envi-
ors which shrouis charms that were
neve- meant 10 be concealed"
".Ala> Captain" sad the widow. With q
trrmui"us voice, and drawing her veil vet
closer. lose charms exist no longer"
is it possible. cried the Captain. in a
tone ut alarm. What do Won mean =
'Sinre saw YOU have been very sick. -
When | was child NY parents nrsieete, t.
have me varcinatrd, and the ra.ases of the
small rox-'
The small pox - cried the Captain. push
ing his CHAIR back 10 the other side ot the
room.
"hr't be afraid. Captain" said the wild
ow. III Is all over. and am dreadful object
TO behold. t,.t OF coarse that makes no differ
enre III Your a:crtons.'
Hen - ii would make no difference If I
wanted 10 retire with ,ur into the country.
/, Ia live like Darhv ard jean. But to 90 into
>oci,!, 10 Introduce a, balls and soirees a
, person ii>!Gurrd Nv a dreadful disorder, u
: l.url ma ali, the idea never entered ny
g head -
Il release ,ou from your engagement -
YOU are free said the widow.
Il have no doubt. ma am" said the Cap
tam. greatly rrlrved, ''tha, you viii tiud in
h di,iduals not exartlv in INV situation. who
, will b'-wiil he very happ. ,o-in short, ma
: am. | wish vou very good day."
= '-Cn.d hearted. VAIN eHot s. said the Wid-
: ow. wien he had l-it, Il rightly guaced
e Your character You only wished for . hand
= some wife 10 enhance your consequence and
e Iara" In >orictv. as YOU show off YOUR hand
= some horse IN the street Let us rec whether
! my thoughts have wronaed MIR. Careless"
To Carr,>. she told the same story. The
+ Young gentleman heard of the loss Of her
tcau,v with great non,halance.
e "Bu; that i, not all said Mrs. Champion.
IS NY business man has ut been with me all
J. the morning. NJ, investments were most un-
: tortun,,c ! am completely h.rcand."
al "ilow uriorinnarc. cried Careless; "fcr
l. ! am in The same prediyanent. don't See
v my WAY through ihi> quarter. Now II is very
o evident that II would bc the height Of folly
n Tor two persons. without anv income or pros
y pcct. TO marry only to multiply misery. I
Il must beg ,ou 10 consider my proposal Of last
e month as only conditional. Doubtless there
are rash. .nnprincip!cd men sho would in my
.t case think onl:- of sentiment: tut an 700
e good sorai>t and too unoi a citizen 10
Is ,hink Of per>e.erng row + ,re~e!l. madame
Farewell forever. .ar. you with despair
l. in my heart and madness in my brain"
n Probably no declaration of despair VA. ev-
or uttered in cooler tonc-And SO thought
4 the widow.
q "lie loved me 70: nav moner. as thought. ''
she said IL begin to believe that all the men
l. are alike. II Stanley proves equally heart
'e less shall renounce th- perfi,iiou. sex"
l. The Young artist heard the loss of his Ia
IS dy's beauty calmly.
t. 1T is a misfortune" said be- Beauty ID
= a glorious gift, but reri>hahle tn, true hear,
n and mind alone rem,ln unchanged till death. "
'r bat am poor" said the widow.
ld You give me new life, Isabella" cried
s. the painter. The world cannot saw that anv
as mercenary motives tainted the pure feeling
10 with which I regard you. Trust me, you
Or thall never want while have BRAN and hand
to work for you"
to "Then take me fer such a am srd vas ~