Smyrna times., 1862-06-05
SELECT STORY.
WHICH TO CHOOSE.

Ars. Champion, a rlcn widow of only thirty |
summers, and the tull bloom OF her beauty, was
IN he matrimonial market closely besieged by
three 81 rOrs all Of them good looking, all gen |
IleIasa, and ell protesting unbou nded and dis
Interested love tor the fair lady. Capt. TreV-
sniOn htd been cavalry officer, but had re-
tired from the service. lie was a tell DE- shlng
figure. with very arl,tocratIc manners. ard like
Ned Pepper, Paul Cl.ffurds tread, pcs .esSed u
URcomtBcn 6ne head OF haIr. Indeed, 1t was
Iumored that his ambrOslal cUrls were not
natures gift to him. but The SpOlia opinG of
some nameIess aud more favored individual
procured of Bogie by The lnterpnedmton of a
cetIalH amount of filthy lucre. The Captain
had inherhed a large fortune.
SunOr No. was young man bout town,
very fashionable, polished. and pleasant. He
cOOIrlved TO keep out Of debt, but his financial
Resource. were saId TO be very limited. Mr.
C,sud Careless evidently had good prospect OF
success
Tne third suitor Mr.. Stanley Moreton, was
an ART student, and also cultivated poetry
TOough very modest aud unaffected, be was
slightly eccenlrIc In the matter of cusIume-
Wore a Reubens hat. and black velvet coat, ard
during the kossulh excitement, had serious
thoughts of completing his equipments by
feather, but his better genius saved him from
this selection. IA he was quite sensitive and
lunid, had an awkward habit of blushing and
Careless made light Of the rivalship, and con.
sIdered the contest as confined to themselves.
The Captain proposed after the most approved
taste OF fashiOn, cropping gracefully on one
knee, aud pressing the lips that murmered his
vows to the fair hand he solicited as his
guerdUn.
Waen he had retired, Claude paid his de
vOirs. and made his proposals with great earn
estness. His profession and interestness wert
40 less emphatic than the captains.
Tke painter came next When alone will
the lady OF bis love, he found a voice which
failed hir1 10 the presence Of others.
To each OF the sHitors she gave the sam,
reply, namely, that she would return a definite
answer TO his suit exactly three weeks from
the date Of bis proposal requiring him in III
interval to refrain from calling or inquirln
about her, and to absent himself from the cit,
Each woOer promised knighlly obedience, an
kept his pledge. The captain ran down
Newport; Claude went to Saratoga, an
SLs0ey carried his sketch book up to ih
White Mountains.
The widow shot herself up for threa waek
At the expiration OF that time, punctuaI to III
appointed day, hour and minute, the elegar
captain entered Mrs. Champions drawin,
room, aud surveyed himself from head TO 70
10 the Versailles mirror, with a smile of sa ii
faction. He was engaged in self admiraiio
when q light step recalled him to a sense
propriety. He turped and beheld the wido
but a thick veil covered her face. He drew
chair tO her side ard addressed her: ..<
"Dsarest isabella" said he. "a his ,ms
persuasive tones. "allow me TO remove
euvioUs screen which shrouds charms that we
never meant 10 be concealed"
Alas Captain" said the widow, with
tremulous voice, and drawing her veil /,
closer. "those charms exist no longer"
sIs it possible - cried the captain in ts
ofalarm; "What do youmean."
"since | saw you have been rery ST