The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-10-21

''StraaUs ShoaU Which W0y the Wiled
BJOeUs."

''iStqaaUs iSb01O Which Way the Vtnd
BLOaUS."
81 suppose she will marry sometime or other,
/ ana perhaps, after all, she will be as well of
to marry now as to waiL half dozen years"
Old Mr. Dorian turned the letters over in his
hand and looked at the pretty blonde IN the
easy chair opposite. 1t would be hard to give
her up, but with either of these two men he
felt that she would be happy.
The first was from q faithful counterpart OF
khimself in his younger days, with few i'm
provements, such as little better prospect, a
few more dollars than he possessed at twenty
five but the principle, the straight forward
| honesty, and strength of purpose was there.
The other was from tho very man he had in
his mind for months. Everybody knew the
solidity and worth Of the house ofthe Hillsdale
Brothers. All knew Clarence, the younger, to
| be thorough man of business and q gentle-
man. He drove his handsome bays, gave a
supper now and then, when champagne and
| madeira flowed like water but men always
found him at his post, with his face flushed with
health, and not trace of dissipation distorting
single feature.
1t was hard to choose between them Perhaps
Ruth would choose. So he concluded to speake
! to her.
"Ruthie come here Bead these"
He gave her the letters, and she read them
over carefully. A blush stole up, mantling
brow and cheek, when she had finished West
Hartleys letter, and at the end of Clarence
Hillsdale's delighted exclamation.
'You cannot marry both. Which shall it
be?"
81 don't know, father l really loved West
until Clarence came but now-well, Clarence
is rich and stylish, and West-good and true.
You shall decide"
"And you will abide by my decision ?''
"With all my heart"
Ruth went back to her easy chair, end he,
with as much or more anxieCy than he felt at
his own matrimonial, sat down and reflected.
Honesty and truth were Jewels seldom found,
but, money in the other scale, he was afraid
they would sink into nothingness.
"Well, will wait. Some day l shall know
into whose hands to place the happiness ofmy
little Ruth"
These letters arrived on the second of Decem-
ber On the fourth each gentleman received
brief note from Mr.. Dorian, with few pleasant
but unsatisfactory lines. He would consider
and give answer ifthey would wait with pa
tience.
On the twenty-fourth there was fair to re-
model the church. Fair young iris, with con-
fectionery at $40 per bite, ana dainty kpick
knacks, priced at five times their value, be-
seged every visitor, and he was hard hearted
creature who could resist the pleading glances
from soft eyes and sweet entreates Of 'do buy
this-you will need it."
Mr.. Dorian was there, and his little Ruth
the proprietress of a table well filled with
worsted nonsense, silken cushions, smoking
caps and slippers, and many a close fisted fell
low laid bill on her table, end carried away
/ Q CrfnKet as trough he mad g s~d0Ubie hi
moneys worth.
Clarence Hillsdale was there, and so was
West Hartley, and Mr.. Dorian whispered:
"Ruthie, you'll never have better oppor-
tunity to study these lovers of yours
And Ruth studied Soon they sauntered to-
ward her table. They were not jealous, for
each others motives were unknown, and met
as well-bred men do, and after salutations to
Ruth, fell into an easy conversation.
'These are pretty articles" said Clarence,
taking up pair of velvet slippers. "Did you
make them, Miss Dorian %
eyes have but these two pairs left. Won't
you have pair? They must be exactly your
size"
"Yes, believe they are. What do you ex-
pect in return 2"
"My price is ten dollars but in a case like
this, we trust to the generosity ofthe purchaser"
She said this with a charming smile, and he
placed roll of bills in her hand.
''You will take the remaining pair, will you
not, Mr.. Hartley?"
eyes :" and West Hartley rendered his offer
ing.
Some one else came up, and they turned
away, leaving Ruth ior moment with her
father.
"See what @ generous soul Clarence Hilsdale
has. One hundred dollars for pair OF slip
pers And Vest
GLOW much did he give you ?"
"Ten dollars only p
"Well, that was your price, and pretty
steep one, too, considering that they did not
cost half that sum-"
81 know but think how great contrast
between the gifts. Why I'd have given more
after what was said, if I'd been obliged to pawn
my boots.'
"West Hartley is more sensible" was his re-
ply.
They went away, each bearing a pair of
| slippers wrought by her dear little fingers, and
each within his heart hope enough to make
him happy and Ruth lost her opportunity to
study her lovers.
Long before the close of the evening Mr..
Dorian got sleepy He was too tired to stay
there and stand the heavy fire and demands
upon his purse and patience; so he found his
overcoat and was trudging along towards his
comfortable mansion.
1.-the figure passed him at the end Of the
block, and under the light from the street lamp
he recognized West Hartley. He was in
hurry, and with little curiosity, Mr.. Dorian
| hurried, too, and kept quite near. All at once
he disappeared. Where in the world did he
| go? All there was q grocery store on the
A few more steps, and Mr.. Dorian was peeping
| in at the front door.
Yes, he was there, and SO curiosity outside
| watched and waited. The young man was
experimenting the tying up of parcels, and
| finally the rolling out of barrel of -four.
"What in the world is the fellow buying
| groceries for He don't keep house." thought
the watcher at the door, as West took out his
pocket book and paid the b II.
| 'These articles must be delivered tonight,
he said, as he opened the door.
"All right, sir p
II may get M yself into trouble" thought Mr..
| Dorian, "but Pm bound to solve the matter"
and straightway walked into the store. "These
articles are to be delivered tonight 2"
CAT No. 2S M-Street."
! "Could you give me a ride p
The answer came promptly, but the grocer's
| eyes looked wonderngiy 9 the finely dressed
old gentleman. 1t was lcng ride, through
narrow alleys and streets, and ended in little
| court.
"Here you are sir, at. No. %. Halo, there
Mrs Martin !" The door swung open, and
woman-pale and poorly clad-appeared
"Here's load of goods for you
"For me there must be mistake"
"Not bit of it. Take parcel or two, and
| I'll run up with the rest"
! Mr.. Dorian caught up the bundle and ran
up stairs behind the wondering woman and
| grocer.
1t was poor little room, half filled with
| freshly ironed clothes, and its proprietress, a
pale, meek-faced woman, bearing the marks OF
poverty upon every lineament. Two children,
| from their supper of bread and milk, looked at
the stranger, and hailed the apples with a
shout of delight as the grocer rolled them into
the basket"
"Did you buy these, sir ?" asked the woman
| of Mr.. Dorian.
"No, ma'am, did not; but know who did.
Do YOU know West Hartley ?"
eyes, Heaven bless him do his washing.
Did he send the goods ?"
as everything here A barrel of -four, five
pounds of sugar, one of tea, two OF coffee, iour
of butter bag of salt, two bushels OF potatoes,
a bushel of apples, crackers, rasins All here
| in the book. Is it right"
eyes, sir, they are all here"
"Come, sir, you are going to ride back with
me?"
eyes. Wait moment. Here, my good wo-
man, is little help to you. | must not be
behind Hartley. God bless him y And Dorian
hurried out and mounted the grocer's wagon.
1t was late when Ruth arrived, in carriage
of friend, at her fathers door; but she found
her father in the library.