Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-03-21
CHOOSING FOR LIFE.

CdOUSlN6 FUN LIE 70
Mary Randall was In . difficulty. The
time must come when her choice must be
made between two persons for partner
IN life, ono of whom love recommended,
. with all the fervency Of youthful sfee'
ton, mindful only Of the present; while
cold reason. looking forward to the future.
and not troubled by the present. was as
strongly pressing the claims Of the other.
In the society in which she moved. Mary
Randall was regarded as girl who not
only had been favored by nature with
many physical sdornments. but WHO had
received from her. also, tho-e beaut es OF
mind which make swoman truly lnvable.
On the god foundation which nature had
laid. careful instruction had reare glo-
rious character. which governed her &C
lions well-so we'll that Il was said b. some
one. and confirmed by every ono. that Mary
Randall neve, oven parleyed with evil
when shs knew Il 70 be such.
OF course. IS rule, such person must
te . mark in society. and Mary Randall
was no exception for. In her sphere. she
received tho sdmirstion and attention OF
many young men. But two. however. were
looked upon ~ in any degree likely TO be
successful. They were Charlie Maynard
and Frank Morton. The difference b.
tween these two young men was marked
Charlie Maynard vas handsome. pleasant
and consequently rst In society. Frank
Morton was rather plain In appearance,
and. though pleasant La manner. Jet was
rsticent. and. on the vhs,s. was NOT man
70 show we'll In drawing room but those
who knsw him hast. knew that there was
great depth In the man eli acknowledged
that hs possessed many sterling qualities
Charlie Maynard was the most soeiable.
and in looking in his fraak. open face. there
was % much ca the exterior TO admire.
taAs very few saw further those Who did.
know that there was ne stseagth Of char
sotes 70 support him. and their views were
Strengthened BY the fact that he nsver re-
fused the glass Of wine offered him. be-
cause. a he saA, anything 70 Be soei.
able" Frank Mortoa. on the other hand.
often fsn in the good opinion Of eome. by
his steady refusal to take even the mcss
"soeinble" Of glasseA
Mary Randall vas one Of the few who
noticed these dferenoes, and they were
s:roaaly marked 70 her. for she loved
Charlie Maynard, and often had been
grieved vhsn he had shown the weakness
of bis character, aad had been led to com
pare this weakness With the stability Of
Frank Morton. She had often, on these
occasions, wished that Charlie was like
Frank Aoftoo. Bot 10 retura.
Mary Randall was in difficulty. because
these two young nsn had proposed and
as both could no. be scospted, choice
must Be made. II wsl Asrious thing for
her 20 make choice toe LIE. and she felt
the responsibility. and had asked time IN
which to consider: but now tbe ler cd VAS
near when definite snswef must be given.
and shs wa Is uade ided 10 When she had
asked tine. She rat down. determined to
think over the situation. and come to de-
finite decision. First. she regarded thelr
prospects 10, life. Both had the same trade
they were of the superior order of me-
chanis; both were industrious; whether
both were saving or not. she d d not know;
evidently here was NO help for solution
Of the difficulty both held tho same posi-
ton In society here vas no help.
Thus Mary though and still there was
no solution and as 1t became more evident
to her that thought could do nothing, 90
much stronger became tho calls OF love for
decision in favor Of Charlie. And she
was well nigh decided in her choice. but
there was q strange feeling in her heart. .
feeling Of misgiving; and. obeying it, she
still hssitatsd, when, Just at this favorable
opportunity. cool. far. sighted reason whis'
pered to her, Charlie drinks"
The feeling Of misgiving was explained:
this it was which had restrained her But
.nuch of its effects were lost, for love, loo.
whispered In her ear. and what did hs say
eyes, he drinks. but only sociably-he Is
too high minded to 60 further"
Looking at the situation with eyes OF
love, this seemed very probable view;
and again Mary wavered-but not long,
for Immediately reason thundered in her
ears "f, in prosperity. he drinks socially.
what might lie not do in advsrsty?"
The question came home to her with
force -" What might he not do IN adver'
silyY And. as she thought Of what he
might do, she shuddered at the depth of the
pit on whose brink Charlie WAS standing.
But her mind was now decided, In mat.
ter of a lifetime in which so many interests
were involved, she could not run even the
smallest risk.
When, q few days after, Charlie came.
and received a negative answer, no amount
of pleading could change her mind, for the
decision at which she had arrived had
weakened very much her love for him,
4. L. ~s,1 frAr