The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-06-26
A wOMAN'S CHOICE.

hate Warfield, sitting on knoll in the
cool. shadowy orchard, on a warm and
pleasant summer afternoon. gave utter
anee TO the wish.
She was in a quandary. She had two
lovers, and she wondered which il was best
to choose.
.Joka Rainsford was young. and had "A
life fall of promise. and great possibilities
before him. But he was poor. Kate War
field knew that he loved her. as a strong
man oan love, but could she. used 10 the
luxury oflife, give up that which seemed
necessary to her comfort. and marry a
poor MAN
Phikp Leith was old, and rich. And he.
in this letter which she had Just been
reading, made her an offer of his heart
supposng such an organ to be in exist
ence-snd hand. He could give her the
things she longed for, the glitter and show
she coveted
road, md looking down that way saw John
coming. Something seemed to tell her
that she must decide between her lovers
now, and in swift way she looked the
matter ever. On one side wealth and
fashion, and all that heart could wish for
in the qualification of its selfish. worldly.
enioyments. On the other hand. an hum
BILE life, and struggles to climb to that po-
sition where wealth could place her at
once.
But then Did she-could She love
Philip Leith. man old enough to be her
fatherY Would his wealth make up for
what her life would have if love was in il
As she asked herself that question she felt
twinge which told her that. after all. she
cared for John Rainsford as she had never
cared for any other man. and for a mo-
ment she wondered if life with him would
not be preferable to life with Philip Leith
and all his wealth.
But the glitter of gold blinded her. and
she shut her eyes to the puirer vision which
passed before them for moment. and in
that resolute crushing down of the better
impulses of her nature, John Rainsford's
answer to his wooing was made. before he
asked for it.
He came up the orchard path, and sat
down upon the knoll beside her. He had
learned, In the summer gone by, TO love
this woman as he thought he could never
love another one. She was all that was
pure and true, and womanly in woman to
him.
: have had letter from the city, she
said. am going back next week"
10 soon" he said, slowly. and looking
thou-htfully of to the blue hills. She
knew well enough what he was thinking
about.
Yes; | have fingered here too long
already. This summer has been very
pleasant one TO me. One of the pleasant
est Summers of my life, think"
Gan you guess what il has been TO
mr. - he asked suddenly. Il have learned
lesson in il that never tried to learn be-
fore. ! have learned to love--to Tore you -
His earnest eyes were on her face. His
words were full of passionate strength and
tenderness. Beneath his gaze. she felt how
unworthy she was of such love as he
gave her.
am sorry" she said, slowly.
lie started. growing pale.
Why ~ he asked.
Because-this letter is from the man
am to marry"
He answered not word, but his eyes
were ON her face In strange. half-doubt-
ing gaze. Could these words of hers be
truey Could 1t be that the woman he had
thought TO be so true and womanly. and
who had let him go on learning TO love
her, knowing all the while TO what ne was
drifting, was the promised wife of ano.hery
How he had been deceived i'm his estimate
Of her. ! think the shock which John |
Rainsierds faith in woman's truth re-
ceived was, at that moment, fall as strong
ss that which her answer gave the love he |
held for her. To him she was the ideal
woman the type OF womankind: and. |
proving her untrue, he doubted all. be- /
cause he had been so cruelty deceived in |
her
She saw the lines OF pain about his
mouth.
= am sorry" she began.
But he stopped her.
Dohtr he said. . Leave the mat /
ler a. y ~. II Is better so. No words Of \
yours are needed TO soften the blow. | 4
snail I't over Il IN time, think, without
y had known" she said, but again
interrupted n,I.