Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-06
MISCELLANEOUS.
A WOMAN'S CHOICE.
..I wi.b I knew what to do -

Kate Warfed sitting on knoll in the cool,
shady orchard, on warm, pleasant summer az
rernoon, gave utterance to the wish.
She was in a quandary. She had two lovers
and she wondered which it was best to choose
John Rainsford was young, and had life full
of promise, and great possibilities before him.
But he was poor. Kate War6eld knew that he
loved her as strong man can love- but could
she. used to the luxuries OF life, give up that
which seemed necessary to her comfort, and
marry poor man
philip I,eith was old and rich. And he, in his
letter which she had just been reading, made
her an offer OF his heart--supposing such an
organ to be in existence-and hand. He could
give her the things she longed for, the glitter
and show she coveted.
She heard some whstng down the road, and
looking down that way saw John coming
something seemed to tell her that she must de-
eide between her lovers now, and in a swift way
she looked the matter over. On one side wealth
and fashion aud all that heart could wish for in
the qualification selfish worldly enjoyments
on the other hand, humble life, and struggles
TO climb to that position where wealth could
place her at once.
leith, man old enough to be her father?
Would his wealth make up for what her life
would have IL love was in it2 As she asked her.
self that question she felt twinge which told
her tnAt, hIteT hi, BIG ChIeu lOT JOln
AS she had never cared for any other man. and
Tor moment she wondered il life with him
would not preferable to life with Philip Leith
and all his wealth.
But the glitter of gold blinded her, and she
.hut her eyes to the purer vision which passed
Lefore them for moment, and in that resonte
crushing down of the better impulses OF her
nature, John Rainsfords answer to his woong
WAS made, before he asked for it.
lie came up the orchard path, and sat down
IA knoll la9ida her Ha had Iaarued
tue summer gone by, to love this woman he
thought he could never love another one. She
was all that was pure and true and womany in
woman to him.
II have had letter from the city," she said,
land am going back next week."
80 soon2" he said. slowly, and looking
thoughtfully off to the blue hills. She knew
we'll enough what he vas thinking about.
:" Yes have fingered here too long already.
This summer has been very pleasant one to
me. One Of the pleasant summers of life, l
think"
"Can you guess what it has been to me?" he
asked suddenly. 81 have learned lesson in it
that have never tried to learn before. l have
learned to love-to love 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.
" l am sorTy," she said, slowly.
He started, growing pale.
why" he asked.
" Because--this letter ls from tile man am 10
marry u
He answered not a word, but his eyes were on
her face in a strange, half doubling gaze. Could
these words of hers be true? Could it be that
the woman he had thought to be 30 true and
womanly, and who had let him go on learning to
love her, knowing all the while to what he was
drifting, was the promised wife of another
How he had been deceived in his estimate OF
her. think the shock which John Ransford's
faith in woman's truth received was, at that
fllo ufrn no Mt xylli Ia
gave the love he held for her. To him she was
the ideal Of woman the type Of womankihd,
and, proving her untrue. he doubted all, because
he had been 30 cruelty deceived in her.
She saw lines Of pain about his mouth.
II am sorry" she began.
But he stopped her.
Don't" he said. "Leave the matter as it is.
1t is better so. No words of yours are needed to
soften the blow. / shall get over it i'll time l
think, without Them
"If had known--" che said, but again he
Interrupted her.
II am going now. l hope you will be happy
and not regret what you have done put some
day think you will see what pitiful amuse-
ment it is to win mans love, JUST for the mere
sake of winning it. Goodbye"
And John Rainsford was gone.
Eight years passed bringing strange changes
with them.
Kate Warfeld, in the years gone by since
the summer afternoon when she had made the
choice between the man who loved her, had be-
come wife and widow.
In all those years she had not succeeded III
forgetting John Rainsford-she had tried to do
80. Her husband had been kind to her. He
had lavished his wealth upon her. But she
could not love him. She had been true and
faithful wife to him. that is, if a woman can be
without love, but all the while a memory lurked
in her heart of summertime that had been
strangely sweet and pleasant because OF the love
that had come to her in it.
Ten years had also brought changes to John
HalnafOr1 III hppOma BnnnpHHtnl
People began to point him out as one OF the
most promising men in the political world.
One night there was party at one OF the Sem
ator's houses in Washington. The beauty and
talent Of the season were there. The scene was
like one from enchantment. Light shone on
gay, bright faces full of the glad excitement OF
youth and life; and on older and soberer faces,
for whom the novelty and freshness OF such
sparkled, and lent an added brilliancy to the
scene The air full of strange aud sweet
perfumes. The soft and mellow music from an
unseen band made the air vibrate with exquisite
melody.
Kate Leith in dress OF some rich fabric, that
set off the beauty OF her face to perfection, look
ed out upon the scene with a hope stirring in her
heart that was very sweet and tender. The man
who had loved her in the years gone by was
there. She was free now, and she knew that
she loved him. II, in all these years he had not
forgotten her
And then the woman's heart stirred with d
ieennB tnat was lnexpresslply gehuei. her Hie
had lacked something that gold could nst pur-
chase. 1t was love that she had needed to make
her life what the life of every woman ought to
be.
swift color flashed into her cheeks He wal
coming toward her, with sweet-faced woman
leaning on his arm.
He saw her, and came forward with out
stretched hand.
~ am happy to meet you once more" he said
Her eyes dropped under his gaze, and IA soft
happy light came and went in them She gav'
glad she was to see him.
"Allow me to present my wife. Lois, this II
an old friend of mine, Mrs. Leith."
Every trace of color faded from the woman
face. But she gave his wife her hand in a smil
ing welcome, and murmured a few words of con
graduation, while her heart WAS covering up
sweet hope that had met swift and suddei
death. So true it is that smiles can hide an ach
ing heart