The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-07-06
MAUD cHEsLEYs's CHOICE.
BY MIRTLE COOPER.

of the two you will accept %
Pretty, tiny, blue-eyed, Maud Ches-
ley came out of the reverie with a
start.
1Why do you ask that question,
Katie ?" =.
"Why do you ask that question 2"
mimicked Katie. Well, just because you
have sat there holding your needle ready
to take another stitch, but without tax
ing it, for the last fifteen minutes. Sec
ond. because know that Charlie Draper
and Milton Boyd are both in love with
YOU. Thirdly, because don't inter
I. rupt''-as her cousin made movement
as if to speak-'tif they have not already
proposed, they certainly will do so before
long, or Pm no judge of lovers signs:
and fourth, because you look as though
you were trying to solve some knotty
! problem. Now haven't 1 given becauses
enough for any woman, and reasons
enough for asking such a question Z"
eyes; but do you then consider that
that problem would be difficult one to
solver y
at would not be for me, I know, but
YOU were never like any one else. 1t L
had the choice to make, it would take me
but very few minutes to decide, as
sure you"
eff you had your choice, which one
would you choose, then, may ask 7"
"Why, Charlie Draper, of course" -.
"And why Charlie Draper, of course p
aBecause he is so handsome and styl.
ish, dresses elegantly, and is such good
company, while Mr.. Boyd is as homely as
hedge fence, has not particle OF style
about him, dresses almost meanly, and
is as awkward and bashful as a country
school boy
4tRather q disparaging COMPARISON
And are beauty and stylish manners all
that you!require in husband % ''
81 ttGertainly not; still should consid-
er them necessary. Well, 1 must con-
fess to caring more for mans moral
character and disposition than his out
ward appearance. You have always had
such queer notions, Maud, that / never
could understand you; but you must ad-
nit that Charlie Draper is splendid COM
ri admit that he is everything you say
he is; but while he is spending his even
ings here, there, and everywhere, max
ing himself agreeable to the young. Ia
dies, his widowed mother is obliged to
!. spend her evenings alone. Now, Mr..
Boyd spends nearly every evening at
home with his mother and sister,"
- 'sOh know that Mr.. Boyd is consid-
cred model young man." interrupted
Katie.
"And," continued Maud, not needing
the interruption. che spends no money for
tobacco, liquors, billiards. ETC., seldom at
tends any place of amusement, and has
used his earnings to provide comforts
BILE home for his mother and Annie
Charlie Draper's mother is obliged to
take in sewing"
"Well, I am sure that Mr.. Boyd has
very warm advocate in you, and if you
choose to throw yourself away on such a
clown as he is, 1 have nothing more to
aAs neither of them have asked me
shall defer my decision until they do
Now, as we have discussed the question
sufficiently, suppose we 60 and take our
walk"
.Agreed!". answered Katie. "And
while you are putting away that ever.
lasting sewing, I will get our hats and
cloaks."
Charlie Draper and Milton Boyd were
both employed in the same mandatory,
and both received the same amount per
week; but while Milton had bought and
furnished pretty cottage for his mother
and sister, Charlie spent everything he
made, on himself.
sI am going to call>on Miss Chesley
this evening" Charlie remarked to Mil
ton as they walked together down the
street leading to their homes; for they
both resided on the same street, and that,
instead of any similarity of tastes or
feelings, brought them together.
ssAre your" Milton answered, a shad-
ow as Of pain crossed his face. ,.,
eyes, and more than that, I am going
to ask her to marry me. Iwould not tell
any one else, but we have known each
other SO long that / am sure you wish me
snccess.n 3; 2 -
.eHaye you formed an opinion of what
the result will be?" asked Milton, forcing
himself to appear Indifferent.
"Why, of course | have! We have
known each other for years, and she has
always been more free and sociable with
me than with any one else.''
seYou. think she will accept you, then"
'YeaG Itbink so, answered Charlie,
complacently. 81 will come out rs you
90 by in the morning" And whistling
a lively air. Charlie turned into the yard
OF his home, while Milton Boyd passed
on to his own home, few blocks further
down the street. There was dull ache
at his heart that he had never ex-
perienced before, and he could not think
of ANYTHING but Maud, dainty, sweet
faced, little Maud. He had never real
lied before how dear she had grown to
be to him; tle hours he had spent in her
society at her own home, or when she
was visiting his sister, had always been
very pleasant to him, and he Had admired
her more and more at every meeting, un-
Ill now he awoke to full consciousness of
how deeply herimage was engraved upon
his heart. When he entered the house,
the look of anguish upon his face in
stantly arrested his mothers attention.
"What is the matter, Milton?" she
asked, coming hurriedly forward. care
you sick or hurt?
seNo, mother" he tried to answer
cheerfully as he bent to kiss the face
raised so anxiously to his. But the at
tempt was a failure.
"What is it then, my son? Can you
tell me now, or will we have supper
frst?"
aT cannot eat now, mother. Sit down
in your rocking chair, and will sit on
this hassock az your feet, as L used to do
when was little fellow, and came in
from to play to tell you all my troubles"
He sat very still for some moments
then. raising his head he remarked
"You know Maud Chesley, Moth
aWhy, of course I do! She and An
ME have been fast friends ever since
thex were children. But what of herr"