Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-11-29
FATE'S CHOICE.

On the western slope Of the Allegha-
MES, where the winding Conemah river
cuts its way through the rocks, and
sparkles in the valleys, lies the town of
-, walled in by mountains and
hills, which are rent and carved by
streams flowing through them, present
ing scenes of picturesque beauty. In
the autumn. when the leaves have
donned their tints, the distant landscape
becomes a panorama of gorgeous love
illness. Through this town runs the
Pennsylvania Central Railway, carrying
freight and passengers to either ocean.
To the wild neighing of the steam
horse as he plunges round the base of
the mountains, the eagle screams back
a defiance, while the timid coney, terri
fed and painting, hides himself in bis
rocky burrow. The country around
- is rich in coal and iron. The
Development Of these resources. has
caused the rapid growth of the town in
wealth and population. The place is
proportionally represented by men of
capital, by the artisan, and the day
laborer. Society here is not Of the
metropolitan type, though among the
higher circles, there is a seeming effort
to approximate toward it.
Among the most dashing young men
of the town was Walter Barring. His
father was a large owner in the iron
interests of the place. In personal
appearance young Barring was of
medium height, with dark hazel eyes.
brown hair. and moustache, and a
lightly built BODY on which the tailor
had exhausted his skill. Graceful in
movements and manners, of fair CONVEX
sational powers, his social status backed
up by wealth, what wonder that he
became a general favorite with the
ladies, and that they looked upon him
SIS the veritable "Beau Brummel?"
He had in the person of Edgar Melville
constant companion and friend, and
strange as it may appear, the two were
as unlike as it is possible to conceive.
Young Melville WIS the only son of a
rich widow lady, whose money was in
vested in the iron interests, yielding
her a handsome income Edgar was
tall, had we'll knit, powerful. frame,
black hair and eyes, clean cut, we'll
marked features, pleasing and intel
lectual expression of countenance. He
was frank, open-hearted and generous.
The two young men had been school
mates, and grown up together with
nothing to mar their friendship or dis
turb their social intercourse until a
strange fatality developed the fact that
they were both enamored of the same
woman.
One of the heaviest coal operators in
the place was John Hamlin. He had so
managed his affairs that the yield from
his "black diamonds )" had made him
rich. He lived in a large and we'll ap-
pointed house. His family had been
broken up by death SO that now there
remained but one heir to his vast estate,
in the person Of his daughter, Marion.
After graduating from an Eastern semi
nary, she made the tour of Europe, in
company with her father, and had now
returned home. wise with travel, full of
Partisan ideas, foreign dialects, and
trans Atlantic fashions. Without being
fooliehly proud, she still felt herself ex-
allied above her companions, at least to
the extent of the advantages she pos
sessed over them in her travels abroad.
In personal appearance she was of ave.
rage size, with well rounded form,
dark, flashing eyes, that seemed to pen
citrate through every object they fell
upon, black, wavy hair, well defined
features, full of expressive Intelligence,
fair complexion, and pleasing address.
She excelled in conversation, and kept
the social gatherings in high spirits with
her sparkling wit and piquant sayings.
A flaming comet, unheralded by the
scientific world, seen for the first time
on summers night, careering on its
fiery course through the fields of space,
could not have caused more excitement
than did the advent of Marion Ramlin
III the town Of --, when she return
ed from her European tour. She at
once became the centre of attraction,
the objective point of attack for all the
infatuated young men of the town. One
by one the numbers of her sui5ors les
sened, Hntil only two were left TO do her
homage. For some time her choice be-
tween the twain seemed to hang in the
balance; finally it was officially an
nounced that Walter Barring had be-
come affianced TO Marion Hamlin.
Young Melville yielded the palm to
his friend gracefully and retired from
the contest. He displayed his magma
nimi6v by rendering congratulations to