Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-11-03
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TERRIBLY DECIDED


ooh, Sara, you are too absurd !" And
pretty Grace Ashleigh laughs her pleas
ATTEST laugh. The idea Of loving two
men at once, and not knowing which to
choose! | don't believe you at all. /"
Believe or not, Grace just as you
please" is the soft serious-yoiced an
swer.
Those wonderful deep, hazel eyes of
Sara Prcscetts turn all their subdued
richness Of color toward her friend whilst
she speaks, and every feature of her
beautiful oval face wears an impress OF
earnest meaning.
1T is true, Grace, she whispers: true.
true, true There are moments when |
feel confident that Ralph Curtis, with
bis dark, southern-looking beauty, and
his mpulsiEe, reckless ways, is by far
the dcarer to me But visit from
blonde haired blue-eyed Walter Crosble
changes everything. J am just tossed
about in spirit from one to the other.
Each seems to touch, with me, a sepa
rate chord Of congenialty. | don't
know how it will end Here they have
both been lingering along at the hotel
Grace, paying me daily visits since the
first of july"
Perhaps" suggests Grace, after a
little silence, whilst they walk along
through the twilit paths Of the great
lawn, which compasses the luxurious
sammer-housc where Sara Prescott lives
perhaps you will end by hating them
both, Sara z"
II cannot tell And yet that seems
impossible. F"
VERY well. answers Grace; Il must
ask you to have my carriage ordered
round now, Sara, Notwithstanding that !
should like to remain and help to counsel
you in your troubles but please remem-
Der that | have seven miles to drive, and
that mamma makes a perfect Rachel Of
herself if / stay out after dark.
So Grace presently takes her depart
ure, and Sara is left to hold converse
with her own thoughts, whilst she be-
gins second, and this time wholly
solitary. stroll among the stately shrub
beried lawns
Very gloomy and miserable those
thoughts are She recalls, with sense
of shrinking fear, how intense passion
for her has recently grown to possess
both Ralph Curtis and Walter Crosbie--
how each has become almost aggressive,
of late, in his fierce request for some
final answer to his eager hopes, and how
the more that either pleads the more
'tabsolute and complete has been her in
decision, her doubt, her rerplexity.
No she cannot make up her mind. Al
low that she is mentally monstrosity
Of womanhood allow that nobody has
ever been precisely in her unsettled con
dition; the fact exists, all the same, that
she loves Two men at once, and has no
power to choose between them.
Suppose they should have some deadly
quarrel on her account Nothing is
more possible. They have grown cor
daily to hate each other of that fact
Sara feels right sure. They are living
at the same hotel, and are constantly
thrown together. Sara shudders when
she remembers what evidences she ha;
had Of how fierce temper each pos.
sesses. Oh, Why cannot she be like Other
women? Why must she suffer 50 keen.
" from what seems nothing exeept
Der own gross stupidity and silly irreso.
luton
just at this stage of Sara's thoughts
the sound Of footstep directly bchinC
her meets the young girls ear. She
turns, and in the vague dark sees Waltei
Crosbie's tall commanding figure, anc
fair. Saxon face. He begins speaking
with brusque suddvnness .'Sara-Misi
Prescott have come to bid you good
bye"
''She cIaps both hands together in al
abrupt burst Of surprise
You cannot possibly mean it? q
II do. am tired Of being playeS
fast and loose with, from day u day
you are 20. going" she answers
calmly. after little silence and willis
they were walking on. 81 know b.
your tones aud Jour manner that It