Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-01-26
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TRIED AND FOUND WANTING.

"And you really fancy yourself in love
with this fair-haired little shop-girl ?"
Mr.. Meredith, tall, noble-featured
man of fifty, looked rather sadly at his
enthusiastic young nephew.
"Fancy, uncle? That is hardly an
appropriate word to use. l am quite
certain of the fact"
81 suppose you will consider me a
very bad judge of the human character,
if | tell you that | like her little cousins
demure face best. Believe me, Harry,
there is more real stamina in Ruth Duer
than in her pretty cousin Rachel"
There sir" answered Harry, reso-
lutely, lis where | must beg leave to
differ with you"
We'll, my boy, you must choose for
yourself. Remember, it is no question
Of a partner for a waltz, or a pair Of
bright eyes whose glitter is to amusc
you for one or two evenings. The woman
whom you now select for your wife must
necessarily exert more or less potent
influence over your whole life"
| know it, SIR" and Harry's mirth-
full face became for the moment almost
grave.
That she earns her own living behind
the counter Of fancy storc-that they
both do, in fact, is no drawback in my
eyes. Independence ana self-reliance
are to me cardinal virtues, and even
though your wife will be raised into an
atmosphere of comparative wealth, few
lessons taken beforehand in the impartial
school of worldly experience will be Of
incalculable use to her"
Harry Meredith sat long, that night,
before the bright coal fire in his snug
little bachelor apartment musing over
his uncles words.
He had met the two cousins, Rachel
and Ruth Duer at quiet little birthday
gathering in the house Of friend, and
had instananeously felt drawn toward
the elder one, elder by eighteen months.
She was a beautiful blonde, while the
other was rather Of the brunette type.
During the three months which had
followed upon his first introduction
Harry Meredith had contrived too sec
the cousin several times a week, and
consequently fell deeper aud deeper in
love with the golden-haired lasse even
while he was quite conscious of Ruth's
deeper character and stronger intellect.
Sometimes he was almost tempted to
wayer in his allegiance toward the elder,
and then he took himself with very I'M
necessary sternness to task.
Tonight, however, he passed the
whole Of the last few weeks in review
before his memory, and decided that in
action was the very worst policy in the
world
"This suspense must be put an end
to" calculated our hero half aloud and
then he smiled miscbievously to himself,
as an idea came into his head.
"l'll do it, he thought biting his
lip. "Of course it's merely for the fun
Of the thing. have not the shadow of
doubt that she is all she seems, but
still"
He was silent for few minutes, and
then rose to prepare Cor slumber.
They are polite enough to me as the
favored child of luxury. Now will take
measures to learn whether this courtesy
is genuinely from the heart, or merely
born of empty form and adulation to
wealth"
So our hero, laying his head on his
pillow, dreamed Of private masquerade
parties all night long.
Rachel Duer and her cousin Ruth
were shop-girls in Savery & st. Clair's
great fancy store.
"Oh, dear!'' sighed Rachel ono morn
ing as she took off her bonnet in the
little drcssng-r0om at the back of the
store and shook down her golden shower
Of curls, chow tired | am Of this horrid
drudgery. How wish Harry Meredith
would propose if he's going to-"
Ruth laughed as she smoothed down
her satin-brown hair. aud tied the
bow Of crimson ribbon at her throat.
"And what do you think Of me,
Rachel? ], who have no such brilliant
hopes Of matrimony to light up the mo-
notouy Of my daily toll =
Rachel shrugged her shoulders