Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-11-28
SIDNEY'S CHOICE.

II, for one, shall not call on them"
The speaker was one of a bevy Of
girls who were discussing a rumored
engagement between q gentleman of
their acquaintance and young girl
whose social station was considered be-
meath them
Elsie Canrell was we'll known to them
by sight. She had attended the same
Sunday school-had become a member
of the same church-had knelt at the
same chancel rail in the solemn COM
munion service.
Her widowed mother had not been
able to send her to an expensive semi
nary, or she would surely have had
that advantage. Her education had
been gained at the common school"
common in the broad sense that makes
the arching blue above above our heads
free as air and sunshine to Gods poor
est and humblest child.
Nor l." said Mabel Vane, with a toss
Of her proud little head" " It is strange
to me that any one can be so blinded
by beauty. He might know that our
set would not receive her"
Most of the thoughtless group ex-
tJiCSSCo Tic odlliC opllliolI. olIS OlSS ullISIl
girl was silent.
"Come, Allie, out with it. [ see dis
appointment written plainly on those
curling lips"
Allie Vernon answered quietly
lone would think, to hear you talk,
that Summerton was the only place of
importance in the world"
And so it is, so far as we are CON
cerned," Mabel answered, emphatically
q tell you, Allie Vernon, you may
make light of it, but q mesalliance OF
that kind is not to be excused"
Perhaps we shall not be honored
with cards When is the grand affair
to come off.
"Soons believe. isn't it a PITY" ]
always thought Sidney Moore was almost
the incest one of our beaux'
This is but specimen of the COM
ments upon the engagement. Sidney
was too well versed in the ways of the
fashionable world not to know how
much gossip there would be about it;
I. but he was profoundly Indifferent as tc
what his set +" thought or said.
He had been struck with Elsie's face
and had tried, after the fashion of the
day, to firt with her, but without sue
cess.
The large eyes-blue as the sky il
June-looked over him-not haughtily
but unconsciously. So the f1utterins
handkerchief was returned to his pocket
again.
He grew to time his movements so as
to meet her, and she could not avoid
the knowledge that the gentleman was
going considerably out of his usual way
for some reason.
Her mind was too pure and innocent
to suspect an insult; neither did she
think for moment of a serious intention
on his part.
Try as he would, Sidney could not win
a willing response to his ardent glance
though, one day much to his delight ht
was rewarded for his persistence.
It is beyond a yonng girls power t.
y control blush, or the delicate colo
which tinted her round cheek would no
have deepened SO perceptibly at his ap
proach, until from a suggestion of thu
palest red, it was like the rose itself.
His triumph was brief; he understood
the hint when the next day dignifiet
maiden met and passed without glanc,
her face covered with veil.
1t was an entirely new appendage tt
her toilette, and, if his vanity Nigh
construe it into a confession of weak
ness, it was also flag which said "n'
surrender"
Man is not fond of being thwarted, am
apursuit which commenced In jest end
ed in earnest.
He saw that he must change his tao
tics, however, if he wished for an &C
quaintance.
The young people at the church
were dressing it for Sunday-schoo
anniversary.
Sidney dropped in one evening anc
made himself very useful.
He drew upon his boyish acquire
ments and cut some showy-looking let
tiers from pasteboard, which looked yer.
fine when covered with the delicat
cedar sprays, and arranged IN suitabl
notices.
One industrious girl seated in quie
corner worked SO rapidly at her Ion;
evergreen wreath that she kept seyera
bunchers busy.
After time she arose, and, with
wreath in her hands, approached tn
font, and. accidentally, of course, Sid
ney drifted that way, and leaning on
harm on the font, he leant forward
saying, the while he gazed in her gentl
face: