The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-04-12
TERRIBLY DECIDED.

pretty Grace ASnlelSn laugns her ple"S-
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 voiced answer.
Those wonderful, deep hazel eyes Of
Sara Prescott's turn all their subdued
richness of color toward her friend whilst
she speaks, and every feature of her
beautiful face wears an impress of earn
est meaning.
alt is true, Grace" she whispers 4;
"true, true, true There are moments
when I feel confident that Ralph Curtis,
with his dark, southern-looking beauty,
and his impusve, reckless ways, is by
far dearer to me. But a visit from
blonde barred, blue.eyed Walter Croshie
changes everything. | am just tossed
about in spirit from one to the other,
Each seems to touch, with me, a separ-
ate chord of congeniality. 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
last July"
Perhaps" suggested Grace, after a
little silence while they walked along
the twilit paths of the great lawn which
compasses the luxurious summer-house
where Sara Prescott lives" Perhaps you
will end by hating them both, sara"
81 cannot tell. And yet that seems
impossible"
must ask you to have my carriage or
dcred around now, Sara, notwithstand
ing should like to remain and help tc
counsel YOU in your troubles; but please
remember that have seven miles tt
drive, and that mamma makes a perfect
Rachel of herself if | stay out aftel
dark"
So Grace presently takes her depart
ure, and Sara is left to hold converse
with her own thoughts, while she begins
second, and this time wholly solitary
stroll among the stately shrubberiec
lawns.
Very gloomy and miserable those
thoughts are. She recalls, with a sense
of shrinking fear, how intense passion
for her has recently grown to sposses'
both Ralph Curtis and Walter CrOsbic
how each has become almost aggres
siye, of late, in his fierce request tol
some final answer to his eager hopes, and
how the more that either pleads the
more absolute and complete has been hcl
indccision, her doubt, her perplexlty.
No, she cannot make up her mind
Allow that she is mentally a monstrosity
of womauhood 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 nc
power to choose between them.
Suppose they should have some deadly
quarrel on her account. Nothing is
more possible. They have grown tc
hate each other; of that fact Sara feel'
quite sure. They are living at the same
hotel and are now constantly thrown
together. Sara shuddcrs now when she
remembers what evidences she has had
of fierce temper each possesses. Oh
why cannot she be like other women
Why must sne suffer so keenly from
what seems nothing but her own gros
stupidity and silly irresolution.
Just at this stage of Sara's thoughts
the sound of a footstep directly behint
her meets the young girls ear. Sh,
turns, and in the vague dark, sees Wal
ter Crosbie's tall, commanding figure
and fair, Saxon face. He begins speak
ing with brusque suddenness: "Sara-
Miss Prescott have come to bid you
good.by."
She clasps both hands together in al
abrupt burst of surprise.
" You cannot possibly mean it,"
81 do. | am tired of being played
fast and loose with, from day to day"
"You are not going" she answers
calmly, after little silence, and willis
they were walking on. 81 know b!
your tones and your manner that il i
only ruse. You are not going until
give you a final answer"
And for Gods sake" Walter blurt
forth, "when is that final answer coming
There are times, Sara Prescott, when
feel like believing that no more heartles
coquette than yourself ever drew breath
and that you are no more for me thai
your are for Ralph Curtis"
Pardon me, think that heard m,
name mentioned"
None other than Ralph Curtis him
self who spoke these words.
The vague half-lights has now yielde,
to the Frightening glimmer OF a full, su
perb moon, whose silver globe hangs mid
way between horizon and zenith, beauti
fully pendant in the still, blue, breeze
less sky.
Ralph Curtis, having just emerge
from behind a dark barrier of tall ,heav
shrubbery round which the road wind!
stands facing Water Crosbie and Sar;
his black ewes and olive brown counter
an, e fully visible to Il EN- both. Ur
der his dark moustache there plays
bitter cynical smile.