Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-12-12
WEIGHED In THE BAL
ANCE.

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, unclei That Is hardly an
appropriate word to use. I am quite
certain OF the fact"
Il suppose you will consider me a
very bad Judge OF the human charac-
ter. II tell you that / like her little
cousins demure face the best. Be-
lieve me. Harry. there is more resl
stamina Ia Ruth Durr than in her
pretty cousin Rachel
There, sir. answered Harry reso-
lutely. ~is where I must beg leave to
differ with you"
well. my boy. you must choose
for yourself. Remember. IL is no
question for a partner for a waltz. or
a pair OF bright eyes whoss glitter is
to amuse you for one or two even
ings. The woman whom you now
select for your wife must necessarily y
exert more or less potent influence
over your whole life."
Il know il. sir. and Harry's mirth-
ful face grew almost grave.
THAT shs earns her own living be-
hind the counter OF a fancy store
that they both dds no drawback In
my eyes. Independence and self-Ie-
lance are to be cardinal virtues, ADD
even though your wife will be raised
into an atmosphere OF comparati We
veal tn, a few lessons taken before
hand in the impartial school of world.
ly experience will be OF incalculablc
use to her."
Harry Meredith sat long that night
before the snug, bright fire in his
snug little bachelor apartment mu-
sing over his uncle's words.
He had, met the two cousins, Ra-
chel and Ruth Durr. at q quiet little
birth h-day gathering at the house Of q
frleni. and bad instantaneously fell
drawn toward the elder One-elder by
eighteen months. She was beauti-
ful blonde, while the other was rath-
er OF the brunette type.
During the three months which had
followed upon his first introduction
Harry Meredith lad contrivej to see
the cousins several times u week, and
consequently fell deeper in love with
the golden haired lassie, even while
he was quite conscious OF Ruth'a
deeper character and stronger intel
lect.
Sometimes he was almost tempted
to waver in bis allegiance toward the
elder. and then he took himself with
very unnecessary ste mess to task.
Tonight, however, he passed the
whole Of the last few weeks in review
before his memory, aud decided that
inaction 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 mischeviously to
himself, as an idea came into his
head.
"Pll do it, he thought, biting his
lip. "Of course its merely for the fur
OF the thing. have not the shadow o
a doubt that she Is all she seems, but
still"
He was silent for a few minutes
and then arose to prepare for slum
ber.
"They are polite enough to me al
the favored child OF luxury. Now
will taie measures to learn whether
this courtesy il 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 masque-
rade parties all night long.
Rachel Durr and her cousin Rutf
were shop girls in Savery & ST. Clair.
great fancy store.
'"Oh, dearl" sighed Rachel. one
morning as she took off her bonnet il
the little dressing-room at the bach
OF the store and shook down her gold
en- shower OF curls "how tired 1 an
OF this horrid drudgery. How 1 wish
Harry Meredith would propose il he,
going to-"
Ruth laughed as she smootheo
down her satin brown hair and tiec
the bow II crimson ribbon at hel
throat.
"And what do you think OF me, Ra
chel? /, who have no such brillian,
hopes OF matrimony, to light up tn,
monotony OF my daily toll"
Ruth shrugged her shoulders.
Il don't see how you bear 1t SC
patiently. 1 should die with vex.
alton and 'ennui' IL did not hope fol
something better
"Husbi" said Ruth, "there is Mrs
Wickes. the forewoman. calling us.
"How hate the old vixenl" Ra
chel calculated, slowly following
Ruth into the store.
Really. Miss Rachel Durr, yor