The Russellville Democrat., 1880-02-12
WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE
A Love Story In Which Ruth. Rachel and
 Harry arc Interested. fotr s,ff

Harry arc Interested. nor s.ff And you really fancy yourself in love with this little fair-haired shop girl?' -..,.... a-,., sT
 MT. Meredith, tall, noble-featured man of forty, looked rather sadly at his enthusiastic young nephew. Af.a Fancy, uncle! that is hardly an ap- propriate word to use, l am quite certain of the fact" .,t s...,;.. s,,sss aee.f..-gy q suppose you will think me a bad judge of human character, if tell you like her little cousins demure face the best. Believe me, Harry, there is more real stamina in Ruth Durr than in her pretty cousin, Rachel" re*
 There sir" answered Harry, reso- lutely,, "is where l must beg to differ from sou" -iaeslA
 "Well, my boy, you must choose for yourself Remember, it is no question of partner for waltz, or, pair of bright eyes whose glitter is to amaze you for one or two evenings The woman whom you now select for wifezmust ne- cessarily exert more or less potent in- huence ever your entire life. e."-~-~@----
 VI know sir and Harry's gmirthful face became fora moment almost grave.
 That she makes her living behind the counter of a fancy store--that they both .dor-is no drawback i'll my eyes. Independence and selfreliance arc to me cardinal virtues, and even though she will be raised into an atmosphere of comparative wealth, q few lessons be- forehand in the impartial school of worldly experience will be of incalcula- ble use to her" 4sI
 Harry Meredith sat alone that night before his snug, bright fire in his easy. little bachelar apartment, thinking over his uncle's words. ,~ w fe
 He had met the two cousins Rachel and Ruth Durr, at quiet little birthday gathering at the house of a friend, and had instantaneoasly felt drawn toward the elder one-elder by eighteen nmonths. | She was beautiful blonde, while the other was rather of brunette type.
 During the three months that had fo.- lowed upon his first introduction, Harry Meredith had coutrived to see the cous- ins several times a week, and conse- quently fell deeper in love with the golden-haired lassie, even while he was quite conscious of Ruth's deeper char ,icter and stronger in;ellect.
 Sometimes he was almost tempted to waver in his allegiance to the elder, and then he took himself with very unne- cessary sternness to task for his incon. stancy.
 Tonight, however, he passed the whole of the last few weeks in review before Is memory, and decided that ily action was the, very worst policy in the world.
 This suspense must be put to an end" calculated our hero, half aloud, and then he smiled rnischievously to himself as a bright Idea came into bis head, IT
 'I'lle do it" he thought, biting his lips. s"Of course its merely for the fun of the thing. have not the shadow of doubt that she seems, but still"
 He was silent for few moments, and then he rose to prepare for slumber.
 "They are polite to me as the fayorite child of luxury. Now I will take measuIes to learn whether that, cour- tesy is genuinely from the heart, or merely born of empty form and adula- ton of wealth." iias -sa Fl'nt E
 So our hero,s laying his shead upon his pillow, dreamed of private masquer- ade parties all night long.
 Rachel Durr and her cousin Ruth were shop girls in Saver X St. Clair's great fancy store. " fk1 TO ny 10
 All, blEutA tAiGDCt OuC nlOlll- ing as she took of her bonnet in the little dressing room at the back of the store and shook down her shower of golden curls, "how tired am of this hor- rid drudgery. How I wish Harry Mer- edith would propose, if he Is going to-"
 Ruth laughed as she smoothed down her satin brown hair and tied the bow of crimson ribbon at her throat.
 And what do you think of me, Ra- .chel-I who have no such brilliant hopes of matrimony to lghtep up the monot- -ony of n1y daily toiR" O1t Attb g T don't see how you bear it so pa tiently, should die with vexation and ennul if did not hope for something better" N T4&SEs ,E96Fl ,T
 Hush" ssid Ruth, "there is Mrs. Wickiee, the forew oman, calling us."E 4 Howl hate tho old vixenl' Rachel ejaculated, slowly following Ruth into
 "Really, Miss Rachel Durr, you must manage to be little more punetual,' said Mrs. Wickie', pursing up her mouth primly. You are full five minutes be- hind time. and 1t was just so yesterday.p
 Rachel pouted and went to work la- bclinga d box of newly arrived ribbons. She and Mrs. Wlclies had never agreed very hsrm1niously, nor did she affiliate with the shop girls, "A stuck up, imper- tinent thing,p they called her; wnile she, from the serene height of the possibility of some day becoming Mrs. Meredith, treated then with disdain which was any thing in the world but agreeable. | h vain were Ruth's remonstrances. Rachel had always been wilful and in clined to superciliousness, nor would she listen to her cousins mildly preferred advice.
 fits all very well for you, Ruth, who have got to spend ell your days here, but" she said, curling her pretty lips, 'I shall soon be lifted out oi this groyelling sphere" tHas4