Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-11-17
Decided By FATE.

UEG2UED BY EAIE.
Two lovers at once 3 said Aunt
Bridget, elevating her wrinkled old
hands in despair.
I can't help it, aunt said Della
Fielding.
sWhy, I never heard Of such a
thing in my life,' said Amt Bird
get.
1T does happen sometimes, aunt,
said the dimpled little beauty, Civ
ing her whole attention to the ar
rangenent Of a bouquet Of gerani-
UNI leaves at her corsage.
'And are you engaged to both of
'em at the same tirre 2 SAID Aunt
Bridget.
'Well,' acknowledged Della, af--
ter a moment or two Of grave con-
sideration, 4 don't think Pm quite
engaged to either Of them =
,Adela,' said Aunt Bridget, Sc
verely, 'what do yon think Is going
to become of You 2
L don't know, aunty, said Della,
4 suppose l shall be married some
day
I hope you WILL said the old
lady, with energy. 4 think the
care OF you for another five years
would kill me. Only think Of it
two gentlemen in the honsc at
once, and both of 'em in love with
you y
sIt makes it lively, Aunt Bird
get, said Della, with a sparkle Of
mischief in the blue deeps under
/ her eyelashcs. Now DON'T -scold,
there's an old darling, and III 80
out and gather some Strawberries
/ for tea =
Aunt Bridget gazed, with Q sort
Of mild frenzy, after the light fig
urc in the blue cambria drcss, with
the cloud OF golden curls flying be-
hind, us Della fattered out into the
garden With glass dish in her
hand. and blue-ribboncd gypsy
hat tied down over her head.
I Girls ain't what tl.ey used to he
when | was young!' calculated the
good old lady. why, bless my
heart the first bean / had, | re
member I was half frightened out
of my sensee, and ashamed SO much
as to look anybody in the face.
And here is Della, with two at a
time, and considcrin' 'etn over Just
40 if they were samples of calico or
rolls of ri5bon. | don't see, for my
part how che can reconcile it to her
conscience
While Della, stopping down
among the strawberry hills, with
the moving boughs Of the apple
tree making cool green screen
above her head, was also thinking
on the same subject.
4 suppose [ ought to decide.
some time or other,' thought Della.
as she paused to eat q particularly
red strawberry. 'But, oh, deal
me, how is girl to know Major
Silverpen does love me dearly-at
least he says so. But there is Mr.
Bookstanbaugh declares be viii
shoot himself if | don't say yei
Major Silverpon is the tallest-
but Mr.. Brook5tanbaugh he's got
such a delicious tenor voice, and /
face that quite reminds one o
Campanini. Major Silverpen owns
a house mp the Hudson, Bnt Mr.
Bookstsnbaugh belongs to a yach
club. l suppose it wouldn't do
at all, to toss penny or cut slip
of paper. [ did propose it to Aun
Bridget, but she asked me if
wasn't afraid of the heavens fail
ing. AS if my poor little love af-
fairs could make any difference il
the sidereal arrangement, anyhow
Well, l shall have TO leave tn
matter for fate to decide
1t was an unprecedented speec
of pretty Della Fielding's-but fat
did decide the momentous questio
of Major Leon Silverpen versus Mi
Bruce Bookstanbaugh, and decide
Z it, too, before Della dreamed {
h such announcement.
] 1t was a sultry summer nigh
q the clouds heavy with electricit,
Z the stars seeming to shine throug
silver mist. From the ravin
4 below Azalea cottage the noise {
a the gurgling brook sounded omi
. nously loud-and Della, sitting
I her window, remembered boo
! that she had left on the rustic SCI
q beside the waterfall that Afternoon