Daily Republican., 1884-12-06
now II WAS DECIDED.
By BERTHA BERTON.
/" Which shall IL be 2"

Which shall it be p
A perplexing question it 10 when. 1t
II has reference to q girls lovers, and
Ethel Wood bent her head in earnest
thought, and the fair young brow
knot;ed aDxiously over the doubtful
question.
Which, indeed They were both
palmer one had the better sense :;
thoush In girls choice sense rarely
weighs down fine face, and Ethel
Wood had an artists eye for beauty.
Ethel lived with maiden aunt. Her
parents were dead. and she was really
dependent upon her fathers sister, who
had very com for,ablo fortune Of her
own.
Her cottage house, q pretty gray
structure, was situated on Main street,
In q small country village Of Myrtle
Vile. There we're grand old trees that
flung their sturdy arms protectingly
about II, there was q yard, large and
level, with velvety turf, plots of flow.
ering ANNALS, and graceful, Chamber
lug vines swayed from the pillars Of
ths long veranda.
There was rustic summer house at
ths foot OF the garden, half hidden in
the rich, dense foliage Of . grapevine,
| and indoors the furnishing and arrange
| ment rave an impression of comfort
and refinement.
Pictures on the walls. well.hlled
book case, cottage piano, with plenty
OF music piltdnp Oh the stand and rack,
and birdU and flower in the windows,
made the home that Aunt Lois gave
her niece = very CHEEKY one for . young
| girl.
A sweet face had Ethel Wood, that
blended the tints of rose and lily, and
her eyes Of violet blue, with their
fringe Of long, dark lashes, were full Of
expression her hair was like burnish
ed gold In color, and shiihmered ftfully
In the sunshine.
She was thee.lifs and Joy Of Mis-,
Woods home, Jet also q care, for the
worthy lady hsd plans of her. own re
gsrding her niaCe's future that seemed
likely to be thwarted by fate, or Ethel,
perversity.
There was Max Medbury. . young
man Of Myrtleville, who was sensible
we'll educated, possessed Of fine ability
and just starting In business a. mer'
|chant. He was in love with pretty
Ethel, and she knew 1t very we'll; she
knew, too, that he had tried time after
time TO toll her 10, but abe had invari
ably contrived in one way or another tC
evade the subject.
There was trife of coquettish ele
ment in Ethel's nature. BY and by
she must listen to his story. but she
was In no hurry; 1t was the sprinp
time Of her young life, and she would
wait; besides, Max Medbury's features
we're very plain, though there was sucf
that one felt sure Of trusting him for 9
, friend.
But Herbert Leland was handsome
IL form and feature. and those dazzl.
!, ing black eyes of his were likely Il
cause mischief for Max Medbury Aun
Lois feared, and she sighed profoundly
D Herbert Leland had come to Myrtle
VILE, aud had taken suit Of rooms q
the Clifton House. He had an Office
.. and he displayed an elegantly letteret
sign, that assured the people Of tn,
town that he was an insurance agent.
He had a way that was vastly taking
with the plain country folks, and b
soon made himself very Agreeable
member of Myrtlevi!le society rs wei
as q favorite with the young ladies o
the town but from the time of his com
ing, pretty Ethel Wood had been tn
lone of all others who had engaged hi
4 attention, and while she had smile'
o sweetly upon him, had accepted man,
. little attentions, and really admired hi
4 fine face and stylish manner, she knew
o very we'll that she did not love him.
% Summer, with its rare loveliness o
Q flowers and verdure, had gone, an,
y autumn was coming on apace. Their
was q crispness In the morning air, tn
sun swung lower i'll the heavens, tn
shadows heightened, the trees wer
! showing here and there the rich tint
I of the changing season, and there wa
to be a grape excursion for, in som
/. parts Of New Englad, wild grape
Z are found In profusion about the field
Z and woodlands. and though sourer thai
: the cultivated varieties, still for cam
y ing and preserving they are much uset
: by thrifty housekeepers, and furnish
delicious addition TO the winter stores
These excursion afford pleasant re
creation to the young people. who ar
more than willing to combine pleasur
with labor, and many love.tale
Ishyly whispered beneath the shade Q
the overarching grape vines.
Ltuti w uOu WA6 Ouo VI bnC CAEul
sion lists, no, also, was Herbert Leland
4 and although he did not fancy particI
] larly the labor of grape gathering, tn
| thought of being near the girl he love
! was Q sufficient inducemont to lure hil
to the leafy solitude.
Max. Medbury, who hitherto ha
been numbered among the excursionist
Istayed at home.
1t WAS not pleasant to see young L.
and monopolizing Ethel's time and q
= tentior, and he devoted the afternoo
to business but will not say but ths
thoughts OF Ethel intruded upon tn
ldry details Of merchandising, nor this
the afternoon seemed intolerably Ions
and tedious indoors.
Ill But the day waned at last. as q
days do. and Max Medbury went
Isupper.
b The grape gatherers had not returned
= and Ethels aunt was leaning over tn
|, gate, anxiously looking and waitin
, for her niece, and Max stopped to chs
, 10 few minutes with her before he r,
. turned TO the store.
As 1t grew later Miss Wood felt an1
Iious, and sent to the hotel for tidine
OF the absent party.
None of the inmates had gone but Ia
land, and he had returned long befoI
1.-The afternoon was over.
Il He had seemed irritable and nervous
and informed Mrs. Ames, the landlady
Ush~t 10 .,oa c,ol m a for fayv davl