The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-02-16
Select Story.
KIRK'S CHOICE.

\ curious old man was Hamilton MIX
and good old man, said those who had
the best means of knowing.
Hamilton Kirk had gone abroad when
a mere youth, having been thrown upon
his own resources by the death of his par
ents, and he had remained abroad until
he was forty-fve, or thereabouts. Then
he came home, and having found a woman
who could love him, he married her and
settled down. He built him a spacious,
handsome house, and laid out his grounds
very beautifully, promising himself much
comfort in the new phase of life upon
which he had entered. But he was doomed
to an early disappointment. In one short
year his wife died, leaving an infant daugh-
ter to his care and protection.
And from that time the child never
brought cloud upon his brow by any act
of hers When she was maiden, just
blooming into well-developed womanhood,
he was an old man with gray hairs. And
she repaid him well for all the care he had
bestowed upon her during her childhood.
But Myra was now nineteen, and the
time for new scenes was dawning upon
her.
"Myra," he said to her, as they sat in
the library one summer afternoon, give
been thinking"
"Well, father" she replied, looking up
with one of her sweet smiles, "what have
you been thinking about
'I've been thinking that you will be
wanting husband one of these days"
'Then l wouldn't try to think any
more" she said. But she didn't speak
with such simple assurance as usual.
II am serious, my pei" the old man re-
sumed; 'and now let us talk seriously about
it. 1 am not going to give you up, for the
man who takes you must take my house,
and me with it; or, I'll take him, just as
you please. But you know, as well as |
do, that very soon you may be loving some
body, and then it will be too late to rea-
son"
Myra didn't dispute him; but she only
hung down her head and thought So he
continued:
''Now it is all very well to marry for
love, if other things are as they should be;
but love is curious thing, and very often
brings bodies together that can have no
more harmony in life than fire and water.
! know that many people scout the idea Of
exercising reason in conjunction with love;
but the ideas of the world are not always
safe guides. I wouldn't have reason to
take too much of the ground, but | would
have it go ahead and light the way, so that
love may go on with more safety. Don't
that seem proper"
"Yes, father
"And now-I'm coming nearer home.
There's Joseph Vaughan; don't you think
he would like to propose for your hand p
perhaps so.'
"Come, come, Myra-be plain with me. y
"Well-I think he would
"And Henry Walsh-wouldn't he p
/ "Yes-I think he would"
"And Jacob Lorramer p
81 hope not" replied the girl, with a
shudder.
"Well, well-well throw him out, darl-
ing. Tn sure, however, that he would
very quickly apply for your hand if he
thought he could get it. But as would t
have him, and as l don't think you would,
we'll consider him disposed of in advance.
But there's Chauncey Stewart-how is it
with him? Don't you think he would like
to propose?"
'I'm sure I don't know, returned Myra,
opening her book, and pretending to find
something interesting there.
"But what should you think ?"
"I never thought anything about it,
papa"
But her father had thought about it,
and he fancied that when the erratic dart
came it would come with the heart of those
three, whom he had mentioned, impaled
upon its shaft Later in the afternoon, as
Myra walked in the garden, pondering
very deeply upon something that had oc-
cupied her thoughts ever since her inter-
view with her father, she was startled by
the appearance of an old beggar- man in her
path. He looked wan and weary, and his
garb was scant and poor.
"Charity, charity" he murmured, lean
ing upon his staff.
The maiden had not been at all fright
ened-only startled from her own busy
thoughts-and she quickly forgot all else
in her sympathy for the poor old man be-
fore her.
''Come, with me to the house." she
said: aand you shall find what you need.
Come - ,s
"But-not there. Give me money
here"
.I'll give thee rest and food first. good
father
qHa, ha, hal" laughed the old man