Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-09-26
HER TEST.

She was the embodiment of beauty.
None could have thought otherwise.
seeing her as she sat there alone on the
piazza, hesiovely form slightly inclined,
her hands clasped on her lap, and one
small and shapely foot lightly tapping
tho floor; the long, sweeping lashes
dropping languidly over her dreamy
lustrous eyes, aud sweet smile play
ing around her scarlet mouth, which
was open. just enough to exhibit the
even tips OF her pearly teeth.
The restless, crimson tide coursing
beneath the pure, transparent skin
would occasionally suffuse her cheeks
and then pass gradually away, only to
surge back again and mantle face and
neck with a burning blush.
Yes, Minerva Lambert was beautiful,
and never did she look more so than
now, as, flushed with apparent excite
ment, and totally unconscious of the
charming picture she formed, she sat
there where the Long trailing vines
swaved to and fro Oh one side, casting
fantastic shadows on the door. and On
the other motley flowers nodding laZily
in the gentle breeze that lifted sweet
fragrance from their coroforTn crests,
while the slanting beams OF the evening
sun rested like a halo on her bowed
head.
Minerva had two lo3ers--that is, two,
only one of whom she could think Of &C
cepting as her companion through life.
Literally, she had at least q dozen,
but only two dared hope for her hand.
These were Leroy Beaumont and
Mark Spencer.
Leroy was the son Of wealthy parents.
Mark WEES comparatively poor. Leroy
was very handsome, with dark flashing
eyes, black, glossy hair and derce-look-
ing mustache; Mark WIS not, though
his bright and ever smiling counten-
ance wore anything but q disagreeable
aspect.
They were not friends, but it was be-
cause Of their rivalry. They had never
been personally acquainted. leroy,
thinking that features such as his were
essential to any one who would win the
hand of that beauty, was, consequently
confident OF his ability to gain the vic
tory, and, perhaps, was unprecedented.
Marks opinion was different. AL
though not nearly so confident of sue
cess as his competitor, he was too noble
8 nature to allow hatred or even jeal-
ousy TO be excited within him, and he
believed that Minerva Lambert would
not judge by personal appearance which
was most deserving of the much-coveted
hand.
But Minerva, it must be said, had a
few romantic notions in her head. Her
father, knowing the reputation of Mark
Spencer, advised her to accept him in
preference to the other, but she hest
tated.
Mr.. Beaumont was so handsome, Sc
tall and graceful, and he had such
bright and flashing eyes, and then that
captivating mustache YVES an adorn1nent
chat Mr.. Spencer could not boast Of.
Did she love Leroy Beaumont? She
thought she did, though when in the
society Of Mark Spencer she was in
doubt. She was not capable of read
ing her own heart.
Now. they had both proposed. This
very day they had both been at her
feet, pouring forth the story Of their
love, and begging for hers in return.
Ofcourse they did not do this at the
same time, but at different hours of the
day, and neither knew Of the others
proposal.
She did not give them her answer,
but dismissed them both with the infor'
nation that they must wait until to-
morrow, and thus give her time to de-
eide. Then she set her wits to work.
Which should she accept? She was
in dilemma. She was little partial
TO Beaumont, but then she knew so lit
tie of his character. Spencer she knew
to be true gentleman, but then he
lacked that attractiyeness Of feature
which, she thought. would have made
him look so much more noble and. man
ly.
She hit upon a plan which pleased
her, and she immediately began the ex-
ecution of it.
She wrote two notes exactly alike
and sent one of them to each Of hel
lovers. go,
They ran thus:
inject me at s o'clock this evening al
the cid elm tree on the river bank
near my fathers house" @.rcs
1t was all she wrote. She knew they
would both be- at the appointed spot al
the appointed time, each thinking him.
self the favored suitor.
She was thinking of this as she sal
alone on the piazza, where the long
evening shadows were screeping across
the floor, and the rays Of the setting sur
were struggling through the network
Of vines to kiss her blushing cheek. i.
She could think of no better way o
finding out whether Leroy Beaumont
WAS true gentleman or not.
It was to see how he would act or
finding his rival at the place of meeting
that she had concluded to make this
appointme with both. @
Ii her plan failed, she would contrive
another, for she had resolved that ne
man should become her husband unless
be was in every respect worthy Of her als :
Mark Spencer stood beneath The
I wide spreading branches of the old elm
tree, leaning against its huge trunl
" with his arm folded on his breast.
It was just the night for q meeting 9
lovers. The moon looked down Will
1 modified splendor from her starr,
.klrn,aa sa IN Or Z ir1aanfa 1paa reflected II