The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-10-17
HER TEST.

plaAla, u6T lOftly 1oiul oiiS uulJ hSAiuOu,
her hands clasped on her lap, and one
small and shapely foot lightly tapping
the foo-; the long, sweeping lashes
dropping languidly over her dreamy,
lustrous eyes, and a sweet smile play
ing around her scarlet mouth, which
was open just enough to exhibit the
" 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
swayed to and fro on one side, casting
fantastic shadows on the floor, and on
the other motley flowers nodding lazily
in the gentle breeze that lifted sweet
fragrance from their coroform %crests,
while the slanting beams of the evening
sun rested like a halo on her bowed
head.
Minerva had two lovers-that is, two,
only one of whom she could think of ac-
cepting as her companion through life.
Literally, shs had at least a dozen,
but only two dared hope for her hand.
These were Leroy Beaumont and
Mark Spencer.
Leroy was the son of wealthy parents.
Mark wa comparatively poor. Leroy
was very handsome, with dark, flashing
eyes, black, glossy hair and ferce-look-
ing mustache; Mark was not, though
his bright and ever-smiling counter
ance wore anything but a disagreeable
aspect.
They we're not friends, but it was sae-
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 unprejudiced.
Marks opinion was different. Al
though not nearly so confident of sue
cess as his competitor, he was too noble
a nature to allow hatred or even ieel-
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, il must be said, had a
fewSromantic notions in her head. Her
father, knowing the reputation Of Mark
Spencer, advised her to accept him in
preference TO the other, but she hesi-
Mr.. Beaumont was so handsome, so
tall and graceful, and he had such
bright and flashing eyes, and then that
captivating mustache was an adornment
that 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
doubs. 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 retnrgs
Qfeeurse 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 t1lcm 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 q dilemma. She was a little partial
to Beaumont, but then she knew so lit
tie of his character. Spencer she knew
to be d true gentleman, but then he
lacked that attractiveness of feature
which, she thought. would have made.
him look SO much more noble and man
~.
She hit upon a pian which pleased
her. and she Immediately began the ex-
ecunon Of it.
She wrote two notes exactly alike,
and sent . Of them to each of her
lovers.
They ran thus:
meet me at s o'clock tais evening at
the old elm tree on the river bank,
near my fathers house. r
1t was all she wrote. She knew they
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