The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-30
HER TEST.

a = s:s. sss cd s, =: ;;1t ; :' s:.::y: :ss: ling he. sse en the Ri..,a. Rs1 a..s3 ss sss'z S s.s 'sslI,ss: ssa .s. small snd shapsly foot iisAsly tapping the |foor; he long, sweeping lashes, droop- ling ianguidly over her dreamy, lusuous l eyes, and . sweet smile playing aboct her scarief mouth. which vas open just enough to exhihif the even tips of her peary teeth
 The restiess, crimson tide coursing be- neafh the pare, transparent skin would occasicnaIly suffuse her cheeks and then pass graduaily away, only. to surge back again and mantle face and neck with a burning blush. Yes, Minerva Lambert vas heaosiful, and never dia she lock more 90 than no~, as, fushed with apparent ezcissment and totally unconscious of the alarming pie ture she formed, she sat there vheze the long, trailing vines swaysd to and fro on one side, casting fantastic shadows on the floor, and ou the oeher motley flowers noddipg laxiiy in the gentle breeze that lifted swost fragrance from their coroSorm crests, while the slanting beams of the evening sunsex rested like a halo on her bowed bead.
 Minerva had two lovers-that is, two, only one of whom she could think of ac- ceptiny as her companion through life.
 Literally, she had as least dosen, but only two dared hope for her hand.
 These were Leroy Beaumont and Mark Spencer.
 Leroy vas the son of wealthy parents Mark vas comparatively poor. Lsssx was vefy handsome, with dark iash- ing eyes, black, glossy hair and fierce looking moustache; Mark was not, thougk his bright and ever smiling coun- tenance wore anything but disagreeable aspect.
 They were not friends, but is was not because of their rivalry. They had never been personally acquainted. Leroy, thinking that features such as his were essential to any one who woald win the hand of that beauty, was, con- sequently, confident of his ability ts gain the victory, and, perhaps, was unprelu- diced.
 Marks opinion was different Although not nearly 60 confident of success as his competitor, he was too noble nature to allow hatred or even jealousy to be ex- cited within him, and he believed that Minerva Lamber, would not judge by personal appearance which was most le- serving Of the much-coveted hand.
 But Minerva, it must be said, had z fe~ romantic notions in her head
 Her father, knowing the reputation of Mark Spencer, advised her to accep. him in sla1ce to the other, bu, ske
 MT. Hn1nnnouf was sohandsome. % sal1 and arnS rt, and r. had such bright ard fashI TT a6d then that czpti vafin< mouxf1che vas an adornment that MT. Spencer could not hoast of
 Did she love Leroy Beaumont! She thought she did, though when in the so- ciety of Mark Spencer she was in doubt She was not capable of reading her own heart.
 Nov, they had both proposed. This very day theyshad both been at her feet, pouring forth their story of their love, and begging for hers in return.
 Of course, they did not do this at the same time, but at different hours of the day, and neither knew of the others pro- posal.
 Shs did not give them her answer, bu, dismissed them both with the informa- ton that they must wait till tomorrow, and thus give her time to decide. Then she st her wits to work.
 Which should she accept? She was ia dilemma She was a little partial to Beaumont, but then she knew 90 little of his -. o6n - fn1 - h1(1 tru9 nnt1eman, hut then he lacked th11 ast1 tve1Ds q 6atuEe NAfch su thc At, vould Aave maAe hin Ieok = md mom neblo and maaAy. N ~
 hit upoa q plan vhfcA p1eo9e1 hQs ane v immsdiassay begsntks esecdie1
 Swrose two notes exactly alike, ad sen De of them to each of her loverx M
 Ds& me at 6 o'clock this evening S< the elm tree on the river bank, neQ< my hsrs house.n
 os all she wrote. She knew th< vol boeA be as the appointed spot Q tho pointed time, each thinking hir sell favored suitor.
 eas thinking of this as she rat aiod on piazra, where the long evsni1 sha D wore croepinH across the Aod| and . rays of the ssfsing sun we1I str( inG threagh she nsewofik of viu( to hG hlushine cAeGln.
 cou1d think Of no better way G ind out ~hsthsr Lssoy Besumoa. vs1 a d onaeman or not.
 . to see how he would act on 6n& ing rival at tho place of meeting tho shs cseclnded to make this appoia me ith bod. x
 V plsn failed, she would contriv1 and :, fx sAe had resolved that no mz1 shd bscome her husband unless he VI in sespert vouhy of her. a. ,., e'& ae,;A s)s 'as s1s sias <; leaning aGaiak ifs h1ges tunk4 1ish his arms nadei on his bgek4 MH
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