Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-07-25
HER TEST.

seeing her as she sat there alone on
the piazza, her lovely form slightly
inclined, her hands clasped on her
lap, and one small and shapely foot
lightly tapping the floor; the long,
sweeping lasnes dropping languIdly
over her dreamy, lustrous eyes, and
sweet mile playing about her scarlet
mouth, which was open just enough
TO exhibit the even tips of her peariy
teeth.
The restless, crimson tide, coursin2
beneath the pure, transparent SKIN,
would occasionally sulfuse her cheeks
and then pass gradually away, only
to surge back again and mantle face,
neck and bosom with a burning blush.
Yes, Minerva Lambert was beautl-
full, and never did she look more so
than now, as, flushed with apparent
excitement, 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 TIE lloOr,
and on the other motley flowers nod
ding lazily in the gentle breeze that
lifted sweet fragrance from their cor
onaform crests, waile the slantlng
beams of the evening sun rested like
halo on her bowed head.
Minerva had two lovers that is
two, only one of whom she could
think of accepting as her companion
through life.
Literally, she had at least Il dozen,
but only two dared to hope for her
nand.
These were Leroy Beaumont and
Mark Spencer.
Leroy was the son of wealthy par
ents; Mark was comparatively poor.
Leroy was very handsome, with dark,
flashing eyes, black, glossy hair, and
rce-loooking mustachc; Mark was
not, though his bright and ever-smiI-
ing countenance was anything but a
dlsagreeablc aspect.
They were not friends, but it was
not because Of their rivalry. They
had never been PERSONAL Y 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 MS
ability to gain the victory, and, per
hapS, was unprejudlccd.
Marks opinion was different AL
though not near so confident Of sue
cess as his competitor, his was too
noble natureto allow hatred or even
jealousy to be excited within him, and
he believed that Minerva Lam.er
would not Judge by personal appear
anc2 which was most deserving of the
much coveted hand.
But Minerva, it must be said had Il
few romantic notions in her head.
Her father, knowing the rcputa
ton of Mark Spencer, advised her TO
accept him in preference to TIE other,
but she hesitdted.
Mr. Beaumont was SO handsome,
tall, and graceful, aud hs 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 Beaumont2 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, aud begging for hers in re
turn.
OF course they did not do this at the
same time, but at different hours of
the day, and neither knew of the 9th
er's proposal.
She did not give them her answer,
but dismissed them both with the in
formation that they must wait till to-
morrow, and thus give her time to
decide. Then she set her wits to
work
Which should she accept. She was
in n dilemma. She was a little partial
To Beaumont, but then she knew SO
little of his character SpeNcer she
knew To be Il true gentleman, but then
he lacked that attractiveneSs of feature
which, she thought, would have made
him look ST. much more noble aud
manly
She hit upon a PLAN which pleased
her, and she immediately began the
execution of it,.
She wrote two notes exactly alike,
and sent one of them to each of her
lovers.
They ran thus:
Meet me at eight o'clock this even
ing at the old elm tree on the river
bank, near my fathers house"
1t was all she wrote She knew
they would both be at the appointed
spot at the appointed time, each
thinking himself the favoritc sutton.
She was thinking of this as she sat
alone on the piazza, where the long
evening shadows were creeping across
the floor. and the rays of the setting
sun We're struggling through the net
work of vines to kiss her bluSaing
cheek.
She could think of no better way of
finding out whether Leroy Beaumont
was true gentleman or not.
Ii was to see how he would act on
finding his rival at the place of meet
ing that she had concluded to make
this appointment for both.
If her plan failed, she would con
trive another. for she had resolved
that no man should become her huS-
band unless he was III every respect
worthy of her.
Mark Spencer st,od beneath the
widespread ling branches of the old
elm tree, leaning against its huge
trunk with his arms folded on his
breast.
1t was just the night for mseting
of lovers. The moon looked down
with modified sulendor from her
starry throne. Her image was re
Elected in the limpid stream. Her
tempered light flooded the little gabel,
and stealing through the rustliug
branches, fell upon the face of Mark
Spencer.
Though the features were not regu-
lar. there was something attractive
about that face 1t was so open and
candid. and there was such good
natured smile on the manly brow.
The verdict of one capable of read