The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-04-18
TESTED.

! "What shall | do? How shall !
act? 1t is strange, but | really don't
quite know my own heart in this
matter"
| Thus mused Edith Lyle, as she sat
/ in one of the cOZy little rooms of an
elegant mansion. which the death OF
her father had, the year previous
/ made her own. On the table before
her lay three very interesting epistleS'
each Cne in itself being proposal Oi
marriage; and the subject other med
] itatiOn was what answer to send to
those by whom they were written.
| Her great fear was to become the
wifeof any person who sought her
4 for her wealth and to avoid this she
was anxious to adeRt any plan.
/, iiie tfiree prb p0stsis above referred tc
had come to her Within few days Oi
each other, no doubt because each
! had waited until her father. had been
dead year, and she finally cOuclu'
ded to reply to each of them in pre-
ciSely the same WOrds-namely, a de.
sire to await her decision three
months, as there was certain matter
lust then undecided which might con.
siderably influence it.
Regarding her three suitOrs few
words may be said. Mr.. Harvey
StanhOpe was what may be termed a
gentleman Of leisure, having no pre-
| tension to any profession whatever,
and always on the alert for enjoy
ment. One thing was evident, he
WAS rich; any one could learn that
from his expensive habits. His ia.
ther had been wealthy, and had left
him sufficient property to live as his
| taste dictated.
Mr.. Hugh Oswald was the son of a
retired merchant; retired, some said
| because he had become rich enough to
provide for his family all they It.
| quired; Others said because Hugh was
| too indOIent to continue the business
and otherwise lacked the proper
qualifications to do so. Be that as il
might, the father was retired, the sor
leading life of ease,
The third application for the hand
of Edith was from a young doctor
doctor James NOrtOn," the sign of
the Office door read, and though more
| humble than the others, he had The
claim of pfopriety, for Edith and he
( bad known each other from child
/ hood and strong friendship had al
ways marked their intercourse witt
each other.
! As to appearance, all three were
considered handsome young men, ,anO
as Edith had heard nothing to the
contrary, she assumed that the char.
! acter of each was what that of gen
tleman should be.
"For Sale. Apply to Cumming,
e. Co."
Such was the notice that appeared
on the door of the Lyle mansion
about month after Edith had an
swered her three proposals, and IA.
ther surprised Mr.. Oswald, who haC
come to call on her.
"What can this mean 2" he said
"It's very strange, and he ran up the
steps and pulled the bell vigorously
No answer, however, came to hi,
summons, and he finally learned
from the lady next door that Miss
Lyle had ceased to reside there, and
had moved she knew not where.
Disappointed. and somewhat an
noyed that she should move and not
let him know of it, he returned home
and found note awaiting him ad'
dressed by the fair hand of Edith.
Hastily opening it he read as fol
lows
MR.. HUGH OSWALD-Dear Sir
AS you see from the above address,
am no longer to be found at my for.
mer residence, and | hastened TO lei
you know the reason of my removal
In my reply to your esteemed pro.
p0sal | said certain matter, ther
undecided, might considerably in
tiuence my final answer. The mat
ter referred to was case then pend
ing at law, and involved the question
whether certain securities could bt
collected off my estate. The decision
is given against me, and by it | an
rendered penniless. Fully under
standing the difference in my position
now and short time ago, / am con
strained, in justice to myself and yol
also, to regard your recent propose
as not made at all and forthwith FIRE,
you from all obligation connected
herewith. l am at present Twins
with friends at the above place, will
no particular idea as to what my fu
ture may be.
Very sincerely yours,
EDITH LYLE.
The following day brought Edith
letter and two visitors, Mr.. StanhOp
and DR.. Norton, the latter of whom