Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1889-04-30
A DILEMMA.
BY vELMA CALDWELL MELVILLE.


If ever there was man in dilemma,
it was my cousin Carlton when he
found himself desperately in love with
two pretty girls.
As I had no brother and he no sister,
we had always been the best friends
imaginable, confding our joys and sor-
rows to each other, and gravely giving
and receiving advice; and now, though
I was two years his junior, that I had
been married a whole year, / felt very
old and quite competent to give sage
counsel to such mere boy"
@In the name of all that's honorable,
SIS" Che always called me Sis) what
am I to do?" he exclaimed tragically
one morning as he threw himself down,
perfectly at home, in the easiest chair
my cozy sitting-room contained.
what has happened, now, Carl?"
I asked indifferently, for /
knew enough of human na-
ture (man's nature) never to exhibit
undue interest or impotence.
whats happened, now?" he re-
peated; nothing should hope, for con-
science sake! the old state of affairs is
bad enough"
well tell me about 1.-THE old state
of affairs. What troubles you?" I said
with slight accession of interest.
aWhy, Sis, you know us well as I do
that am in love -desperately in love-
with both Bessie Dean and Laura Lux
ton; and what am ever to do about it
I cannot tell. have tried every way to
find out if care the least bit more for
one than the other. stay away from
Bessie whole week at time; but I
cannot forget the dear little thing, with
her baby-face and pretty yellow head.
I miss her soft, purring ways, and sunny
smile; in fact I'm half-crazy to see her
before the week is gone. Then I try
staying away from Laura; but soon tire
of Bessie's sweet pettiness, and hunger
for Laura's depth of character and COM
partnership; and find myself watching for
glimpse of her stately figure on the
street. Oh, if they were not so different,
and yet both SO necessary to my happi-
ness.
"A very trying case" remarked,
alphabetically, "and quite excep-
tional."
II don't know" he said, absently;
"but am sure 7 shall never dare marry
either of them, because if do shall
still love the other; and that will be a
sin, and could only end in misery for all
concerned"
Furtively watching the poor fellow I
saw that he was actually growing thin
and haggard looking. Evidently some
thing must be done, besides it was not
using the girls fairly, and they were both
most worthy and accomplished young
ladies.
We talked long time, and when he
went away had come to certain con-
clusion; and plan was fast forming in
my mind; but I pretended that saw no
possible escape from the dilemma.
It SO happened that both my cousins
fair inamoratas were out of town during
the next fortnight, and Bessie even
longer.
About ten days after the conversation
related above, a former school-mate
came to visit me.
When she met me so lovingly, and |
noted the tears in her lovely brown eyes
as She said: @You were so good to in
yite me just now when ] am SO lonely
since mothers DEATH" I felt unspeak-
ably mean. Her loneliness or happi-
ness had not once entered my mind
when I made my cunning scheme; but
did love her dearly, and would be
good enough to her now to make amends
for the little-to her unknown decep-
ton. In my haste, ] had not calculated
on her wearing black, and not going
into society; but after I'LL did not care
lin fact I quite lost sight of my plan
in the pleasure of having her with me.
did not make known her arrival to
Carlton, but waited for him to just hap
pen in as usual. I had not to wait long,
hoxvava,. AZ, Tho fol10win0 morning. as
we sat examining the blocks Of my
crazy-quilt, and mentioning the old
school-friends suggested by some
Of the silk scraps, heard the
front door open, and know
ing it could not be my husband, was
prepared to hear Cartons familiar rat
a-tat-tat ct the sitting-room door.
sCome,' I answered carelessly.