The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-02-27
WHICH GIRL:
BY ISABEL LEDYROL.

full of hope seemed this great wealth
that had come to him so unexpectedly,
after y youth of mere competence And
yet the condition! No one dreamed of a
condition, not even his mother. When
his old uncle had died suddenly and on
the reading of the will it was discovered
that Louis was sole heir, every one felt
that he must be happy. Here he was in
possession of the great iron mills and
other properties, which every one had ex-
pected would go to charities, since old
Mr.. Worthington had always professed
the greatest dislike for his brothers
widow and her son. There was no dis
appointed relative to make Louiss life
burden, and how could he help being
contents But they did not know the
contents of that awful letter the lawyer
had handed him, marked: "For my
heir-to be opened Immediately after my
death" A few instructions as to the
mill business, deal of advice as to his
general conduct in life, the grimly
characteristic reason for his magnificent
bequest, that eff the last Worthington
could be saved from going to the dogs,
so much the better, and then this dread
full sentence, that seemed to stand out in
letters of fire as Louis gazed on the blank
office wall:
"And for all this only one condition. If
within six months you are not engaged to be
married, and in one year are not married,
shall expect you, on your honor as a
Worthington, to divide my property be-
tween the State Reform School and Harvard
University, for don't believe man can be
successful i'll life unless he has smart wife
before he is twenty-six or seven"
GA smart wife," And his nephew
thought of the poor little married woman
he dimly remembered as Aunt Susan. A
smart wife! But how could he fall in
love to ORDER? He was far too honorable
to think for au instant of marriage with
out love. And yet it would almost break
his mothers heart to give up the fortune
she had so priced for her boy. And,
being a healthy minded American young
man, he had no special desire to give it
up, himself.
At least he need not tell her yet, and
he must try to find some girl he could
care for. So, sitting at his uncles old
desk, he thought over all the girls he
could remember in his boyish days, me-
chemically writing their names on great
sheet of business-pape After his col
lege life he had travelled two years abroad
as tutor--bear- leader, he always called it,
in college phrase-of western youth.
He had enjoyed these years, for the boy
was bright, but now that the latter had
come home for college, and just as Louis
was looking for another position his
uncle died. So he could have only
childish recollections of Trainvile, where
he had seldom spent college vacation,
and finally his list narrowed down to
three:
Virginia Black.
Mary Crawford.
Jessie Bancroft.
These he knew to be refined and edu-
Gated girls. He did not think of enlarg-
ing his list by girls outside of Trainville,
for he did not know of one who might
fill the place he wished; and why should
he go elsewhere, anyway One of these
girls would do as well as any.
He sat some time longer in thought,
then tore up the sheet of paper, left the
office, and walked rapidly home. He
and his mother still occupied the old
house until the larger one his uncle had
built should be thoroughly reitted and
ready for them. His mother was only
too glad to see him early, and they sat
down IN the shabby little veranda that
held so many childhood remembrances
for Louis. After little desultory talk,
the latter said:
"But haven't half asked after my old
schoolmates, mother. Where are Allen
Benton and Dick Whitel It's fully a
year since heard from either"
When she had given him all the news
she could of the boys, he added-oh So
carelessly:
"And the girls? Virginia Black
where is she2 Saucy as evers"
Virginia. Why, she married yea,
and a half ago. thought l wrote you.
A New York mana really low charac-
ter, thought. -
''Too badm he answered sympatheti.
cally, inwardly grooming: "One chance
gone." After a moment he inquired
"And Mary Crawford?"
"Oh she is still here. and a very pretty
girl; modest and sweet, as she always
was. do think she is as nice girl as
ever knew"
A good mark went down for Mary,
aud then
''Jessic Bancroft2"
seller father is United States Congress
man from our district now, you know
aud they live in Washington, not ever
spending their summers here She,
very bright and attractive, l believe
though / haven't seen her lately"
Was his list to contain but one name
lie must make one more effort.
aren't there any newcomers VIII
has the Bancroft placer
''That is closed; but there is one yer,
interesting new family here-the Ches
tcrs--at the old Goodwin place. Their
are three of the children, Gladys, Do
and Joe. Gladys is twenty-five or three
Dot, perhaps, nineteen-I don't know
she is, quite; and Joe fifteen. They ar
oil very pleasant. Mr. Chester manage
the cotton mills across the river fror
your uncle's-yours, | mean. The
were rich once, am told, but throug
somebody or others rascality lost a
their property, and now only have hi
salary. Gladys fairly leads the town j
everything-wakes it right up"
His mother left to superintend tn
evening meal, and as he smoked an in
sroductory cigar he meditated. Mary 70
Gladysl He rather liked the dash of tn
latter, but very evidently his mothe
would prefer the former. Finally h
gave it up with a sigh and went in t
supper.
When the meal was done he suggeste
to his mother walk over to the Ches
fers'.