West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-04-24
WHICH TO MARRY.
ny WILLIAM II. BUsHNFLL.

Robert Ellis sat alone in the room he
was pleased to call his study. It was.
however,. used more for smoking than
any other purpose, he being one of the
wise men who leave ''shop" behind when
business for the day is over
Now his neglected cigar burned dan
gerously near his fingers. He was not
thinking of his clients interests. but his
own. All of mind and sight were CON
centrated upon two photographs lying be-
fore him; In studying the form, face aud
expression reproduced; in cndeavoring to
read character. SO much was this the
case that he failed to hear the rustic Of
his sisters dress as she entered, crossed
the door, stood behind him and looked
at the cause Of his abstraction.
For few moments they remained
thus. Then Jeanette---not Ellis any
longer, as she had welded few months
previously-Jeanette Mason asked in n
half-bantering, half-earnest voice:
(Which, Robert, which,"
"iou here, Jeanl" he questioned in
astonishmcnt. 81 thought I was alone
and-thc deuce take that cigarl 1t has
burned me nearly TO the bone" and Inc
thTcW III Spltciully away.
"And mind, Rob, one Of these does
not burn you more deepIy-burn your
heart TO ashes"
"Do you speak from experience,
Jeau7"
VERY far from it. With me marriage
has been no failure has been the frui-
tion and glorifcation OF love. But
which of these are you dreaming Of max
ing wife, Robl"
What have you to say to this oneg"
| and taking from the table one of the
pictures he handed it to her for closer
inspection
II was that OF girl, below rather than
above twenty years, blue-eyed, golden
haired, with skin as the lily and lips as
the rose; slight OF form, with dainty
hands, whose unstaincd whiteness and
smoothness forbid tho idea Of labor.
THAT, Jean" continued her brother.
sis Miss Annie Belford, young, SIN
| ishcd' with slight sneer upon the
word) at fashionable female academy
rich and acknowledged 20 be beautiful.
| met her last summer at Long Branch.
caught her as she was being swept away
| by tho urdcrtow, and so became easily
acquainted and won her everlasting
| gratitude.
"What Of her character, Rob-"
"The very problem was studying. I
know she rides fairly well, can play ana
sing. and can dance gracefully for an uu-
limited number Of hours"
''Well?"
There was something in his open
manly face, in his accent, that told OF
more than casual interest. IL alarmed
bis sister for with the omck intuition
/ Of woman she felt the girl would not be
the wife she desired for her brother.
"Tbe other" he answered, reading
the decision in the bright hazel eyes and
flushing a tride Indignantly, ''is plain
Mary Jones"
''Plain enough, certainly, II Judged
/ by the worlds standard Of female love
illness, but Of the kind to grow beautiful
! with love and time. Did you also save
her life, Rob"
''No, the circumstances were reversed.
She saved mine"
And won your everlasting graft
tudel"
Scarcely. You remember I was
/ hunting in tho mountains Of Pennsylvania
/ few weeks since. No, I was not about
10 be devoured by bears or have my
bones picked scrupulously clean by wild
cats, but lost my way, slipped upon
messy rock, hung suspended over
dangerous precipice and would soon have
gone crashing TO the bottom had not this
| young lady-hum, she must be about
my own age-hoard my shouts, come TO
the rescue and by strength Of arm draw
me up TO safety"
"a mountain, with little confused
pause at her inability to command the
word she desired, "whatever the term
for feminine Hercules may be-"