The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-13
ROSES AND PEARLS.

Her aunt, Mrs. Gladstone, was work
ing an embroidery pattern at the opposite
end of the room. On stand in front of
Susan lay necklace of pearls and a
simple white rose.
The rose and the pearls were each &C
companied with separate note. They
had both been presented to her by special
messengers within the last half hour
DEAR SUsAN-Will you wear this rose on your
bosom this evening, If there Is any room for hope
for one who loves You truly and devotedlyY
HENRY joy.
The second read as follows:
DEAR MISS WILDE-H you feel that you can
ever love with oae-half the ardor and intensity
that do you, please acknowedge the sweet truth
by accepting the pearls and wearing them at Mrs.
| Gladstone's reception this evening.
ARTHUR FLOYD.
And these two missives were the source
of the quandary into which Susan Wilde,
the acknowledged belle of Springvale,
had SO naturally and insensibly fallen
Arthur Floyd was of the firm of ''F1ovd
& Son." dry goods merchants, while
Henry Joy was simply salaried clerk
in the establishment Of the aforesaid
firm. The young men were of about the
same age, both intellectual, well edu-
Gated and good looking. They had been
classmates at the same university, and
young JOY owed his present position in
| the establishment to the influence of his
friend, Arthur. Both were madly in
| love with Susan Wilde, the beautiful
! orphan niece of wealthy and aristocratic
! Mrs. Gladstone, who had come to reside
| at Springvale after the death of her hus-
band, who was reputed to be worth his
millions. Mrs. Gladstone was still of
manageable age, being but tride over
| 40, and remarkably healthy and young
! looking. Mr.. Gladstone had left his
property equally divided between her
self and step son, sophomore in Har-
ward.
Susan was an only child of an elder
sister, who had died some years before,
leaving her offspring to Mrs. Gladstones
care.
Her father had left some property,
which her mother, through tact and
economy, had very materially increased,
SO that at the time OF her death Susan
was left quite an heiress, having an IN
encountered farm and sane four or five
thousand dollars at interest. Neither of
the young men had concealed from the
other his passion for Susan Wilde, and
reasoning between themselves that she
could make but one Of the two happy in
a matrimonial sense, they had Jointly
hit upon the above novel method of as
certaining which of the two might claim
her preference, each promising to abide
by the young lady's decision.
Susan had read both of the notes care
fully, and was now deeply bordering.
They had evidently brought the young
girl to a profound sense of reflection,
and she saw that she must decide between
the two
Arthur Floyd, aside from his personal
attractions, had abundant prospective
wealth to recommend him, while Henry
Joy had only intellect, beauty and fine
physical powers to plead for him. With
almost unlimited means at his command
the former could place her in the most
exalted position in society, while the lat
ter, with no other resource than his sal
airy, could only expect to support wife
comfortably, not ostentatiously.
"Wel," said Mrs. Gladstone after a
somewhat lengthy silence, you seem to
be unusually reserved on the subject of
your mornings correspondence. Can't
you see that your good aunty is dying
with curiosity to learn the contents of
the notes?"
Susan looked up confusedly.
"Will you read them" she asked, cor
shall I?''
"You read them, deary. You see am
busy just now with this embroidery pat
tern"
Susan obeyed, reading aloud what we
have already submitted to the reader.
"What am l to do?' she questioned,
with look of evident annoyance, al
though it was plain from the blush that
accompanied it that she felt not little
fattered.
why, you silly little innocent" re-
piled Mrs. Gladstone, laughing, cit is
against all rules of propriety to keep two
strings to your bow after they have be-
come so importunate. The only thing
you have to do is to consider the respect
and decide between them. The choice
cannot be very difficult, of course, when
you consider their relative positions in
worldly sense"
Il know; Arthur is rich and Henry is
poor"
Yes; and the former is certainly not
greatly inferior to the latter in point of
hearty and iptaI61enCe OF Coi1rse Won
will discard the rose for the pearls?"
Il am not sure, aunty, dear. | have
been bordering the matter deeply for the
last five minutes. l have always prided
myself that l am something OF aajudge
of human nature. To be sure, Arthur
Floyd is rich and can lavish pearls, even
diamonds, upon the lady of his choice;
but in my knight of the white rose l rec
ognize a natural superiority that wealth !
alone cannot confer. Ny decision, aunty |
ought not to be governed wholly by the |
present situation, for riches, you know, |
have wings. and aside from that l find |
in my poor adnirer more sincerity, more |
strength of purpose, and a great deal less |
vanity and sslfshness than may be found /
wrapped up in him who is represented /
by pearls.
Surely you would not be so insane, |
my dear, as TO resign Arthur Floyd, with |
his prospective wealth and recognized So |
cial standing, for poor clerk in his en-
ploy, with nothing but mis- good looks to
recommend him.
Il might. aurtv. 4 young girl is |