Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-06-27
WHICH TO MARRY.

Robert Ellis sat alone i'll the room
he was pleased to call his study. 1t
was. however, used more for smoking
than any other purpose, he being one
of the wise men who leave shop be-
hind when business for the day IS
over.
Now his neglected cigar burned dan
perously near his fingers. he was not
thinking of his clients interests, but
his own. All of mind and sight were
concentrated upon two photographs
living before him in studying the
form, face and expression reproduced;
in endeavoring to read character so
much was this the case that he falleu
to hear the rustic Of bis sisters dress
as she entered, closed the door, stood
behind him and looked at the cause
of his abstraction.
For few moments they remained
thus. Then Jeanette-pot Ellis any
! longer. as she had welded few
months previously--Jeanette Mason
asked in half -bantering, half-earnest
voice:
which, Robert, which,
"You here. Jean?' he questioned in
astonishment Il thought | wasalone
and-the deuce take that cigar. ii
has burned me nearly to the bone w
and he threw it spitefully away.
And mind, Rob, one of these does
not burn you more deeply-burn your
heart to ashes"
DO you speak from experience
Jean?'
"Verv far from it. With ne mar
riage has been no failure has been
the fruition and glorification of love.
But which of these are you dreaming
Of making a wife, Rob?'
What have you to say to this one!
and taking from the table one OF the
pictures he handed it TO her for closer
inspection.
Itwas that of a girl, below ratherthan
above twenty years, blue-eyed, gold
en-baired. with skin as the lily and
lips as the rose, slight of form, with
dainty hands, whose nnstained white
ness and smoothn ess forbid the idea
of labor.
THAT, Jean" continued her broth
or sis Miss Annie Belford, young, fin
ished' with Ia slight sneer upon the
word) at fashionable female acade-
my, rich and acknowledged to be beau
tiful. | met her last summer at Long
Branch. caught her as she was being
swept away by the undertow, and so
became easily acquainted and won
her everlasting gratitude.
What of her character, Rob?'
1.-The very problem | was studying
| know she rides fairly well, can play
and sing, and can dance gracefully FOR
an unlimited number of hours
"Welly'
There was something in his open,
manly face, in his accent, that told OF
more than casual interest. 1t
alarmed his sister for with the quick
intuition Of women she felt the girl
would not be the wife she desired for
her brother.
The other he answered, reading
the decision in the bright hazel eyes
and flushing trifie Indignantly, Is
plain Mary Jones.
plain enough, certainly, II judged
bv the worlds standard Of female
loveliness, but of the kind TO grow
beautiful with love and time. Did
YOU also save her life. Rob?'
No, the circumstances were re
yersed. She saved mine.
And won your everlasting graft
tude?'
/ Scarcely. You remember was
hunting in the mountains OF Pennsyi-
yania "a few weeks since. No, was
not about to be devoured by bears or
have my bones picked scrupulously
clean bv wildcats, but lost my way,
slipped over a dangerous preclplce
and would soon have gone crashing
to the bottom had not this young lady
hum. she must be about my own
age-heard my shouts, come TO the
rescue and by strength of arm drew
me up to safety.
"A mountain" with a little con-
fused pause at her inability to com
mand the word she desired. "whatev-
er the term for feminine Hercules
may be-"
Not so. She was a city production
who chanced to be visiting some dis
tant relatives and sketching. Look
at the photo, Jean, and give Inc your
opinion.
The picture was Of girl who had
reached the age of twenty-five tall
rather Juno in figure than Psyche,
with eyes and hair Of the darkest
brown, nose and mouth too large for
symmetry, complexion wanting lily
whiteness and rose tinting, hands not
of the dainty orderand evidently used
TO toll.
"A strong and good face, Rob, "
was the comment OF the sister. Who
is she, Rob!'
1.-The one child of ruined mer-
chant. with an invalid mother to sup
port"
And does her life-work well and
bravely, you may be assured. The
other is7''
"a petted child of plenty, luxury