The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-09

as anything else. But, as has already
been said, Mrs. Dutlield's nerves were
not in 4 condition to enable her to note
! such details as this. Not even in the days
I of Adela's glory had she tasted the tri-
umphs of chaperonage as fully as she
tasted them tonight, bat neither had she
ever before undergone such agonies of in
decision.
She got good deal more exhausted,
though not one shade clearer as to her
own state of mind, when, in the early
gray light which precedeS the dawn, the
three ball-goers alighted at the hall door
OF Ruckton. 1t was the dawn of the day
on which she had pledged herself to make
| her choice. And this time Harry would
put up with no more nonsense-she knew
| that, alas! too well. This thought was
! painfully present to her mind as she laid
/ her weary head to rest. Alert as an imp
Of evil it sat on her pillow and warded of
the approach Of sleep. 'Chrissie or Car
RE? Carrie or ChriSSie?' The question
buzzed III her head with maddening per-
sisteney, and meanwhile distant doors
began 10 open and to shut, and the bands
! OF daylight which showed between the
shutters grew broader and more vivid.
1t was not until strip OF intense yellow
light had fallen across the carpet that Mrs.
Dutfield fell into deep sleep.
When she opened her eyes the strip of
light had not grown more yellow, but it
had shifted to the dresSing-table. With a
start OF surprise she glanced at her watch
close to l o'clock; such a thing was I'M
| heard Of. And this was the momentous
| day, and half of it thus slipped from be-
| tween her fingers "Chrissie or Carrie
Carrie or Chrissie ?'' Mrs. Duffield's
eyes We're scarcely open when already the
! question had bounced upon her, like some
beast Of prey which has been lying in
wait during the hours OF slumber.
She got up and dressed hastily. Of
course she must appear at luncheon, but
/ before she appeared lier decision must
have been arrived at. Henry would GER
tainly open the subject the moment they
left the dining-rOom.
Perhaps it was a certain repose of
nerves, gained by bodily rest, which
helped Mrs. Dutfield to see all at once, as
in a revelation, that all this weighing and
measuring of the subject was useless
selt-torture, that, OF her own free will,
| she never would be able to make her
| choice, not even if her two nieces were
kept on sight for another three months,
or, for the matter of that, another three
years. Since, nevertheless, a choice had
| to be made, was 1t not the only sensible
| plan to leave it to fate ?
The thought had scarcely dawned in
| her mind when she embraced it eagerly
though with strange pang of fear which
it would have been difficult logically to
! ca J1tIIl LIZ illUlOtI was quite Simple
| whichever of the girls she happened to
meet first she would regard as destined
| by fate for the return to Australia; the
other should become the adopted daugh-
ter.
And in order to put an end to all fur
Their doubts" reelected Mrs. Duffield, Il
will open the subject with her imme1f-
ately, and tell her to begin her prepare
tons. l hope to heaven L shall not meet
them together because in that case
good gracious there is someone knock
! ing!'
Mrs. Duffield distinctly felt herself turn
| pale as she sank in the nearest chair,
steadying herself by its arms.
There was pause of more than min
ute before she managed to utter:
''Come in.''
Chrissie, opening the door and enter
ing with peculiarly bright smile play
| ing about her lips, looked at her aunt in
some surprise.
Are you i'll. Aunt AIice?" she in
quired earnestly. You look so agi-
tated.'
"No--that is to say mean-is that
you, Chrissie! 1t is a good thing you
have GOMEZ have something to say to
! you"
! well, Aunt Alice, am listening"
! Il suppose l had better tell you at
once" began Mrs. Duffield, molding her
! handkerchief into a lump ''You see.
there are various reasons why l cannot
keep you both here for any length of
time; 1t is no use going into details, but
l told Henrietta from the first that [ could
| only manage with one. L am not eXag-
gerating when L say that you have both
gained my heart, and yet l am driven to
making my choice. l have had great
difficulty in doing so, but it has occurred
to me that it would be pity to let Car
rie's voice rust away out there. instead of
/
so, though it is very difficult for me to
say SO, thought l had better tell you
That am to be shipped back to Aus
| tralla!' asked Christie; but strangely
enough, there was neither disappoint-
menU nor chagrin to be seen upon her
| face. The peculiarly bright smile con-
| tinued to play, undimmed, about her lips
| es; am afraid 1t will have to be
that" finished Mrs. Duffield, almost in
tears.
Don't agitate yourself Aunt Alice"
said Chrissie, reassuringly. Il don't think
| it Will have to be that at ali''
but, my dear child
'Wait u minute. You have had your
say, and now it is who am going to have
mine. / came here to tell you; [ couldn't
do it comfortably last night, or rather this
morning; but now L don't want to put it
| Off. l have something to announce to you,
| Aunt Alice. Mr.. Ingram has"
Not shot himseHu' screamed Mrs.
| Duifield, starting from her chair and clos
| ing her fingers over Chrissie's wrist. Il
! always said that he would do something
desperate"
"Well, as to its being something desper-
ate,'' said Chrissie, gently releasing her
! sell, 81 suppose that is a matter of opin-
! ion; but at any rate"
"Oh, tell me that he has no. shot him
selfp'
mo: he has not shot himself; he has
done something completely different"
surely not-poison?' sail Mrs. Duff
| field in awe-struck whisper.
NO, not poison; something still more
different. He has asked me TO be his
wifer'
For moment Mrs. Duffield continued
to stare at her niece with meaningless
eyes, then she staggered back to her chair
and sank into it with gasp.
George Ingram" she succeeded at last
IN murmuring, asked youths wife
but thought IL was Adela-it never even
| occurred TO me-and, dear me, what has
become of his broken heart?n
1t has got mended, Aunt Alice.n cried
Chrissle, with a great burst of delight
! Don't you see? 1t was Adela; but it is
me; the matter is really quite simple
Wlth ChrlssIe's arms around her neck
and Chrissie's head on her shoulder, it
did not take Mrs. Duffield long to realize
the perfect simplicity of the matter; and
the nrSt shock OF surprise once over, she
was conscious of nothing but a feeling of
intense relief. Here was an entirely un-
looked-for and universally satisfactory
solution OF the difficulty; for, of course,
Carrie became from this moment marked
by fate as the adopted daughter of the
future.
of course there can be no question
now OF going back to Australia" She ioy-
July explained to Chrissie. Henry can