The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-10-05
Storp.
POrtia, a Fairy Tale.

handsome and OF equable temperament,
but not unduly knowledgeable-whic
may account for the fact that Portia
herself, while of the intellectually
beautiful type, was not superciliousy
lovely, as is so often the case with
women similarly gifted. She could
talk with man without compelling him
to feel his own ignorance. and, of
course, this made her exceedingly pop
ular with the male portion of the com
munitv in which she lived; but, rarer
still, Portia so endeared herself to
women that plain girls. despite her
beauty, loved to he with her. She had
a way of making them feel that her
beauty detracted from rather than en-
HANGED their plainness, as though she
shed the glamour of her personality on
all those about her, just as the sun
sometimes seeks out the dark corners
of the earth, and makes gloom itself
seem the source CT light. Withal Por-
tia was not conscious of her progresses
ing qualities, and went her way through
life as simply, as quietly, and as sensi-
blv as she could.
That she could have princes dancing
attendance upon her by the score was
not surprising; that she should have
her preferences for certain princes was
equally to be expected; that she should
have at least two particular princes,
who wished her to be theirs was not
startling; and yet, sensible as Portia
was, when these gallant gentlemen
made known their matrimonial hopes
to her, she was startled. That, think,
was the only commonplace thing about
Portia. To be startled by so insignifi-
cant an episode as two proposals on the
same evening is quite in the line Of
woman's way.
But Portia had an excuse for her EN-.
barrassment, which most women have
not, and that excuse was that it was not
until Prince Henry proposed marriage
to her that she realized how much she
cared for Prince John, nor did she
awaken to the fact that she had very
warm place in her heart for Prince
Henry until Prince John asked her the
same question that had been put by his
rival just two hours previously. To
neither could she say no; to neither
could she say yes-surely here was
dilemma! 1t is nv own opinion
that most women would have solved
the problem by quarreling with both
princes, and marrying a third: and a
man similarly placed would have set
tied it by the toss of coin. Not so
with Portia. Neither dissemblance nor
penny-tossing was one of her accomp-
lishments. Frankness was, and she
told the two gentlemen as plainly as
she could just how matters stood.
"I-I think love you both," she
said, "And so, of course, l cannot
marry either of you at present. Time
alone can tell which of the two love
the better"
Most girls would have said (which
of the two l love the best" 1t was in
matters of this sort that Portia showed
her erudition.
"Come back in five years." she
added, and l will decide between you
Meantime you should both bestir your.
selves, for by that which you achieve
are my feelings likely to be influenced.
Ordinarily question of this kind is
settled on the basis of love and affec.
ton. Here the love and affection be.
ing in both cases equal, it becomes a
question Of those qualities plus the un.
known quantity that must decide"
sit depends, them" said Prince
John, upon that unknown quantity?"
- Yes" replied Portia.
" But suppose this unknown quantity
turns out TO be third prince?" sug-
gested Prince Henry.
"The advantage is with YOU" re.
turned Portia. "You have the start
of him. If he overtakes and passes
you, am not to blame"
nd ha fxr,n ;,,t<
the world and strove.
Prince John devoted himself assid
uously to many things, and succeeded
in all. He became lawyer of recog
nized standing, not alone of respecta'
bility, but of marked ability. In or Out
of court Prince John was sure to win
any cause to which his energies were
devoted, yet 80 fearful was he of moi
ultimately realizing the Ideals of the
still undecided Portia, that he brancheC
out into literature. He wrote a move
that even pleased the critics. His WORK
was discussed seriously by the pulpit
and, although while writing his move
he had no idea that such was to be the
case, he found himself six months aftel
the publication of his great work hailed
as the father of new philosophy. IL
counterfeit the effect of his novel, which
while gratifying, was not exactly to hi
taste, he became humorist-a humOr.
Gus humorist, who, while he brought
tears to the eyes of his readers, as dc
most other humorists, did so less alb
ruptly, leading up to them through the
medium of laughter. Having shown
his ability in this direction, Prince John
in order to show Portia what univer
sally-accomplished person he was
turned his attention to poetry and thu
amateur stage, with such success tina
one of his poems crept into severa
Western papers credited to Tennyson
while his Hamlet was of such quality
that prominent society journal called
him ga mute, inglorious Booth" which
naturally, he construed into the highes
possible praise.
And what of Prince Henry? Alas
for every forward stride taken by Prince
John, Prince Henry took one backward
He too tried the law, and failed. He
90 tried literature, yet succeeded not
Next Prince Henry tried to become &