Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-03-04
WHICH DID SHE MARRY

Monthly. Once upon time there was
a Lady who was young, beautiful. ac-
complished and very rich. She was al
50 very clever.
But her most striking characteristic
was that she was every atom "a woman.
She had three lovers who had been ,of
lege cronies She always spoke OF them
as her friends
There was fourth gentleman whom
she knew, but by no means inGnately.
who was friend Of the othe rthree
one of the three friends was tan.
handsome, athletic, had languishing
eyes, a long mustache and a tine figure;
one was clever, almost brilliant, and
what some women call 'intellectuaI:"
the third was rich good-looking ana
successful"
All these Were considered good eaten
es by mammas who had manageable
daughters and were popular
The fourth gentleman was a silent
man, who kept his own counsel, went
his own gait, and was thought to be in
dependent in his fortune as he was
kown to be in his views.
After season in which Cne young
lately had been greatly and generally
admired each of the three friends, hay
Ing observed the growing attachment or
the other two, discovered that he was
in love with her; each leased the Others
about her to sound them; each denied
the charge, hated the others warmly
for the time, and each decided to get
ahead of his friends
All three made the fourth gentleman
his confident
The society woman was the first to
declare himself. He had The best op-
portmitiCs; had danced with the lady
all winter; had the finest figure; mad
been the best dressed man IN the set:
had driven Il good team and had talked
easily Of BrOwnings poems and of Kip
lngs stories
The occasion which presented Itself
to him was suspicious. 1t was spring
afternoon in the grounds of a beautiful
country place, where IN entertainment
was being given by a mutual friend
The spot was secluded; the air was
balmy; the flowers were dazzling; the
birds sang
He was arrayed fautessly, and ne
and the lady were alone. He naturally
began to talk love to her. and was about
to reach the point where his voice
should grow deep and his look intense.
They We're at the end of long flower
bed blue with pansles which just match
I ed her eyes. lie stopped and plucked
one AS he rose she said:
"A race to the other end that
( side, l this, and dashed off,
She ran like a deer He mad a record,
and could easily have beaten her, but as
they approached the other end he saw
that her path divided there one fork
ran of from him, the other turned into
his.
/ 1t flashed on him in a second; he
would let her run into his arms. lie
wanted TO let her choose She chose,
and when they returned to the house
he had her answer. lie resolved to say
nothing of it.
Just afteiward the second gentleman
found his opportunity, 1t was after the
intellectual entertainment lie had
easily outshone all others. lie took her
into the library Old books were about
them; beautiful pictures were on the
walls the light fell, tempered to the
softest glow, He recognized his Oppor-
tunity.
He felt his intellect strong within
him He approached her sldllfully; lie
limited at the delights of the union OF
two minds perfectly attuned; he illus.
0tratcd apuy by a reference to the har-
mony just heard and to numerous in
stances in literature.
He talked of the charm Of culture
spoke confidently of his prefermenti
suggested, without appearing to do so
his fortunate advantages over others
and referred with some contempt to
commonplace men like the fourth gen
tleman.
Her eye kindled; her for1h trembled
he felt his influence over her. lie re
peated a poem he had written her. II
was good enough TO have been published
in a magazine. Her face glowed.
He glanced up, caught her eyes and
held his hand ready 70 receive her. She
lifted her hand, looked into his eyes
ana he had his answer. They strollet
back. and he determined to keep 1t all q
secret.
Passing, they happened upon the
thiri gentleman, who spoke TO her, ano
NO. = a moment later left her with him
lie led the way into little apartment
lust bv. It seemed to have escaped tht
notice OF the guests, 1t was sumptu
Dusty fitted up for Il tete-a-tete. Wealth
rfoocndblamh;w ?rtec sea hainlIt-hnt
and taste had combined to make it per
feet. She exclaimed with pleasure n
lis bea'.ty.
After handing her a char as luNun
Gus as art could make it the gentleman
BEGAN. He told Of his home of his on
telprlse. of his success, Of his wealth
Ii rad doubled year after year. 1t wa'
ncrs. He laid before her his plans
They were large enough to bewllde