The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-06
TWO CHARMERS.
He Might Have Been Happy with
Either, But.

Mr.. Middleton was in love. hopeless
II, irretrievabIy in love; and he felt
sure that his passion was re turned.
That being the case, and his financial
condition warranting him marrying
whenever and wherever he pleased, one
might expect him to be very happy
man. indeed; instead of which, be was
plunged into the lowest depths of de-
Spair.
The trouble was this: Mr.. Middleton
was in love with two women instead of
/ one, and he positively could not decide
! which of the two he wanted to marry.
! He loved them both with all his heart,
and he was certain that each of them
was only waiting for him to make his
declaration in due form, to tell him
how much she loved him in return.
The first young woman at whose
shrine he worshiped was Dora Paine,
sprightly little brunette with charm
ing manners, d beautiful face and I'M
usual intellectual gifts. He had known
her only a year, but they were on terms
of the most friendly intimacy. He was
a constant visitor at her fathers house
and her ready attendant at places of
social amusement. He felt that he
must become either less or more at
once; his manly instincts demanded
that he should delay the matter no
longer. But there was Agnes Moulton.
During the preceding winter an old
friend of his mother had visiting her
young orphan girl by that name
Agnes was in great sorrow and
Stunned all gay society. Mrs. Grytan
begged him to come often to help her
cheer her visitor, and this cheering
process had led to his second infatua-
ton. He had correspondent with Agnes
ever since she went back to her broth
er'S home; and he was sure from the
tone of her letters that she returned
his affection.
What was he to do? He puzzled over
the relative merits of blonde and bru-
nette, weighed in the balance the nu-
merous virtues of each, tried every posi-
bic and impossib plan for finding out
ones own mind-all to no purpose lie
was too thoroughly ashamed of himself
to take anyone into his confidence. Mrs.
Grytan was his nearest matronly friend,
but she stood in too intimate relations
with Agnes to be considered for a mo-
ment If it were any other matter, he
would go to Josephine, but he could
never own himself such a iool to her.
He had known Josephine Ferrars all
his life. Only q year his junior, she
seemed quite passee compared to the
girls to whom he paid his addresses
nowadays. He was thirty-five now,
and he remembered with what impa-
thence he had waited for the day he
attained his majority, that he might
lay his fortune at her feet in true he
roic fashion. She was twenty then. and
how she had laughed at him for 4
silly boy. Their friendship had re-
manned unimpaired, however, and Jo-
sephine had gone on teasing and lectur-
ing him just as she had done since they
were babies. IN later years their
friendship had grown to be a very
pleasant one and Josephine seemed to
him like an older sister. lie went to her
in all his perple:1ities, ana she had had
no i4ISlC SI-saLC III Bi-S bkOLCSSAOGIdi Sue
cess. But ne had never spoken to her
OF love affairs; indeed, til his present
dilemma he had never had any since
his boylsh devotion to Josephine her
self.
So he hid his trouble and brooded
over it. He spent evenings at the
Paine's vowirg 10 decide before he went
nn,,,n- n lNlr,,.> an,,Nlv-
love with Dora than ever, to find q let
ter from Agnes had still all its old
power over hiE. lie was growing thin.
Where WAS this matter 20 end?
One night, At the club, lie said to
brother member: Hal, what do you do
when you can't decide between two
apparently equally good courses OF ac-
tion?"
Toss up. Settles things every time,
feeble brain over decisions that won't
decide. Here you re. Gus, heads or
tails?"
Heads" For Agnes, he said TO him
self.
Hal threw up the coin. He watched
the result eagerl..
"Tailsr' exclaimed Hal, and tails it
was.
Thank you, I'll follow the coin.
Good night, have an engagement"
Re started for the Paine's cursinr
himself al the way for his treatment
OF Agnes, Yet happy beyond measure IN
the thought that the matter was final
y settled. He would write 10 Agnes
tomorrow and tell her of his engage
ment 10 Dora; but no one else must
know it FOR the present except Jose
phiEe.
Nc one was at home IT the Paine'S
stupid OF him 10 forget that they Tefc
town that day to attend q wedding and
were not 10 DC home till Thursday. he
went around to Josephine's and spea.
tee rest ct the evening. She play ed
for him as she only could play. and
chatted Of books. his work. the thea
ter. 2l with her matchless charm.
Dora must he intimate with Josephine
when they were married: he coclG not
give up his friend even for the deares.
httle wife in TIE world, he thought =
The next morning came \ letter from
Agnes. AND joy Of JOYS, She wrote him
that she was engraved To be married