The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-01-15
BADLY MIXED.

Mr.. Middleton was in love-hopeless-
ly, irretrievabiy in love-and he felt
sure that his passion was returned.
That being the case, and his financial
condition ~warranting him marrying
whenever and whomever he pleased,
n might expect him to be a very hap
ny mar indeed. instead of which he
was plunged into the lowest depths of
despair.
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 w~orshiped was Dora Paine,
a sprightly little brunette, with charm
ing manners, a beautiful face and nm
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 ia
theirs house and her ready attendant ait
places of social amusement. He felt
that he must become either less or more
at II His manly instincts demanded
that he should delay the matter no
longer.
But there was Agnes Moulton. Dur
ing the preceding winter an old friend
of his mother had visiting her a young
orphan girl by that name.
Agnes was in great sorrow and shun-
ned all gay society. Mrs. Grytan beg
ged him to come often to help her cheer
her visitor, and this cheering process
had led to his second infatuation. He
had correspondent with Agnes ever since
she went back to her brothers 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 blond and bru-
nette, weighed in the balance the nu-
merous virtues of each, tried every pos
sible and impossible plan for finding
out mes own mind-all to no purpose.
He was too thoroughly ashamed Of him
self to take any one into his confidence.
Mrs. Grytan was his nearest matronly
friend, but she stood in too intimate re-
lations with Agnes to- be considered for
q moment. Ii it were any other matter,
ne would go to Josephine, but he could
never own himself such a fool to her.
He had known Josephine Ferris all
| hf0 ITfo ffp1rx n yaa he sn;n, oIr
seemed quite passe compared to the girl
to whom he paid his addresses nova
days.
He was 80 now, and he remembered
with what Impotence he had waited for
the day he attained his majority, that
he might lay his fortune at her feet in
truly heroic fashion.
She was 90 then, and she laughed at
him for a silly boy. Their friendship
had remained unimpaired, however,
and Josephine had gone on teasing and
lecturing him just as she had done since
they were babies. In later years their
friendship had grown to be a very pleas
ant one, and Josephine seemed to him
like an older sister.
He went to her in all his p~erplexities,
and she had had no little share in his
professional success. But he had never
spoken to her Of love affairs indeed
till this present dilemma he had never
had any since his boyish devotions To
Josephine herself.
SO he hid his trouble and brooded over
II. He spent evenings at the Paine's,
vowing to decide before he went home.
He came home more deeply In love with
Dora than ever, to find a letter from
Agnes had still all its old power over
him. He was growing thin. Where was
this matter to end?
One night Mt the club he said to 4
brother member, Hal, what do you do
when you can't decide between two APP
parently equally good courses of &C
tion?"
Toss up. Settle things every time,
feeble brain over decisions that won't
decide. Here You are, Gus. Heads OF
tails?"
Heads" For Agnes, he said to him
self.
Hal threw up the coin. He watched
the result eagerly.
"Tails." exclaimed Hal, and tails ii
was.
Thank you, I'll follow the coin.
i Good night. Have an engagement"
He started for the Paine's, cursinp
himself all the way for his treatment 81
Agnes, vet happy beyond measure In
: the thought that the matter was fnally
settled. He would write to Agnes to.
morrow and tell her of his engagement,
70 Dora, but no n else must know II
for the present except Josephine.
No n was at home at the Paines'.
Stupid Of him 10 forget that they Ief,
town that day to attend a wedding ans
were not to be home till Thursday. H,
went around to Josephine's and spent til,
rest Of the evening. She played for him
/ . she only could play and chatted d
books, his work, the theater, all will
! her matchless charm. Dora must be in
. timate with Josephine when they wer,
married. He could not give up III,
. friend even for the dearest little VIII,
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