Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-10-06
THE COLONEL'S CHOICE.

The colonel came in to sit awhile
with the Misses Toppings. The side
gallery. cool and pleasant. with easy,
cushioned seats, was q favorite resort
Of the cOlOuelS, although he used con-
siderable caution about dropping in TOO
often
lit might arouse false hopes in their
tender breasts he said TO himself.
with @ conscious little smile, "and peo-
pie are so ready To- talk about a widow
er'S movements.
However the delightful mint julep
Miss Armnta-WhO still maintained
her maiden given name. although she
had the right to De called Mrs. Spence.
being the widow of the late Solomon
Spence-made him. and the evident APP
probation the three ladies had for him.
tempted him TO call CttCner than he had
intended.
Miss Arminta. her sister. Miss Lucy.
@ few years her senior. and their niece,
Miss Annie. kept o select school. where
"all the modern accomplishments. as
Well as the solid branches of learning"
We're instiIed I'm the minds of young la
dies. III was now vacation time and
only the three preceptresses remained
i'm the old family mansion. which, be-
cause of the changed fortunes brought
about by the war, had been converted
into q select school
The COl0uels arrival always created
a huttering i'm the devOcOte. and this
evening was no exception to the rule.
Miss Arminta FASTENED into the hall 70
get him palm leaf, Miss Lucy pulled
forward the easiest chair, and Miss
Annie took his hat and cane, receiving
as she did so q sly squeeze of the hand,
for the Colonel was very fond of the
ladies and q sad flirt, despite his fifty
odd years.
It was a little singular that each of
the three women thought herself the
attraction which brought the Colonel 70
the house so often, and each had made
mp her mind. without much mental
struggle. 20 accept his hand whenever
be saw fit TO ofier it. For although the
COlOneIs fortune had been consider
ably diminished during the "late Un-
pleasantness. ne was still moderately
wei off, had charming manners and
was one of the most popular men in
the whole country.
Entirely ignorant OF the kind of in
tontions OF his hOstesses. the caller
made himself comfortable and became
quite genial under the influence of the
cooling iUlep which Hiss Arminta
brought him rs soon as he began to
look around aimlessiy. as il he missed
something. Far be it from me TO ac-
/ cuse the gentle and cautious Miss Ar
minta OF purpOse'y dOCtOring the Col
oners julep. but The truth is she caught
up the wrong bottle from her little
liquor cabinet and threw in O generous
dash of it's contents into the glass of
water and cracked ice before she no.
uced it, She must have been much
/ pre0ccupied. because in order 20 rem
ejy the matter She hastily poured a
quantity Of old rye I'm also. and. deli
cately dropping q few sprigs of Che fra
I grant mint on TOD. brought the glass 20
/ her caller. Calamity drinking TO the
I feel @ fine slow of spirits. and q secret
| feel fine slow of spiris. and @ secret
/ which would never have been revealed
/ otherwise was UDl 0Osed from the Old
warriors breast.
Il would like To consult You ladies. %
he began. "about a very Important mat
/ ter.
The three ladies' simultaneously muir
I INJURED willingness 20 be consulted.
/ three hearts beating faster as c0Djec-
lures were formed i'm regard 10 this inn
p0rtaDt matter.
About a month after my poor wife
/ died. continued the Colonel IT receiv-
/ ed q letter from voUns lady in the
South, asking me il could advise her
I Of any one in my locality desiring gov
! erness. She said She had often heard
OF me from mutual friends. ana. being