The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-10-13
WHICH TO MARRY?

W Hull III MARR1 I
81 suppose she will marry some time
or other, and perhaps, after all, she will
be as well OFF to marry now, as to wait
half dozen years.
| Old Mr.. Dorian turned the letters
over in his hand and looked at the
pretty blonde in the easy chair oppo-
site. 1t would be hard to give her up,
but with either of these two men, he
felt that she would be happy.
West Hartley wrote:
"MR. DORIAN: For many months I
have had deep interest in your daught-
er, and am bold enough to hope that
my affection is in degree returned.
[ am not rich man, but have a fair
business, and strength and energy, and
my wife would have certainty of the
love and respect of an honest man.
With your permission l would be pleas
ed to call upon her. Respectfully yours,
'WEsT HARrLEy.n
Clarence HiIlsdale wrote:
"DEAR SIR: / am deeply and sin
cerely in love with your daughter. /
propose to make her my wife, with
your consent. My name, position and
means are well known TO you. | await
your reply. Yours, :
CLARENCE HILLSDALE."
The first was a faithful counterpart
of himself in his younger days. There
were few improvements, such as a
little better prospects, few more dol
lars than he possessed at twenty-five,
but the principle, the straightforward
honesty and strength of purpose were
there.
The other was the very man he had
had in mind for months. Everybody
knew the solidity and worth of the
great banking house of Hillsdale Broth
ers. Everybody knew Clarence, the
younger, to be thorough man of
business and a gentleman. He drove
his handsome bays with grace and ease,
but never with recklessness. He gave
a supper now and then, when cham
payne and Madeira flowed like water;
but he went To his chamber with a clear
eye and steady hand, and without even
the faintest breath of tobacco perfum-
ing his elegant clothes Men found
him always at his post, with his fair
face flushed with health, and not
trace of dissipation wrinkling a single
feature.
1t was hard to choose between them.
Perhaps Ruth could choose. SO he
spoke:
"Ruthie, come herew
She came with her well-bred, grace
full step, and leaned over his chair.
"Well papa?"
"Read these"
He gave her the two letters and she
read them carefully over. A blush stole
up, mantling brow and cheek when
she concluded West Hartley's letter,
aud at the end of Hillsdale's a delight
ed exclamation escaped her.
"You cannot marry both. Which
shall it be-"
Papa, don't know, l used to real
IL love West, until Clarence came; but
now-well, Clarence is rich and stylish,
and yet, West is-good and true. You
shall decide"
"And you will abide by my decis-
ion?"
"With all my heart, papa"
Ruthie went back to her easy-chair,
and gave the matter up entirely to pa
pas superior Judgment, and he with
quite as much if not degree or so more
anxiety than he had felt at his own
matrimonial settling, sat back and re-
fiected.
Honesty and truth were jewels sell
dom found, but with money and pow
er on the other side of the scale he was
little afraid they would sink into
| nothingness.
"Well, / will wait. Some way L
shall receive the truth of the matter,
and know into whose hand to place
the happiness of my little Ruth"
These two letters arrived on the Sec
ond day of December. On the fourth
each gentleman received brief note
from Mr.. Dorian, with few pleasant,
but unsatisfactory lines. He would
consider, he said, and give them his
answer, if they would wait with pa
tience.
On the twenty-fourth there was a
| fair at the church. 1t was magnificent,
from its foundation, and its object was
to decorate with greater splendor the
already splendid edifice.
Fair young girls, with confectionery
at ten dollars per bite, and dainty, use
less knick-knacks priced at five times
their real value, besieged every visitor,
and he was q hard hearted creature
who could resist the touch of the whit.
hands, and pleading from the soft eyes
and sweet entreaties of "Do buy this
you know you need it. Please dor
Mr.. Dorian was there, and his littl,
Ruth was the proprietor of a table wei
filed with worsted nonsense, silkeI
cushions, bead work, smoking cap
and slippers, and many close fistet
fellow laid bill upon her table an,
carried away a trinket, as satisfied a
though he had got double his money
worth.
I Clarence HiIlsdale was there and 8