The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-22
THREE OLD MAIDS.

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When the three Misses Hiteshews had
reached rather uncertain age and found
that the marriage lottery was rather un-
certain, they began TO seek for something
10 make their happiness more congenial,
90 they adopted as motto Omitted we
stand, divided we fall" and by SO doing
agreed never to keep secret from the 9th.
ers and that the wish of one should be the
wish of all.
Their fate seemed sealed from that time,
az no sensible man would dare to make
love to three women in the same house,
where there were to be no secrets.
But the time did come when they had to
admit to themselves that they were in love
If not love, 1t resembled 1t SO closely that
1t was splendid substitute for the genu.
Inc article Each knew she was deceiving
the others, but had no idea that all were
guilty Of the same offense. And each was
willing-yea, anxious-to break the bond
that held this union of three together and
bind herself to the object of her affection
until death should part them.
This being upon whom they secretly Law.
who had short time before buried his
wife. but seemed willing to again venture
upon the tempestuous sea of matrimony
He was about 80, and the three sisters ad.
mitted to each other that he was hand.
some man, and that if he ever did marry
again it would be u lucky woman who
succeeded in becoming Mrs. Albright the
second. Had they dared to look at one an.
other slight blush might have been de.
tected on the face of each, but they went
on with their work and did not renew the
conversation about him.
One morning he called and asked Mary
to accompany him to the home of a sick
member. 1t was with q jealous eye that
they saw her depart. They had both
noticed that he held Mary's hand longer
than there was any necessity of doing
when he entered, while he merely shook
hands with them. During the course of
the drive Rev. Albright talked to her Of
his hopes and his intentions and of his
great desire of finding true and trusty
helpmate who would be willing to help
share his many heavy burdens. He said
that he thought he had met this woman,
and should she consent to be his wife he
In the cause in which no was enlisted. He
had not known her long, but even during
the short acquaintance he had seen in her
the traits of a great and noble woman. BY
the time they returned home Mary was SO
confident of becoming Mrs. Albright the
second that she was anxious to tell her sis.
tiers, and when she faced them 1t was with
fear that they would discover her secret in
her face.
Several days after this Kate was called
upon by the minister to go with him to sec
the same person whom he and Mary had
visited. When they left, Mary watched
the carriage out of sight, expecting on the
return of her sister to be confronted by her
and to be made to tell the truth concern
ing her ride with the minister. She would
have been glad to tell it, as it was tho
greatest secret she had ever possessed, and
nothing Is harder for woman to do than
to keep secret After Rev. Albright had |
talked to Kate about the same way that |
he did to Mary, they returned home, Kate |
with the same belief as Mary, that tho
next time he called he would end it by
lsking her to be his wife.
A short time after this he called at tho
house one afternoon and found no one at
home excpet Lucretia, her sisters being alb.
sent on an GRAND of mercy, SO she said.
And, judging from the way he talked to
her while he was there Lucretia Thought
she had every reason to believe that tho OBJ
ject of her many little prayers was about
20 be consummated As he was descend.
ng the steps he was met by Mary and
Kate who were returning from their visits.
Each thought that he had called to see her,
md that the other had been the cause of
Ter failing to reach home in time to see
lin. He was q regular caller Mt their
lome, and whenever he was there was sure
o be besieged by the three. Each supposed
hat she was the object of his visit and
Considered her sisters great drawback at
his particular time. Each tried every plan
0 rid herself of her sisters presence at the
line of his call, but all in vain, They
nd heard it reported several times that
lev. Albright was to marry again, and
ach thought how 1t would surprise every
ody when it was known that she was to
@ Mrs. Albright
The next Sunday morning they all took
lore than usual pains in preparing their
oilets, which caused many of the female
lembers of the congregation to have some
hing to talk about and It was so notice.
BILE that some Of the male members even
smarked about it. They were early in
heir pews and listened to the discourse on