The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-03-13

Wv H"'o I" ld1i ouSiAesS, AM strength and
energy, and my wife would have a certainty
OF the love and respect OF an honest man.
With your permission I would be pleased to
call upon her. Respectfully yours.
WEST HARTLEY"
Clarence Hillsdale wrote:
Dear Sir: am deeply and sincerely in
love with your daughter. propose to make
her my wife, with your consent. NY name,
position and means are we'll known TO you.
| await your reply. Yours.
CLARENCE H1LLsDALE."
The first was faithful counterpart
of himself in his younger days. There
were few improvements, such as lit
tie better prospects, few more dol.
lars than he possessed at twenty-five,
but the principle, the straightforward
honesty and strength o! purpose were
there.
The other was the very man he had
lad in mind for months. Everybody
knew the soIidity and worth of the
great banking house Of Hillsdale
Brothers. Everybody knew Clarence,
the younger, to be a thorough man OF
business and q gentleman. He drove
his handsome bays with grace and
ease, but never with recklesSness. lie
gave q supper now and then, when
champagne and Madeira flowed like
water; but he went to his chamber
with clear eye and steady hand. and
without even tho faintest breath of
tobacco perluming his elegant clothes.
Men found him always at his post,
with his far face flushed with health,
and not trace of dissipation wrink
ling single feature.
It was hard to choose between them.
Perhaps Ruth could choose. So he
spoke:
''Ruthie, como here!"
She came with her well.bred, grace.
full step, and leaned over bis chair.
"Well. papa?"
"Read these"
He gave her the two letters and she
read them carefully over. y blush
stole up, mantling brow and cheek
when she concluded West Hartley's
letter, and at the end of Hillsdale's q
delighted exclamation escaped her.
"You cannot marry both. Which
shall it be?"
"Pepa, I don't know. I used to
really love West, until Clarence came !;
but now-wcll, Clarence is rich and
stylish, and yet, West is-good and
true. You shall decide
"And you will abide by my dc.
clsion?"
"WitL al nv heart, papa"
Ruthie went back to her easy-chair,
and gave the matter up entirely to
papa's superior Judgment, and he,
with quite rs much if not degree or
SO moro anxiety than he had felt ut his
own matrimonial setting, sat back and
reflected. a.. :.
Honesty and truth were jewels sell
dom found, but with money and
power on the other side Of the scale
he was little afraid they would sink
into nothingness,
"Wcll, l 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
second day OF December. On the
fourth each gentleman received q
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 patience,
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 edi!ice.
Fair young girls, with confectionery
ct ten dollars per bite, and daiuty.use-
less knick.knacks priced at Eve times
their real value, besieged every visitor,
and he WAS hard hearted creature
who could resist the touch OF the white
hands, and pleading from the soft
eyes, and sweet entreaties OF tDo buy
this, you know you need i Please
dol" .,.-.