Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-12-05
ONE OF THE THREE

DOllle Is my niece ana my SOuQauSn-
ter, and it is always a pleasure to me
to see her, but when she wakes me up
at in the morning to give me that
pleasure cannot say that it is wholly
an unmiXed one.
"Auntie, may come in?"
you are in," l answered tartly, for
she had opened the door,
Evidently she considered this an in
vitation, for she closed the door be-
hind her, put her candle down on the
table, and sat down at the foot of my
bed.
"Auntie," she said penitently, 81
wouldn't disturb you unless it was for
something really important. But |
can't sleep"
What has been taking place." l ask
ed.
1T isn't what has taken place, but
what will take place. Auntie, / must
marry me-"
Extremely sudden. l see no i'm
mediate necessity"
"It will sound cruel. am In love
with three men,"
Not bad for your years. Do you
propose to marry all three?"
"No-but propose to marry one Of
them. The question is which"
And where does my part come ?"
you must decide for me-" pleading
ly.
Bless me, you are to marry them
him | mean-the one"-I said con-
fusedly, mot me, therefore surely you
ought to be the one to choose"
How can l be both Judge and coun-
sci? And l want to plead the cause
of all three"
plead away, then" l was getting
curious now.
First, there is Mr. Action"
"A clever barrister, from all ac-
counts. What do you find to love in
him?"
He is so clever, so ambitious. so
strong, and keen, and cold. Auntie,
brain is grand thing And it is so
delicious to lose all ones own small
identity and individuality in such a
large one-to merge ones paltry am
bitions in another's great one. Think
of the pride of hearing a man like that
say, That is my wife,. Think of the
pleasure of assisting his work, of
standing between him and the every
cay disturbing annoyance of life, above
all, the pleasure Of having him to look
up to and admire. Admiration for a
man is a luxury so rarely possible to
women nowadays. And l admire ev-
erything about him, from his clear cut
features and keen eyes to his enormous
brain and wonderful eloquence."
l was so much astonished at Dollie's
own unwonted eloquence that could
only blink stupidity for a minute OF
two. Then l said. Does he want to
marry you?"
"They all want to marry me"-trag.
ically.
You have pleaded one cause so well
that I fail to see where the other two
can have an advantage. Who are
they?"
We'll, there Is Claude Brown"
lneH explain tHe quality or the eS-
sence poured forth for him."
HE makes me feel IKE a saint He
believes | am the most perfect woman
living. When he sits and talks to me
l am throned queen and he a hum
BILE worshiper. l am a single, tall
white lily in field of grass. am a
white robed nun, spotless, pure white
maiden. l feel as If my hands held
the charity and the kindliness and the
peace Of the world, and no vileness
could live near me. l am something
set apart. l sit in a charmed circle
with his love and his reverence maxi
ing white wall between me and the
small sins and temptations of the
world. I am raised above the COM
monplace. Storms can rage all round
me and not touch me. The world
struggles and fights while I sit on a
white throne holding it's ideals and
high hopes pure and undefiled."
Dollie's candle and my night light
sh on the pink ball dress and made
her jewels sparkle. But the Jewels
we're nowhere compared to her glisten-
ing eyes. l Aad forgotten now that I