The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-12
From the West Eod Review.

One of Three.
From the West E1d Review.
Dollie Knocked at my door.
Dollis is my niece and my godmother.
ana II 10 1lw avs a pleasure to me to see
her. but when she wakes me up at IN
the morning 60 give me that pleasure I
cannot say that ii Is wholly an uumxed
one.
Auntie. may come INF"
You are in" I answered tartty. for she
had opened the door.
Evidently she considered this an invi-
tation, for she closed the door behind her.
put her candle down on the table, and sat
down at the foot of my bed
"Auntle," she said penItently, "I wouldn't
disturb you unless 1t was for something
really important. But I can't sleep"
What has been taking placer" / asked.
1t isn't what has taken place but what
viii take place. Auntie, must marry me"
Extremely sudden. l see no immediate
necessity"
Ut will sound crude. am In love with
three men"
Not bad for your years. Do you pro-
pose to marry all three?"
'No--but propose to marry one OF them.
The question is, which"
And where does my part come In?"
You must decide for me-" peadlngly.
Bless me, you are 10 marry them,-h!m
l mean-the one'-I said confusedy. mot
me, therefore surely you ought to be the
one to choose"
How can l be both Judge and counsel?
And | want to plead the cause OF all
three"
plead away, then" was getting curl
Gus now.
First, there is Mr.. Acton"
"a clever barrster from all accounts.
What do Won find n Love IL, him
e Is so clever. so ambitious, so strong,
and keen and cold. Aunte, brain is a
grand thing. And II Is so delicious to
lose all ones own small identity and in
dividuality In such a large ons--to merge
ones paltry ambitions In anothers great
one. Think of the pride of hearing a man
like that say: This Is my wife Think
OF the pleasure of assisting his work, of
standing between him and the everyday
disturbing annoyances of life, above all,
the pleadings of having him to look up 10
and admire. Admiration for a man Is a
luxury, so rarely possible TO women now
adays. And 1 admire everything about
him, from his clear cut features end
keen eyes to his enormous brain and won
derful eloquence. "
I was so much astonshed at Dollie's
own onwonted eloquence that I could only
blink stupidity for a minute or two. Then
1 said, Does he want to marry your"
They all want to marry me'-tragl-
cally
you have pleaded one cause so well that
fail to see where the other two can have
an advantage. Who are they?"
''Well there is Claude Brown"
"Then explain the quality of the es-
senco poured forth for HIM.
"He makes me feel like a saint. He be-
lieves l am the most perfect woman living.
When he sits and talks to me I am a
throned queen and be a humble worship
err am a single, tall white lily In a Held
OF grass. l am white robed nun, a
epotless, pure white maiden. l feel as II
my hands held the charity and the kind
illness and the peace OF the world, and
no vieness could live near me. ON
something set apart, I sit In charmed
circle with his love and his reverence
making a white wall between me md the
small sins and temptations of the world.
I am raised above the commonplace.
Storms can rage all round me and not
touch me. The world struggles and gate
while / sit on a white throne holding its
ideals and high hopes pure and unde-
filed"
Dollie's candle and my light shone on the
pink ball dress and made her jewels spa
lSle But the jewels were nowhere COM
pared to her glistening eyes. l had for
gotten now that ] ever had down pillow
and hot water bottle
TWenty-year-old Doille had reached the
two extremes of woman's bliss-O, waste
full fates-whila some women never knew
either. But where I'm the name Of the holy
st. Valentine was she going to get In a
third?
And Claude Brown also wishes to mar
~ your
"They all want to marry me-" she re-
peated, more tragically still.
"And am Judge" I CALCULATED looking
at the rosebud face and sweet perturbed
blue eyes, "Well, 1 should be sorry to
have this responsibility of giving the cast
ing vote now, and have another cause
to listen to. Who is the thlrd?'
"The third is Jack"
"Ah. then, what has Jack 10 offer be-
sides a fair income aud his handsome facet
luxury OF admiratLon2 or a white
throne? Or something original on his own
account7"
"No. After all, I think Jack might be
struck out first" she said medltatively.
"Only he says, Doll, old girl" and pushed
my bicycle up all the hills"
Marry Mr. Acton" ] suggested.
yes. perhaps / win" said Dolly slow
ly. But / cannot help thinking Il Is q
pIty to be a pillow all ones life, knowing
that one could have reigned sainted
queen"
so It is" I responded cheerfully. Mar
ry Claude Brown"
"Well, / may" said Dollle without en-
thuslasm "But isn't a BaInted queen a
lonely personT
"A vecy lonely person" I decided Mar
ry Jack"
THAT" answered Dollle, promptly,
would be reverrLng to the commonplace"
"Doliie," l said, "go to sleep and dream.
And marry the one you dream Of"
Fortunately, Dolle was pleased TO see
the wisdom OF this remark.
''WeIi." she answered. That Is a good
idea. for X does away with the RESPONSE
buity. Goodnight auntie."
GOOD might Dollie." / replied, falling
back on my pillow gratefully. The next
morning Dollie popped her head in at my
door when / was dressing and said In a
voice that carried the despair OF nations
in Its tones
'Auntie, l dreamt OF all three. went
TO church to be married, and there they
all were-frock coats with white button
holes and ALL"
Dolle was out skating all day. I hate
cold, so / spent the afternoon by the libra
~ fire. reading, and was deeply engrossed
when Dolle woke mel mean disturbed
me-again.
There was a clash OF skates In the hall
and the sound Of d girls ripping laugh
and a mans deep voice.