The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-11-11
ONE OF THE THREE
Dollie knocked at my door.

DOillc hHOChcu at LILY uoOi.
Dollie is my niece and my goddaugh-
ter, ard it is always 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, II
wouldn't disturb you unless it was for
something really important. But
can't Sleep"
What has been taking placer" ask
ed.
1T isn't what has taken place, but
what will take place. Auntie, l must
marry me-"
Extremely sudden. I see no i'm
mediate necessity"
ct will sound cruel. am In love
with three men,"
mot bad for your years. Do you
propose to marry all three?"
"No-but l propose to marry one of
them. The question is which"
"And where does my part come imp
"You must decide for me-" pleading
ly.
BLESS me, you are to marry them
him I mean-the one"-I said con-
fusedly, mot me, therefore surely you
ought to be the one to choose"
How can be both Judge and coun-
sci? And l want to plead the cause
OF all three"
plead away, then" I 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 a grand thing. And it is SO
| delicious to lose all ones own small
IDENTIFY and individuality in such a
| large one-to merge ones paltry am
billions in another's great one. Think
of the pride of hearing 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 lool
UP to and admire. Admiration for {
man is luxury so rarely possible tt
women nowadays. And l admire ev
| arything about him, from his clear GU
| features and keen eyes to his enormou!
brain and wonderful eloquence."
was so much astonished at Dollie'!
own unwonted eloquence that l coult
only blink stupidity for a minute Of
two. Then l said, Does he want t.
marry your"
"They all want to marry me"-trag
ically.
you have pleaded one cause SO vel
that ! fail to see where the other two
can have an advantage. Who ar,
they?"
We'll, there is Claude Brown"
Then explain the quality of the es
sence poured forth for him."
"He makes me feel AXE saint. H
believes l am the most perfect woman
living. When he sits and talks to m
am throned queen and he hum
BILE worshiper. I am a single. tall
white lily in field of grass. | am
white robed nun, a spotless, pure whit
maiden. l feel as if my hands he'll
the charity and the kindness and tn
peace Of the world, and no vilenes
could live near me. I am somethin
set apart. l sit in a charmed circI
with his love and his reverence max
ing a white wall between me and tn
small sins and temptations of tn
world. am raised above the com
monplace. Storms can rage all roun
me and not touch me. The worl
struggles. and fights while / sit on
white throne holding it's ideals an
high hopes pure and undefiled."
Dollie's candle and my night ligt
shone on the pink ball dress and mad
her jewels sparkle. But the jewel
were nowhere compared to her glister
ing eyes. ! mad forgotten now that