The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-06-15

WEC~ QeClQeQ not 10 at
ENEA) ~ tempt to influence
V9~ Il you in any way,
SO Constance; not to
bias your judgment
IN favor Of or against Mr.. Withers. You,
% the one most nearly interested IN
the consequences of your acceptance
Or refusal of his offer, should surely
b able to make up your mind how to
treat it and him"
Il should be, as you say" responded
the sister-in-law. But cannot"
She was handsome woman, in the
prime of early maturity. whose face
seldom wore, in the presence of others,
the perturbed expression that now be-
gloomed it.
THAT does not affect the fact Of your
duty" answered Mrs. Romano, with
considerable severity. "There are times
and circumstances in which vacillation
q folly-criminal weakness. You have
known Mr.. Withers long enough to
form a correct estimate of his charac-
ter. In means and in reputation he is
al that could be desired, your brother
Gays. Either you like him well enough
% marry him, or you do not. Your sit
nation in life will be bettered by an
alliance with him, or it will not. These
are the questions for your considera-
tion. And excuse me for saying that a
woman Of your age should not be at
Loss in weighing these"
Again Constance had nothing ready
except weak phrase OF reluctant &C
&uiescence. II feel the weight of your
reasoning, Margaret. You cannot de-
spise me more than do myself for my
childish hesitancy. Mr.. Withers-any
sensible and honorable man deserves
Different treatment II could see the
way clear before me would walk in
It But, indeed, am in a sore dilem-
ma" She turned away. as her voice
shook on the last sentence, and affect
Cd to be busy with some papers upon a
stand.
Mrs. Romano was Just in all her
dealings with her husbands sister, and
meant, in her way, to be kind. Con-
stance respected her for her excellent
sense, her honesty of purpose and ac-
tion-but she was the last of her
friends whom she would have select
ed, of her free will, as the ccnfidante
Of such joys and sorrows, as shrink
from the touch of hard natures-refuse
TO be confessed to unsympathizing ears.
Her heart and eyes were very full now,
but she would strange sooner than
drop tear while those cold, light orbs
we're upon her.
In consideration of the weakness and
ridiculous sensitiveness of her compan-
ion, Mrs Romaine forbore to speak the
disdain she felt at the irresolution and
distress she could not comprehend. us
Mr.. Withers personally disagreeable to
you?" she demanded, in her strong con-
-tralto voice.
az liked him tolerably well-very
we'll, in fact, until he told me what
brought him here so regularly" Con-
stance stammered. Now l am embar-
raised in his presence-so uneasy that
I wish sometimes I could never see or
hear of him again"
"Mere shyness!" said Mrs. Romainc
Such as would be pardonable in a
girl Of seventeen. In woman of seven
And-twenty it is absurd. Mr.. Withers
is highly esteemed by all who know
him. Your disrelish of his society is
caprice, unless''-the marble gray eye:
more unless yea have a
prior attachment"
Constance smiled drearily. II have
never been in love in my life, that
know Of"
<You are none the worse for having
escaped an infatuation that has wreck
ed more women for time and for eter
nifty than all other delusions combined
A rational marriag e-founded upoI
mutual esteem and the belief that tht
eocial and moral condition of the par
ties to the contract would be pronot
ed thereby-is the only safe union Th4
repudiate this principle. The mature
in age know it to be true. But, as
have said, it is not my intention to di
rect your judgment. This is momen
tous era in your life. can only hop
and pray that you may be guide'
Alright in your decision"
Left to herself to digest this morse
Of pious encouragement, Constanc
drew a low seat to the hearth regis
ter, clasped her hands upon her knees
and tried, for the hundredth time tina
day, to weigh the facts Of her positio
fairly and impartially.
She had been an orphan for eigh
years, and resident in the house O
her elder brother. Her senior by NOR
than q dozen years, and in the excit
ing swing u successful mercantile life
he had little leisure for the study Q
1ls sisters tastes and traits, when sh
6Bt became his ward, and conceiye
the task to be an unnecessary one, nov
that she was to be fixture in his fam
fly. and appeared to get on smoothl,
with his wife. In truth, 1t never oc
cured to him to lay disturbing finge