The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-07-14

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,E IA. bias your Judgment.
IN favor OF or against Mr.. Withers. You,
rs the one most nearly interested IN
che consequences <of your acceptance
or refusal of his offer, should surely
be able to make up your mind how to
treat it and him. - az :..&-+4 ss
II should be, as you say responded
the sister-in-law. "But cannot"
She was a handsome woman, in the
prime of early maturity, whose face
seldom wore, in the presence OF others,
the perturbed expression that now be-
gIoomed it. ~
THAT does not affect the fact of your
duty" answered Mrs. Romano, with
considerable severity. There are times
and circumstances in which vacillation
ts 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
all that could be desired, your brother
says Either you like him well enough
to marry him, or you do not. Your sit
uation in life will be bettered by an
alliance with him, or it will not. These
sare the questions for your consldera-
ton. And excuse me for saying that
woman Of your age should not be at
loss In weighing these"
b hoI r4thino rn96v
except a weak phrase Of reluctant &C
quiescence. 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. III could see the
way clear before me I would walk in
It. But, indeed, I am in sore dilem-
ma" She turned away, as her voice
shook on the last sentence, and affect
ed to be busy with some papers upon a
stand (, =
4 Mrs. Romaine 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 &C
tton-but she was the last of her
friends whom she would have select
ed, of her free will, as the conf1dante
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 strang1e sooner than
drop tear while those cold, light orbs
we're upon her.
In consideration of the weakness and
ridiculous sensitiveness of her compan-
fon, Mrs Romano forbore to speak the
disdain she felt at the irresolution and
distress she could not comprehend. "Is
Mr.. Withers personally disagreeable to
you?" she demanded, in her strong con-
.tralto voice.
II liked him tolerably well-very
we'll, in fact, until he told me what
brought him here so regularly" Con-
stance stammered. 'Now am embar-
raised in his presence-so uneasy that
I wish sometimes I could never see or
hear of him again. e.
"Mere shyness!' said Mrs. Romano.
Such as would be pardonable in a
girl of seventeen In woman Of seven
is highly esteemed by all who know
him. Your disrelish of his society is
caprice, unless"-the marble gray eyes
more searching" unless yea have a
prior attachment?"
Constance smiled drearily. II have
never been in love in my life, that /
know Of" y. .ls%=4..' = ~
<'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 decisions combined.
"A rational arriage-founded upon
mutual esteem and the belief that the
social and moral condition of the par
ties to the contract would be promot-
ed thereby-is the only safe union. The
young, inexperienced and headstrong,
repudiate this principle. The mature
I'm age know it to be true. But, as I
have said, it is not my intention to di-
tFsct your judgment. This is a momen-
'teus era in your life. can only hope
and pray that you may be guided
Alright in your decision :. ..z%~
$ Left to- herself to digest this morsel
ct pious encouragement, Constance
3 drew low seat to the hearth regis
ter, clasped her hands upon her knees
end tried, for the hundredth time that
j day, to weigh the facts of her position
fairly and impartially. z523
She had been an orphan for eight
years, and q resident in the house OF
Ter elder brother. Her senior by more
than dozen years, and in the excit-
I ing swing Of successful mercantile life
4 he had little leisure for the study OF
his sisters tastes and traits, when she
drst became his ward, and conceived
the task to he an unnecessary one, nov
that she was to be a fixture in his fam
lily. and appeared to get on smoothly
90.