The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-11
BY CHAS. W. SANDERS.
REV. HARVEY'S DILEMMA

Rev. George Harvey, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of East Huntsville, was in a dilemma. He wished to get mar ried. and, unlike many another with such deslre, he believed he had not one, but two, opportunities. But he could not make up his mind whicI of the charmers would bes- grace the position to which he
 They were as different as day and night, both in looks and temperaments. Ada Maxwell was tall. fair and self-con- tained; Grace Morrison, short, dark and vivacious. Ada talked to the pastor of the Firts Presbyterian Church on grave subjects She knew more, he thought. about literature, art. psychology, what not, taan was in the books. Grace played est fashions and the probability of John getting Mary for wife.
 Now, in certain moods, the minister was pleased and entertained by each of these young ladies. When he was lazy and bored-he was sometimes lazy and bored in East Huntsville-he liked Grace's idle prattle: when the intellectual mood was upon him he preferred the conversation nnpledged to either he could, of course. choose the society of the one or the other as he felt inclined. The rub was in de- ciding which would make the most desir- able helpmeet
 He had no doubt that only a proposal was necessary to get the consenting word from Grace or Ada. He thought he had sufficient proof of that. Often he had whispered tender words to Ada on soft summer evenings, and he had not been rebuked. Again under cover of d jest, as her lighter nature permitted, he had said soft things to Grace, and she had only blushed prettily.
 But Rev. Harvey believed that he had more than himself to consider in select ing a wife. His congregation was large and varied. and the duties of his wife ha hn rnnGidnrnd ho thought how much cheer Grace would be able to carry to the homes of the poor or the sick Her ready smile and quick sympathy would indeed be blessings she would be a potent force with the younger members of his congregation These were very liable to stay away from services if they were not continually la bored with, and who so fitting for the task as the winsome Grace?
 But on the other hand Grace lacked dignity. An air of gravity, of high sert- ousness, he had always held. was needed In the household of a minister. Ada would surely be grave and serious all ways, where Grace might be almost friv- oIous. An. the question was difficult; there was so much to be considered.
 In the privacy of his own room one night he decided to come to decision in a way that he would not have wanted any of his flock to know about. He deter mined to flip a coin. Heads, Ada: tails.
 
 drew the shades. Then turning the gas low, he drew dollar from his pocket. He stood over the bed, so that there would be no silver ringing to betray when the piece should fall. Guiltily he tossed it into the air He was plainly nervous, so that his aim was poor. The coin spun toward the wall, struck 1t, bounded away. whirled in again and dropped between the wall and the bed. The minister crawled across the bed and peered anx- iousIy into the crevice. The dollar lay wedged securely, edge upward. With an exclamation he picked it up and craWled back to the floor for another trial.
 He was getting a little excited over the novelty of the thing. and he grew steadier of hand This time the dollar flew straight to ceiling struck 1t with q ring and dropped back to the bed. Heads up! The fates had decided in Adds favor. He sighed softly: he would not have wished 1t otherwise. ,
 He dressed very carefully that evening and was presently vending his way to- ward the Maxwell donnicile. Yes. Miss Maxwell was at home and she would see him. He sat waiting for her with fast heating heart. He had not been so nerv- ous since he had preached his nrst ser mon. - ,.
 She came in presently-she never Kept him waitin~ long-and he thought she had seldom looked more beautiful. He congratulated himself upon the kindness of the gods that rule the Tipping or
 rATIIG-p O'FI,AHE,