Smyrna times., 1903-08-26
53 1E1 rs Is 8s3S

81 wish," and Nora Willoughby
spoke earnestly, 81 could find out
which is the truest of my two lovers"
"Only two, Nora?" said.
"Only two that really care for me-"
she answered with faint blush.
"Well. choose the one who has the
most money" replied, all ready for
the girls indignant protest against
advice.
eff 1 thought you really meant that,
Elinor," and she spoke with the low
tones of real anger, 81 would never
see you, never come inside your house
again. But you don't. It is only
your way of getting me to marry Ar
thur Howard, who has so little to give
except himself"
''Then all you have to do is to de-
eide whether himself only is worth
having. He is not handsome; indeed
should call him decidedly plain"
Nora looked at me sharply.
cat any rate he has a clever face, :"
she exclaimed, ''and that is ever so
much to be preferred to a blue eyed,
straight-nosed fool"
cit is rather rude to call one of your
lover a fool" L remarked.
81 did not 1 mentioned no one;
I was speaking generally, not partic-
ularly. You are positively hateful to-
day, Elinor, and am going home"
Goodbye, then. Till wheL?"
Nora vouchsafed no answer to this
rather unnecessary question. L say
unnecessary" because she came in
nearly every day, almost too often,
although I was really fond of the
girl.
She claimed two lovers only, which
was certainly modest when nearly all
the marriageable men in the neigh
borhood were enamored of Miss Will
loughby. Even the married ones were
sometimes unduly attentive to her-at
least, in the opinion of their wives.
Nora was both pretty and rich. Bye
and-bye she would be richer, because
she would have all that her grand
father possessed, and his wealth was no
inconsiderable. Then, as another ad
vantage, she had no other near rela
tives; few men care to enter a numer
GUS family Her mother died at he
birth, her father soon after; and thu
child had plenty of money, which wa
left to accumulate, because old Mr.
Willoughby wished her to share al
that he had, even from her bab yhood
Who this fortunate girl was to mar
ry became subject for discussion a
the different afternoon parties whel
she was not present; when she was
some few of us ventured tentatlv
questions, but with small success
Nora declared that her mind was yer.
far from made up; when it was, he
friends would have their curiosity sal
isfed.
suppose I was on closer terms
intimacy with her than most peopl
and from what 1 observed, and frol
few hints she let fall, I judged ths
only two men had any chance OF mai
rying her. Arthur Howard was one
Ernest Hamilton the other. The frs
was poor and plain; the second wa
exceedingly good looking, and thoug
not a millionaire, had a sufficient IL
come to live on comfortably, withor
taking up profession.
Now 1 suppose that a truly goo(
hearted woman would have lai
schemes to help forward the poor love
rather than the other; but l was nj
so amiably disposed.
Arthur Howard's lack of good lool
had nothing at all to do with the di
like felt in regard to him-why,
had married a man who was dow
right ugly And not only did l di
like but distrusted this young fello
whose devotion to Nora Willought
had been town talk for some time; al
I was terribly afraid that she wou
marry him out of pure philanthrop
as a girl sometimes will. Known
her pretty thoroughly, / felt that
must appear wholly impartial in Il
matter of her choice.
Had I put into words all 1 felt
wards Mr.. Howard che would certain
have married him out of perversit
with a belief that he was misjudg
and unappreciated. 1 disguised n
sentiments so we'll, indeed, that I b