The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-09-11

gGsFR X you IN any way
W Constance not to
bias your Judgment
In favor Of or against Mr. Wlihors. You,
a. the one most nearly interested 10
ohio consequences OF your acceptance
or refusal OF his oner. should surely
be able to make up your mind how to
treat II and him"
4 should be. rs you say" responded
tho sisior-ln-law. But cannot"
sho was handsome woman. In the
primo OF early maturity. whose face
seldom wore. In the presence Of others
tho perturbed expression that now be-
gioOmed H.
THAT does not affect the fac, OF your
duty" answered Mrs. Romalne, with
considerable severity. There are times
and circumstances in which vacillatIon
"a folly-crimlnai weakness. You have
known Mr.. withers long enough to
form a correct estimate Of HIS charac-
Ger. In means and in reputation he Is
all that could be desired. your brother
says Either you like him well enough
20 marry him. or you do not. Your sit
uation In life viii be bottered by an
alliance with him, or II viii not These
are the questions for your eonsldera-
uon. And excuse me for saying that
woman OF your age should not DO at a
ioas In Weighing those"
Again Constance had nothing ready
except a weak phrase Of reluctant ac-
qulescence. Il feel the weight OF your
reasoning. Margaret. You cannot de-
spiso mo more than do myself for my
childish hesitancy. Mr.. wlthers-any
sensible and honorable man deserves
different treatment II could see the
way clear before mo / would walk in
H. But, indeed. am In a sore diem
ma" She turned away. as her voice
shook on the last sentence. and AFFECT
od 10 be busy with some papers upon a
stand.
Mrs. Romano wns Just In all her
dealings with her husbands sister. and
moant. in her way. 10 be kind, Con-
stanco respected her for her excellent
sense, her honesty OF purpose and ac-
tiou-but she was the last Of her
frienda whom she would have select
cd. OF her free Will. as tho conndante
Of such Joys and sorrows al shrink
from tho touch OF hard nalures-rcfuse
20 be confessed to unsympathlzlng ears.
Her heart and eyes we're very full now.
but abe would atrangle sooner than
drop a tear while those cold. light orbs
were upon her.
In confederation OF the weakness and
ridiculous sensitiveness OF her compan-
ton. Mrs. Romalne forbore TO speak the
disdaln she folt at the irrosolution and
distross she could not comprehend. rs
Mr.. withors personally dlsagreeable to
your" she demanded. In hor strong con-
lrnito voice.
II liked him tolerabiy woll-vory
we'll. In fact. until he told me what
brought him here 80 regularly" Con
stance stammered. "Now | am embar-
tassed In his presence-so uneasy that
wish sometimes could never 500 or
boar OF him again"
"Mere shynessi" said Mrs. Romano
Such as would be pardonable in a
girl Of seventeen. In a woman OF seven
and-twenty II Is absurd. Mr.. wlthors
Is highly esteemed by all who know
him. Your disrellsh OF his society Is
caprice, unless"-the marble gray eyes
more searching-"unless you have n
prior attachment"
Constance smiled drearly. IL have
never been in love in my life, that !
know Of"
you are none the worse for having
escaped an lnfatuatlon that has wreck
cd more women for time and for eter-
nifty than all other deluslons combined.
A rational marriage founded upon
mutual esteem and the belief that the
social and moral condition OF the par
ties to the contract would be promot-
cd thereby-is the only safe union. The
young. inexperienced and headstrong,
repudlato this principle. The mature
IN ago know II to be true. But, as
have said. II Is not my intention to d.
rect your judgment This Ia a momen-
tous era IN your life. | can only hope
and pray that you may DO guided
Alright in your decision"
Left 10 herself TO digest this morsel
OF pious encouragement, Constance
drew low seat to the hearth regis
Ter. clasped her hands upon her knees,
and tried, for the hundrodth time that
day. to weigh the facts Of her position
fairly and lmpartlally.
She had been an orphan for eight
years. and a resident In the house Of
her elder brother, Her senloi by more
than a dozen years. and IN the eKclt-
ing swing Of successful mercantile life,
no had little leisure for tho study OF
his sisters tastes and traits. when she
first became his ward. and conceived
tho task to be an unnecessary one, now
that she was TO be fixture 10 HIS fam
fly, and appeared 10 get on smoothly
with his wife, In truth, It lever oo-
Cured to him 10 lay disturbing lnger
upon the unlcst wheel OF the domestic
mashlnery His respect for his spouse's
executive and administrative abilities
was exceeded only by her confidence Ia
her own powers. She was never iraaci-
bic, but he knew that she would have
borhs dsWN salHaiJ and enePgtloally