Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-03-23
WHICH !?
BY s. %IrSiey
Copyright. 1905. BY S. L. Tinslep

why not? Why, because it Is pour
ing-simply pouring
well, what Of it? I'm not afraid Of
rain" And the young lady clasped her
gloves with a snap, unfastened her um-
brella and tripped out beneath the drip
ping skies.
Hardly two squares had been covered
when Betty saw a young man coming
toward her. Jack Winslow bowed,
smiled and stopped. Betty blushed.
"Why, really, Jack, what tempted you
out to wade?'
what tempted Miss Betty away from
her chocolates and novels?"
Mr.. Elfland's new picture"
'Jove, that's just my excuse! Say we
go together" Jack looked anxiously,
wistfully, at his companion. Miss Bet
ty blushed more deeply.
Come along" said she. And togeth-
er they walked down the street. Ar
irving at the art gallery. they hunted
out the much talked Of picture.
Several people were standing before
it In silent admiration. The painting
represented a room, seated in the fore
ground Of which was the figure of
girl in a white gown. Her black hair
was parted and arranged in soft, thick
rolls on both sides of her fair, pale
face. In her hand she held two roses,
a red rose and n pink one. The trou-
bled expression of her face told of per-
plexity. A question was to be solved,
but the answer could not be found.
Betty clasped her hands with delight.
"Oh,' she cried, "how perfectly beau
tiful it is, Oh. Jack, isn't she-isn't
she just perfect?"
The young man smiled down upon
the enthusiastic girl at his side.
"She is beautiful, but not perfect"
"Why not?"
Betty opened her eyes wide with
amazement.
Because" continued the young man,
, ''she ought not to have any trouble in
knowing whom she wants for her hus-
band.''
"Why not? One man might be rich
and the other man poor. Don't you
see the pink rose is small and pale,
while the other rose Is full blown
beauty Of rich velvety red.
Jack shook his head.
"Apyhow she should not hesitate for
a moment. She should take the man
she loves"
"And be poor and miserable all her
lifeY inquired Betty mischievously.
mot miserable, but poor and happy,
perfectly happy"
Jack Winslow was watching his COM
panion's face. Betty laughed.
"Well." replied She perhaps you are
right after all. Here comes Frank
Carlyle"
A tall, slender young man walked
leisurely up to Miss Betty's side. and,
bowling slightly to Jack, he turned to-
ward the picture,
"Well," remarked he after mo-
ment's silence, "she is in a fix, isn't
she? Pink or red; it's down to
choice Of n favorite color, it seems to
me-"
Not at ALL" replied Jack testify.
(which doea she love bestr
"Weil'-Frank elevated his brows
as though surprised-"isn't that about
what said? She has a chance to Sc
lect her favorite now, and why doesn't
she do 1t without so much troubleT
Betty, who had been silently admir-
ing the picture during the conversa-
tion, now turned again toward her COM
panions.
'She is a girl you known
Yes" replied both Of the young men
at the same tlmo.
a pi..." continued Betty, "has to
wonder sometimes whether she knows
her own mind or not. Here are two
men. Both are kind and attentive to
the girl Both offer her the best that
he has to give. Both pay her the high
est compliment that a man can pay to
a woman, for each one in turn asks
her to be his wife. Here, on the one
hand, are riches, life with every wish
granted, mother and father made
comfortable, and husband who loves
you If she does not love him, she
respects and admires him. On the
other hand are a life of everlasting
economy, home where there may al
ways be the necessities Of life, but
very few of the luxuries; father and
mother who must continue In their
same circumstances, n little trip now
and then when there chances to be an
excursion, and q husband who loves
you, who denies himself for you and
whom you In your turn love. Which
phall 1t be?'
without a moments hesitation both
Of the young men answered, THE man
you love"
Betty was twisting the chain OF her
Batchel around her finger. She laugh
ed and shook her head when she heard
the answer.
"well, / see that you are both as
yet at the romantic age"
"Are your
Frank Carlyle looked down into the
fair, sweet face close beside him. Bet
looked at Jack Wlnslow. He was
,rowning. Then, turning her face once
more toward Frank and looking mis-
shievously sideways at Jack, she said,
"who knows?"
Frank laughed and looked at his
watch.
"Half past A." said he. "Well, !
must be off. II you were going" look
ing first at Betty, then at Jack, why.
it's so beasty unpleasant l thought
perhaps I might give you lift In the
carriage" Jack declined with thanks.
= deep dlmple shadowed Betty's pink
,tleek for q moment. Then, looking de-
murely at Jack, she answered Franks
question.
II would be ever so much obliged to
you If you would just drop me at my
door. Mother scolded because / came
out, and IL will appease her wrath
somewhat 10 know that / came home
without being touched by the rain"
Jack said nothing, but his face was
very pale when Betty gave him her
hand at the carriage door. Frank tried
20 coax him to change his mind. but
Jack was firm, because Betty did not
second the invitation. Just as the car
riage door was about to be closed Bet
ty leaned out.
"Oh, Mr.. Winslow, | have decided to
go to the Freeman dance Friday night"
Then the carriage rolled away. When
they arrived Mt Betty's home neither
Frank Carlyle nor his companion saw
the figure standing In the shadow Of a
tree on the opposite side OF the street,
and when Frank left Betty ut the door
and sprang again into his carriage Jack
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