The Meeker herald., 1905-03-18
Elsie Stainer's
Decision

"Yos can not give me your answer
BOW. Usie!"
"rd rather not. Frank. You shall
Aeas Ans certain. though. BY to-nor-
rew's early post"
Il NAY hope!"
yes. you may hope. Nov. good
sys!"
Goodbye. dear! You are going to
make ne - happy ~ king. ! know"
The girl shook her head. but smil-
ingly. and the man. raising his hat.
raa lightly down the garden path.
. A Elsie staines went into the house
and sought tho seclusion Of her own
room. her face instantly became
SHavsr. The most important day Of
her young life-ths day. that was to
Decide an her future-had come. She
opened the window. and. resting her
arm upoa the sill and her head upon
her hanc. looked ont into the sunut
little garden. A distant church clock
cAinsd twelve O'Clock. 1t was hard
10 believe that the hour with such
Dsaeefal associations was yet fraught
With tremendous possibilities.
For to-day Elsie had received Two
proposals Of marriage. neither Of
which was - yet answered. By the
Arst post came . letter from Philip
D1rwooa. telling In plain words what
his manner had limited 1t their last
meeting. Once again Elsie took It
fro0 her pocket, and reDerused the
sincefe and manly lines. Yes, they
had certainly been written BY \ man
~hose love had seized hold Of his
vbcos nature aud would endure foss
syse. Recognizing his position and
prospects, he had di@dence In speak
Ing. but yet something compelled him
to declare what was In his heart.
Al. It was thrilling to be loved with
4 love like that.
But Philip Durwood was poor. He
had only = clerkship In q merchants
o4ce. and not . very remunsrative
clerkship either; marriage between
them would not be possible for some
years 70 come. Elsie greatly admired
TIE candid way in which he told her
evssythfng. Not every dreamer land
Paiiip was that) would have kept his
eye o. the practical side Of romance.
seeins how ideals might tarnish In the
srinding toll for bread.
Three hours after receipt Of that
letter Frank Ogilvy had called. The
.os&sasible object Of this cali was to
return . borrowed book. but he seemed
Ill at ease, talked ut random about
various things, and finally burst out
With q declaration Of love 70 ardent
aAA Unexpected that Elsie was for 4
Domept literally stunned. Coming to
recognize what had happened. she felt
somehow that she must not listen to
hlm: It seemed like treason to the
writer OF the letter reposinE In her
socket. But the mans evident earn
sstness magnetixed her. She could
oaIy beg for time to decide. opportun-
ity to know her own mind, driven to-
day in opposite directions. And Frank
Ogtlyy had left her with hope lighting
every feature of his handsome face.
In the middle of her meditations e.
sis felt hand placed on her shoulder.
She turned and faced her eldest sister.
Nellie.
"Hov you startled me. Nell. never
heard you come In"
-ya . brown study, ssidsatlyi Don't
1 wish had something ~ nice to
thfnk aboat!"
Mice! There. that shows you
haven't guessed my thoughts at ali"
Haven't l. though? Will you swear
10 me on your oath that they don't
concern Frank Ogilvy and q very
pleasant offer that he left . little
while ago in your hands7'
Elsie looked 1t her in startled an
Aoyance, but she coatinued with 4
merry laugh:
Il assure you was . most unwilling
.savesdropper ITS despicable part to
paay). but Mr.. Osilvy should really
have reconnoitered little before se-
secting that particular situation. Fancy
q man proposing under . balcony with
ont seeing first whether Il were occv-
pied q not!"
"Oh, Nell. you were sitti1S up there!
I Do call that meant"
"Hoaoe bright, had ooly Just
s4sppeA cut to water the seraaiums
wAsa I hsasd-well. yoa know What
- aaiA. Doat blush. Elsie! almost
Aropesd the watering can in ssrpriss.
tAoasAt Of raining . little over the
49, - indicate my presence: bst,
Aaass -! in the state Of mind cosld
Aear - vas h. he poor young nan
VoslA merely have ut ~ his u0heel-