The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-08-27
CHOOSING A HUSBAND

Blanche Ormonde and her chaperon, Mrs.
Roman, were travelling down to
Southampton in order to spend the week
end on board Lord Mahon's zach. Fairy,
lying off Cowes.
Soon after the train had passed Surbiton,
Blanche's paper fell on to her lap, and her
eyes became fixed on vacancy.
Thinking which of the three you will &C
cent, DEAR" inquired Mrs Roman, quietly.
slight flush tinted the girls delicate
complexion as she replied: How did you
guess?"
II have been through the wood myself.
dear, and l know how perplexing it is.
"Perplexing is no name for it," cried
Blanche. 81 wish you could help me-"
Haven't you any preference! Don't you
care a little more for one than anOther!
asked the old lady
mot bit They are all splendid fellows,
and equally eligible. In fact, feel some
times as though l should like to be fe-
male sultan, and marry them all.
eff you accept Sir Harry Kinnaird you will
obtain title suggested Mrs. Roman,
(which is certainly consideration"
"Y-e-s, but he's SO feafully headstrong,
you know"
"How about Capt Dilwyn, then, You
one, if you hunt all England through"
Eyes, Dicks awfully good-looking, isn't
he. But don't you think ne 5 inclined to be
jealous: couldn't stand a jealous husband
at any price"
..Mr. Manly hasn't that fault, at any
rate, and | am sure he's very fond of you"
81 believe he is; but he's so masterful,
and he always seems to look upon me
little child"
ut seems to me-" observed Mrs. Roman,
"that if there was only one of them you
would take him and be thankful; but, as it
is, you are suffering from embarras de
richesse."
Perhaps you're right" admitted
Blanche. But / wish it could be settled one
way OF the other, for l can assure you it's
getting on my nerves"
"You may depend that you will have to
settle it yourself" said the old lady. And
then, with smile, she added: you should
draw lots for them"
I've tried that" replied the girl, plain
lively. "But it was no use, for,I had to do
it three times to be fair, and each time it
came different one."
"Then, really, don't know what you are
to do, unless you make up your mind to &C.
cept the first one VINO proposes"
eff did ! am sure l should be sorry after
wards, which ever one | had; but have a
great mind to let them decide the matter
themselves"
What do you mean, childs"
"Why, suppose / was to fall overheard
and agree with myself to choose the one
who was brave enough to jump in after me
and save my life?"
"But think how wet it would make you,
and it would be sure to take your fringe out
of curl; besides, You might be drowned
"Oh! l should make that all right with
life belt underneath, and | am not a bad
swimmer, either. l think I'll do it."
MY dear Blanche appealed Mrs Ro-
maine. pray consider
Eyes; that will remove the responsibility
from my shoulders decided Blanche.
And, of course, dear Mrs Roman, shall
rely upon your honor not to betray me in
any way"
Mrs. Roman had chaperoned Blanche Or
monde ever since the death of her last sur
viving parent three years previously, and
she knew that when once the young LADY
had taken the bit between her teeth in that
manner remonstrance was useless, and so,
with gentle but pathetic sign, she resigned
herself to the inevitable In due course
they arrived at Southampton and took the
boat to Cowes, where they found the yachts
gig awaiting for them.
1T had been proposed to weigh anchor the
following morning, and proceed for sail
round the island; but the almost dead calm
| that prevailed precluded that plan being
| followed. Most of the guests went on shore,
but Blanche pleaded the necessity OF writ
| ing some important letters, and on coming
! on deck when she had finished her CORE
spondence, she found only her three admir-