The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-18
A. Woman 5 Choice

While manygof hor longer ana more
important works are not SO GENERALLY
read. George yEliot.B t'SllaB Mariner,
has become a school classic q book
that Is probably put into the hands
OF more young people and more widely
appreciated than9mo other literature
OF tho same standard.
Sllas Mariner was a weaver living
In Raveloe, village con1nunity o..
, the mid England farming district. He
was lonely man, whose. life had been
: frightened and sweetened by his adop-
ton of baby-girl that strayed into:
his humble dwelling one night from
the outside cold and snow. in which
her mother had perished.
Years afterward, when the child of
siias Mariners adoption had grown up,
she was offered an opportunity to
make her home with her father. whose
tardy conscience moved him at this
late day to acknowledge her. She
mnde her choice then In saying to her
fathor and the wife he had married
/ after her mothers death:
THANK you. ma'am-thank you, sir,
But I can't leave father Mariner, nor
own anybody nearer than HIM"
But I have a claim on you, Epple
tho strongest of ell claims. 1t is my
duty, Mariner. TO own Eppie as my
child. and provide for her. She Is my
own child her mother was my wife
have natural claim on her that
must stand before every other" s
siias spoke: Then. sir" he answered
with an accent of bitterness. -then
cir. why didn't you say SO sixteen
year ago. and claim her before I'd
come to love her fstend O. coming TO
take her from me now, when you
might as well take the heart out O my
body. God gave her to me because
YOU turned your back upon her.
You've no right to her! When a man
I turns a blessing from his door It falls
70 them as take It In"
~ should have thought, Mariner"
/. said Godfrey Cass severely. s"I should
have thought your arcction for ,Eppie
would have made you rejoico in what
WAS for her good, even II It did call
on you to give UP something. You
ought TO remember that your own life
la uncertain. and that she's atan age
now when her lot may soon be fixed
In a way very different from what IL
would be In her fathers home. Though
you've done. and what I've left un-
done. feel now It's my duty, TO Insist
on taking care OF. my own daughter"
I'll say no more" answered Silas.
speak to the child. I'll hinder moth
ing"
"Eppie, my dear" said Godfrey, 18TH
always be our wish that you should
Ehow your love and gratitude to one
who has been a father to you SO many
years. But we hope youll come to
love US as we'll; 1 wish TO do my Ut
most for you and provide for you a..
my only child. And you'll! have this
best OF mothers in my wife"
THANK YOU. ma am. thank you. sir.
for your offers" answered Eppie, vi
my father here's took care OF me and
loved me from the frst. and Ill cleavt
to him ne long as he lives. Nobody
hall ever come between him and me-
but you must make sure, Eppie.'
said Sila5 In, a low voice. you must
make sure you won't ever be sorry be.
cause you've made your choice to stay
among poor folks, and with poor
Z clothes and things. when you might ha'
had everything o. the best"
~ can never be sorry. father" said
Eppie, 81 shouldn't know wha: to think
on or to wish for with fine things
about me, as havn't been used to!
And It 'ud be, poor work for me to put
on things and ride in gig and SIT in
place AT church. as 'ud make them as
I'm fond OF think me uniting company
for EN-. What could I care for them %
But there's a duty you owe to your
natural father" said Mrs Godfrey Cas-,
4 mildly. when your father opens his
home to you'll think It's right you
shouldn't turn your back on IT,"
Il cant feel as I've got any father
but one" said Eppie impetuously, while
the tears gathered. Eve always
thought OF little home where he'd
BIT i the corner. and should do every
thing for him: can't think o. no other
home. I wasn't brought up to be a
lady. and can't turn my mind 10 II
l like the working folks, and their
4 victuals. and their ways And, she
Y ended passionately. while the teare
Tell, I'm promised to marry WORKING
man as II live with father, and help me
10 take care OF him.
Godfrey looked up at his wife with
flushed face and a smarting dila.
ton Of the eyes. z,
Let us 60" he said IN an under
tone.
Medea, the Magician. FL
Had the beauty doctors OF to-day tho
powers attributed to the famous magi-
oian, Medea. daughter OF Aetes, King
OF Coichis, It Is quite certain that they
4 would have more work than they could
possibly attend to- =; 1.si,i 3a.s
When Jason came TO Colchis in ;oies
OF the Golden Fleece, Medea became
enamored OF him. On his return 10
ms natlVe country there was a great
celebration over the success OF his IN
dertaking. but the aged father Of
Jason. was unable to take part In the
ceremonial because OF his inhrmilios Z
So the aid OF Medea was Invoked
She removed all trace OF weakness
from the old man. by drawing the blood
from his veins and filing them again
with juices distilled from certain plants
In this way the vigor and vivacily OF
youth took the place Of the burden OF
years Now If such a magician as
Medea We're to make known her pres
ence and power in Richmond. ju:t think
Pf the number of clients. both men and
women, that would flock ITO her and
have time turned backward In lis
flight" for score or two OF years or
more.
BcnMtifnI Democratic Emturc.