The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-07-04
Ter Choice
Bv F. A. Mitchell
By F. A. Mitchell

ZUO years ago duu Dut twenty I'LL &C
years of age. Patience's conscience
and heart were so tender that when
she found herself obliged to disappoint
or pain any one she stood stock still
When she married Enoch Goodman it
was as a dutifu maid in obedience to
her fathers mandate She had pre-
ferred Pardon Fairweather. but paren-
tai authority was all powerful III those
days. and she did not even encourage
him
When her husband died. as soon
as il was proper for Il man to ask her
TO bt, his wife Renediction Turner did
so Then came Fairweather, just one
week later. and gave her the same in
vitation
There waS no parental authority now
for her father was dead and she had
become her own mistress She found
herself obliged to give pain TO one of
her suitors Each urged his suit and
gave her to understand that if she re-
fused him be- would seek death Par
don vowed he would seek it in battle
with the Indians. who were lurking
near the settlements with hostile in
tent. and RenedictiOn declared that he
would turn pirate
Patience was horror stricken at these
threats and almost felt it her duty to
marry Renediction because by turning
pirate he would certainly lose his soul.
which was far more precious than
mans life. but she was unable TO de
eide upon any course. so she kept put
ting her lovers off with one excuse aft
er another till they were worn out with
delay, while she was worn out with
their opportunities.
Finally they both agreed that il she
would tell which of them in her heart
she preferred the one whom she did
not prefer would abandon the field to
the other without laying any blame
upon her But it was not matter OF
blame from them. but a Discrimination
to give either of them pain She de-
clined to consent to this proposition.
but said she would pray to be shown
her duty. She prayed hut no sign
came to guide her
One day when she was making can
dies her two lovers came to her to-
gether. and Renediction said:
mistress Goodman. by thv indeci-
sion thee are giving both of us pain.
whereas if thee would choose one of
us that ore would he happy We
us. naming that one thee would we'd
The widow heaved Il deep sigh. but
did not reply for some time. evidently
trying to say something and failing
Finally. taking up candle IN each
hand. she made the following propoSi
ton:
Take each of you one of these can
dies. light them at the same moment
and the one that burns the longest
him will | wed.
Thankful at the prospect of ending
the suspense under which they lived.
each took candle. They had been
east in the same mold and were con
Sequently of equal length Each would
burn from two to three hours. The
widow brought her steel and flint and.
lighting a blaze. touched it to each
candle at the same moment Then
she told her Suitors that when they
had burned to the socket of their can
dleStickS she would send for them that
they might see with their own eyes
which would go out first and that one
she would wed.
I'VE need not fear. Patience" said
Benediction. that thee will tamper
with the candles. because thee have
only to choose between us without
their deciding for you. Therefore we
may safely leave them in your care
But" said Pardon I'VE will come
in at the end that he who is favored
and he who is not shall see with his
own eyes"
Benediction went to the wood and
walked back and forth with his hands
clasped behind his back sorply disturb
ed by anxiety During the long pc
riOd of his uncertainty there was no
suspense like this. Pardon went into
his library there were but two books
in it, the Bible and copy of Shake
speare's playS-and. taking up the lat
ter read few scenes from 'Othello."
In this way each passed the time till he
should be summoned to learn his fate
At last a messenger came from the
widow that the candles were burning
low. and each sutton repaired to the
neat kitchen of Dame Goodman. where
they were burning Renediction turn
ed white at seeing that his candle was
but half an inch long, while that of
his rival was an inch PardOn'S cOun-
tenance did not change. but he cast a
glance aside at the widow
ut is not meet. groaned Benedic
ton, that | should remain longer
here, since it is certain that | have
lost. He went out. the widow still
keeping her eyes fixed on the floor and
her hands clasped on her bosom
Then Pardon went to the table. look
ed first at one candle. then at the 9th
er. and. seeing few tiny white grains