The Harlowton news., 1912-06-14
Her Choice
By F. A. mitchell
By F. A. mitchell

Quaker widow Of Philadelphia some
200 years ago and but twenty three
years Of age. Patience's Conscience
aud heart We're so tender that when
she found herself obliged to disappoint
or pain any one she stood stock still
was as a dutiful maid in obedience to
her fathers mandate. She had pre-
ferred Pardon Fairweather. but paren-
tai authority was all powerful in those
DAYS, and she did not even encourage
him.
When her husband died. as soon
as it was proper for Il man to ask her
to be his wife Benedicton 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 he 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 Benedction 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 Ear more precious than a
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 if she
| 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 fisinclination
to give either of them pain. She de
| cined to consent to this proposition
but said she would pray to be shown
her duty. She prayed, but no sign
came to guide her.
| One day when she was making can
dies her two lovers came to her to-
gether, and Benediction said:
"NIistress Goodman, by thy indeci-
sion thee are giving both Of US pain
whereas if thee would choose one Of
us that one would be happy. We
,1,o hnfyy
us, naming that one thee would we'd.
!, The widow heaved a deep sigh, but
did not reply for some time. evidently
trying to say something and failing.
Finally. taking up a candle in each
/ hand, she made the following PROPOSE
tion:
"I'ake each of you one of these can
dies, light them at the same moment
and the one that burns the longest
him will | we'd"
Thankful at the prospect of ending
the suspense under which they lived,
each took candle They had been
cast in the same mold and We're con
sequently of equal length Each would
burn from two to three hours. The
widow brought her steel and flint and.
lighting 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
dlestcks she would send for them that
they might see with their own eyes
she would wed.
1--WE need not fear, Patience" said
Benedctiou. that thee will tampel
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"
"Rnt." said Pardon. 1--WE 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 an6
walked back and forth with his hands
clasped behind his back. sorely disturb
ed by anxiety. During the long pc
Rod of his uncertainty there was NJ
suspense like this. Pardon went into
his library there were but two books
in it, the Bible and ii copy of Shake
speare's plays-and, taking up the lat
ter. read a few scenes from "Othello.'
In this way each passed the time till ht
should be summoned to learn his fate
At last a messenger came from the
widow that the candles We're burning
low. and each suitor repaired to the
neat kitchen of Dame Goodman, where
they We're burning. Benediction turn
ed white at seeing that his candle wa!
but half an inch long, while that o
his rival was an inch. Pardons coun
tenance did not change. but he cast ;
glance aside at the widow.
y "It is not meet groaned Benedic
ton. that l should remain longe
here, since it is certain that l have
lost" He went out. the widow still
I keeping her eyes fixed on the floor ant
her hands clasped on her bosom.
4 Then Pardon went to the table, look