Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-26
Her Choice
By F. A. Mitchell

~ cans aSO anu OUT twenty
years of age. Patience's conscience
and heart were SO tender that wher
she found herself obliged to disappoin
=, or pain any one she stood stock still
When she married Enoch Goodman Il
was as dutiful maid in obedience t.
her fathers mandate. She had pre-
fcrred 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 il WAS proper for Il man to ask her
to be his wife Benediction Turner did
SO. Then came Fairweather, just one
/ week later, aud gave her the same in,
! vitation. ".' :' 49," ..... -.
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 il 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 Benediction declared that he
! would turn pirate.
| Patience was horror stricken at these
| threats and almost felt 1t her duty to
marry Benediction because by turning
pirate he would certainly lose his soul,
which was far more precious than a
| mans life. but she was unable to de-
eide upon any course. so she kept put
| ting her lovers or 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 II she
would tell which Of them in her heart
she preferred the one whom she Gid
not prefer would abandon the field to
the other without laying any blame
upon her But it was not matter OF
blame from them, hut disinclination
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, but 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 thy indeci-
sion thee are giving both of us pain.
whereas IL thee would choose one Of
US that one would be happy. We
pray thee therefore to choose between
MS. naming that one thee would we'd"
The widow heaved 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 PROPOSE
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" IT,.
Thankful at the prospect of ending
the suspense Under which they lived.
each took a candle. They had been
cast in the same mold and were con-
seqnently 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
dlesticks she would send for them that
they might see with their own eyes
which would 60 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. eve will come
In at the end. that he who Is favored
and he who Is not shall see with his
own eyes" ..-. =.
jRenediction went to the wood and
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 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 a 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. Benediction 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
glance aside at the widow.
1T is not meet" groaned Benedic-
ton, that l 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. 49,.
Then Pardon went to the table, look !
ed first at one candle. then at the 9TH |
er. and. seeing a few tiny white grains
xho+ bal ham cpiIla5 on tho darL- Do1-