Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-01-09
The Chosen
One
5y l.. B. ANDERSON
Copyright. 1918. western Newspape, ua.oa.,

Win !elltI unu expectancy as sSr
tieman came in and entered Il private
tffice and the stenogIapher said.
There is Mr.. Purcell now Yos can
- right in"
The lad was bright faced. cleanly
dressed. but in attire and demeanor
crude and not Mt all cityllke. He
stood fumbing his cap nervously az
he announced: PLEASE, sir, I'm Ned
Walters. from Woodville"
well! well I" responded his host
IN hlufr, hearty tone" You come
Ike Il whiff Of fresh mir from the home
town Sit down." and he shook hands
cordially with the little fellow. I
don't remember you very we'll"
NO, sir II was the family YOU
knew. was too small to notice
then"
"And what brought YOU TO the city.
Ned. and what can | do for your"
rYopounded the Young lawyer
"Why, sir. | want 10 make n start
in life. and two of your old friends
said you was kind to everybody, and
my four slstcw knew YOU
"Hal ha," Purcell interposed mer-
rlly. "There you reach me. As | am
going 10 marry ono Of those selfsaIne
four sisters some day, there isn't much
] wouldn't do to further the interests
Of their brother"
Ned started and gasped He was
credulous boy with little command OF
nrtifice.
"NIarry one Of them?" he tioundered.
''Please sir, which one?
THAT IS ss-examination, Ned, and
we haven't reached that stage yet"
"And does shc--do they know you're
going to marry hcr-then?"
81 fancy not, Ned, hut al the same
I'm working to get in shape to sup
port wife ana then I'm going down
10 Woodville for my l-'idc. That is
not to he published. Nod" adnonshed
Purcell
at can't be Hortense," muttered
Ned renectively "She wants a mill
Honalre. Nor Blanche-she IS looking
for some one who viii take her trav-
cling all over the world Nor Rea-
trlce-shc's got nm idea Of marrying
some great singer so she can 60 to
the opera every night OF course
fhcre's Muriel, but she don't count"
"Whv don't she count Ned?" ques-
dnncd Purcell.
Because she's the oldest, twenty
three, ana they call her the old maid
and said she's laid by on the shelf.
All the same, she's the best of the lot,
MIR. Purcell She has sat mp with me
for a month nights getting me swift
IN writing and figuring"
"Well, Nod" said Purcell, you drop
IN here this afternoon md I viii look
around for YOU in the meantime"
The young LAWYER secured Ned
good position. Tie kept track of the
lad and acted the older brother COM
pletely. At the end of six months Ned
went home for the holidays, His four
sisters were In the room when he re-
cited the details Of his first interview
with Mr. Purcell
"Humph r'uttered naughty Hortense.
"he acts as If he could take his pick"
"He is a model young man, though"
vouchsafed Beatrice thoughtfully.
Muriel, shy, retiring Murlel, flushed.
but no one thought Of expecting an
opinion from her She was "the old
maid" Murlel didn't count"
SIX months later Dale Purcell came
tO spend a vacation at Woodville.
There was something of flutter In
the Walters family. Hortense had not
vet Melted her millionaire Blanche
had not yet located the typical globe
trotter. Beatrice found wife-seeking
impresarioS few and far between. Tho
three sisters watched one another sus-
piciously. Purcell had sent word that
he would like TO call on the family. In
honor Of the occasion Hortense pro-
iected a garden party. She got out her
most dashlng costume, and was jeal-
Gus and upset to note that Blanche and
Beatrice were following her exam
pie.
Only Muriel went on in her quiet, I'M
obtrusive way, and the day Of the gar
den party modestly kept in the back
ground.
1t was pleasant occasion. As ten
MS games begun the three sisters
raired Oft with partners to show they
were not lacking devoted knights err
rant. Murlel fluttered and flushed and
tried to escape attention as Purcell
came forward her. They seem to have
ignored US" he remarked lightly, and
sat down beside her.
Hardly that" responded Murlel.
you said you did not play tennis
There are others. We can go over
ON the lawn and Join them. If you
like"
Il don't like" replied Purcell. lean
inc nearer to her. Il do like to have
a little talk with YOU for have been
waiting for It for two years. Do you
remember the day we found two four
leaf cloversT"
yes" assented Murlcl in n subdued
tone
Tive kept mine You said YOU would
yours"
Il never break a promise" she said.
her trembling hand strayed towards
the locket az her fair throat that con.
tanned the mementc.
ftTrEr+ a.