The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-06-03
The Judgment of
Doris
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By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD

I
tact. especially their parents, who
would have regarded a flaw in their
darlings character as merely charm
ing dimple in an otherwise perfect
perfection.
AS she grew up it became evident
to the entire neighborhood that
nothing was going to be too good for
Doris.
She got into all the best schools
around, for when one began to insin-
uate that Doris had better get down
to brass tacks to get a diploma she was
whisked to another one where her poor
brain would not be overtaxed with per-
fectly ridiculous lessons
Surprising enough, Doris was not
spoiled but extremely lovable.
It is not to be supposed that after
superintending their daughters life
for nineteen years. however, her ia
ther and mother would allow her to
run wild among choice of husbands.
1t was generally understood that there
were two eligible young men within
a radius of a hundred miles (and two
only). either one of whom would win
parental approval as son-in1aw. One
of them was John Anderson Cowles,
rising young banker. The other was
Treadwell Scott, rising young lawyer.
Both were Of fine family and both were
decidedly good-looking John square
chinned and blond, Treadwell dashing
and dark.
EITHER lad will make a good hus-
i band" Doris father remarked one
evening to his wife, "but presumably
one will prove better for our little girl
than the other, and l think we can
safely rely on her Judgment to know
which"
s'Perhaps," sighed Doris mother.
tits less difficult to decide when
there's only one sutton. Not" she
added hastily seeing chance for an
unfortunate Interpretation, "but what
had a great many others to choose
from besides you, only"
"Only / stood out head and shout
ders above the rest Thank you, my
dear" grinned her husband. "And in
return for that pretty compliment,
| I'll tell you something. Both of these
| young men came to me today, sepa-
rately, of course, and begged me to use
my influence with Doris in their favor.
had to tell them that was forced
to be neutral, but / did promise them
Doris should not keep them dangling,
but give her answer by September
tenth"
September TENTH" unused his wife.
THAT'S the event of the big bazaar.
And how did you happen to settle on
that7"
mo reason at ALL" said her husband
promptly. 81 merely turned the pages
| Of my desk calendar at random and
hit that date"
Doris, on her return from game
Of tennis with Jack, accepted the Ill
timatum sweetly. "rhats all right
with me, TOO" she said. i love both
the boys, but I'm sensible about it.
| Can't marry them both. The tenth of
September is long way ahead and
meantime I'll see all that can of
them to help me decided"
Accordingly throughout the SUM
mer Doris occupied an envied posi-
ton among her friends Being rushed
to death by two eligible young bach
elors has its good points. One al
ways has somewhere to go, some one
to go with and some reason for going.
AS the date OF the decision drew
! Il,
of having nothing to do with. the ex-
ecutive end Of the bazaar. II want
my mind Free" she said, ito act upon
this problem which will affect my
whole life. Oh, I'll go to the bazaar
and patronize its attractions, but that
is all. Moreover, on that final day III
see neither Of the boys until they
call for their answers that evening"
And she adhered to her decision,
although it was temptation when
Jack sent her red rnses to telephone
her thanks and to do likewise by Tread
when he sent her the same. But she
compromised by wearing a. large
bouquet of them, and each thinking
they were his secretly read in them a
good omen.
But it was a tired Doris who slipped
on a soft evening frock and curled up
in large easy chair to wait for
the two men. She had kept her word
and spent freely of time money and
energy visiting each and every booth
! from aprons to zithers.
When the doorhell rang she didn't
rise, not even when Jack, announced
BY the maid, walked over and stood
looking down at her.
"Oh, Jack" she said, sit down and
let me put my head on your shoulder.
II We're going TO be married you
might as well get used to taking care
Of me-
TN engaged, parents" she re-
marked several hours later, "and to
John Anderson Cowles"
1 After their embraces her father ven
tured curiously, Would you mind tell
Il In o mo its1f " ~ q ms, -.