The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899, November 01, 1893, Page 5, Image 5
&susrvae i . it SnilMMMMMIIMIMMHM THE HESPERIAN 11 I Hl I I I II WMWWI II I JJCMBi.X,ni1lliMIKWilBgW MaJ ' - ' ' I? 1," f; Tfj '' ' t v 4 jRf K And Mr. Oharlcs Do Peyster Thompkin son felt cloarly onough that this choosing wub not a matter for precipitation. He could no longer hope to bo 'friendly' with both; it must bo one or the other, hence forth, exclusively. He must make his ex cuses to one young lady, but ho knew that 9 ho need never hope to bask in her smiles ater she learned the news that ho had been to the theatre the evening in question with another. Sho would never believe his flimsy story of excuse. What made his decision doubly difficult was this thought that it must be a. permanent one. His thought turned first to Yorbona. It was true that sho was the smaller and quieter of tho two, but then had ho not . height and esprit enough for both? ''Be sides," he said to himself, "she is a blonde, and it often seoms to mo that tho psycholo gists are right in inculcating the principle of contrast. If sho is a blonde, so much the bettor for my dark face and night-black hair. If her countenance is quiet and impassive, so much tho bettor smco mine is mobile." And he recalled how many pleasant even ings he had spent in her cozy parlor reading to her or entertaining her with his conversa tion, she sitting in rapt silence, or with open admiration speaking from every feature. "Decidedly," ho said, "I cannot give up Yorbona. '-' But then tho Durham, that haughty patrician beauty, she had many rodooming features, brunette as sho was. Tho thought of giving up her swell card parties for the rest of the season was of itself onough to make him hesitate. It would bo as if ho had become suddenly ostracized. Certainly sho entertained elegantly and often. Yes, and was she not the most stylishly dressed and the most sought after of any girl in school, and her escorts the most envied? There still haunted him tho memory of a drive he had ono day taken with her when ho had ventured to call her Nolle and she had not rebuked him. Nay, it seemed to . him she had looked not unfavorably upon him. Besides, she had a brother a large, athletic brothor. "No, decidedly," said Mr. Charles De Poystor Thompkinson, "I cannot afford to give up Dardanollo Durham." But this left him whore ho had boon bo fore. He grew desperate "For a regular dilemma," he burst out, "my fix is about ideal." At the sound of this last word a happy light broke over his face, and uncon sciously drawing himself up and looking at tho corners of tho room, ho murmured re minisconuly a well known phraso. Rousing himself, Mr. Charles De Poystor Thompkinson rushed to tho mirror,, read justed his hair and his neck-cloth, pulled his cap down ovor his oyos, donned his flapping ulster and rushed palpitatingly from his room. He was not equal to tho decision. Ho would leave it to chance to load him to tho elected ono. Many blocks had boon passed before Mr. Charles Do Poystor Thompkinson found himself calm enough to-look around. When he did he was startled to find himself in tho neighborhood of tho residence of Miss Watson. "Seems to mo chance has settled this matter mighty blamed quick," ho said half regretfully, "I ought not to bo in a hurry about this choosing." And ho was almost glad to bo stopped by a voice speak ing his name until ho turnod and found that that voice was tho voice of Dardanollo Dur ham. Sho was driving by in her carriage, look ing haughtier and darker than over, all tho more so through her proximity in his mind to tho blonde and charming Yorbona; but ho was fond of driving behind such horses, and tho seat beside hor looked invitingly and temptingly empty. Should ho simply tip his hat and pass on to the house of Miss Watson, or should he take that seat? There could be no delaying longer. He must make his decision, thai decision so momentous to him, on tho instant. And once more Mr. Charles De Poyster Thompkinson cursed the thoughtlessness which had rendered any decision necessary. Personnk. di 1j .M I Ati .SSU-.S...- PWrfawWliBlw?"' itnmrmwnimw"pg .,41'. 4ft. tt.