“Ah, that is the question!”
“I can claim to having known her longest.”
“I can claim to having loved her first.”
Matters seemed to have come to a deadlock. Neither of the young men was in the least inclined to abdicate in favor of his rival.
“Look here,” said the student, “let us decide the matter by lot.”
This seemed fair, and was agreed to by both. A new difficulty arose, however. Both of them felt sentimental objections toward risking their angel upon such a paltry chance as the turn of a coin or the length of a straw. It was at this crisis that an inspiration came upon Lieutenant Hawthorne.
“I’ll tell you how we will decide it,” he said. “You and I are both entered for our Derby sweepstakes. If your horse beats mine, I give up my chance; if mine beats yours, you leave Miss Montague forever. Is it a bargain?”
“I have only one stipulation to make,” said Sol. “It is ten days yet before the race will be run. During that time neither of us must attempt to take an unfair advantage of the other. We shall both agree not to press our suit until the matter is decided.”
“Done!” said the soldier.
“Done!” said Solomon.