Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-08-11
yntutsting Storp.
WILD OATS.
BY MAR G ARET VERNE

l had just returned to San Francisco
after an absence of four years in tn
mines of Australia. | had been success
tul there, and made many true and warn
friends amid the rough.and- tumble of IN,
camp life, but the noblest and truest o
all was Charlie Vaughn, who now stooc
beside me. He was but a few months my
senior, and yet apparently had the ad
vantage of several years-his tempera
ment was so grave, his judgement so COO
and deliberate, while | was the creature
of impulse and often led away by the
widest caprices. 1t was to him that ]
owed all my success, for | was ever i'm
patient to throw up my ventures without
waiting the result, and seek out some
thing new; but his earnest persuasions
always Influenced me, less however from
their intrinsic excellence than from a de.
sire to crafty him. l often wondered at
the attraction which drew together two
natures SO thoroughly dissimilar.
San francisco, though it sounds so
new to eastern ears, was my old home,
for my father had emigrated there some
ten years previously. and those years had
been so crowded with events that they
really seemed twice that number. My
parents had died before my departure for
Australia. My only other relatives were
the family of my uncle, Townsend, con-
sis:ing of himself, my aunt, and two cous.
ms, Herbert and Julia. Herbert was
Equite a character, though it took md some
time to discover it-polished and Ihsinu'
ating in his manners, but the rest will be
seen BY and by. Julia was a dashIng
and handsome girl, and her kindness and
attention to me were quit delightful after
being so long deprived of the society Of
ladies. Though she had any number Of
admirers she gave me the preference, and
consequently | found myself constantly
engaged in amusements of some kind
parties, balls, rides or drives, the theatre
or opera. 1t was a sort of intoxicatior
which left me no time for thought. ]
saw Charlie but occasionally, as he avoid
ed that kind Of life, and | was aware
that he did not share my admiration o
my cousin Julia.
Don't 60 too fast, Bob" said he. "Yot
are in a false position now. Your hor
ses, and fine presents. and flowing purse
are what the Townsends admire, anC
what else do they know about you? Does
Miss Julia ever say a word which ava
kens an effort of intellect, or one genuine
heart throb? She gives you bits Of COS
sip, she falls into raptures over new fool
cries, or with little airs, little pettish
ness, or little remarks, extracts, admira.
ton for her own dress or her person."
| felt the blood rush to my temples, fol
l realized the truth Of what Charlie said
but | had already gone too far. | an
sure | cannot tell how it happened.
had drank several glasses of champagne
that evening, and | said what in the eye.
of Julia and the world made me her aft
anced lover.
Rash boy !" said Charlie, who under
stood the whole from my looks. 1T il
hardly a month yet, and l thought l coult
trust you that long. And it is for this
is it, that kept You out of all scrapes il
Australia, to let you fall into one of tht
deucedest kind?"
Don't swear, Charlie. An oath from
you would have something awful about it
1t was not your fault, for it was really
very sudden, and-I don't think itewal
mine-for, as | remember, | couldn't hell
it. | think somehow Julia expected it
and II lad to-"
"Had to !-you-you-no | won
swear. But tell me, where are all you:
plans for self-improvement? Where i
the course of study which we were tt
take up together, and the journeys OF
foot and in the saddle, to make ourselves
acquainted with this splendid country o
which every true son should know some
thing2 Where is the political econom.
we we're to become masters OFF,
"But | am not the first fellow, Charli
who has been caught with a pretty face
It's common, certainly. l didn't know
that you had such objections to mar
rage"
cit is not the thing, but its quality
1 object to-but give it up, Bob, let
start off to morrow"
Impossible, Charlie. l bought tina
splendid house in Chestnut Avenue yes
terday, and the marriage cannot be ia
off, | suppose"
Charlie drew up as if shot-then, turI
ing upon his heel left the room, and
was alone with common sense, which
believe had not been my companion 70
some weeks. l saw that l had disaI
pointed my friend. and destroyed my ow
plans for progress and usefulness
Dreams of love had too, which were S
different from the reality-but then JUL
was such a splendid creature, and so fon
of me. My only course now, thought
is to drown all other thoughts in he