Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-12-24
A MANS ART.
LcosoLUDED FROM LAST WEEK.

I'LL,
Some days went by with nothing es-
pecial to mark their course. Julia, !
knew not why, talked a good deal OF
Erastus. She praised his ability and
blamed his Incidence. This fault /
thought inexcusabIe. A man, / con-
sidered, should make himself felt in
the events of his time. To waste in
f1uence and talent in an easy, doLce.fG7-
7lie75te life. was uuwOrthiness little
short of guilt. It convinced me yet
more, had needed conviction, of the
impossibility of eYer-but it was not
even to be thought of.
ftIf he could marry said Julia, tfan
intellectual, large hearted woman, who
would stimulat8 him to exertion, he
would do something yet"
I considered, and should have liked
to say, that woman of that sort might
be more congenially employed than in
acting as spur to an idle husband. But
that would hardly have been civil, and
of course it was nothing to me.
Meanwhile could not but wonder at
his oDliviousness Of our interview /;
there was no difference in his manner,
not a shade. No allusion, ever so
slight, transpired. Not a troublesome
suitor thought; +; easily answered. If
he had been very much in earnest he
would at least have tried a little per-
suasion. persisted for a few minutes.
L
whole, to find that his accustomed way
OF life was not to be broken in upon.
Very likely, had my answer been diff
ferent, he would have shown himself
Just as cold. What life that would
make for onei An accepted, yet indif-
ferent loveFi How sbrtunate that
had never for moment dreamed of
saying yes. 1t was a5Iittle unreasona-
bic. suppose, to be psqued by his easy
acquiescence /; yet can not deny that
I was so.
I have mentioned Erastus' patronage
of tea-parties, such as gentlemen
usually excuse themselves from, or put
off with very brief attendance. At one
of these gatherings a new face appear
ed, diversifying the familiar monOtony.
I can not tell what precisely was the
charm of Alice Saye. She was pretty,
but many are prettier. Rather short,
with soft, baby-roundness fair, with
a sweet color in her cheeks; but by no
means faultless in feature. Neither
did. she possess special grace or fascina-
ton of manner, yet every one was
charmed by her. I was, myself-at
first.
Julia was in raptures over her. In
the beginning I was amused by her
eager admiration, but the resultant
caSting-of of her partiality for myself
was not quite as pleasant. I had pre-
served my early regard for Mrs. Fair
leigh mistaken through all the deeper
feeling of these years; the change hurt
me a little. Not indeed, that Julia
neglected me; but you understand how
it is when you ind yourself no longer
first in an accustomed regard. One is
alwavs liable to this with persons OF
JuIia's stamp; impulsive in attach
ments, they are tickle, as well. It is
best to recognize this fact and submit
to it.
But Frastus. There, at any rate, one
would have looked for some consisten-
CIV. 1t was not to be expected that this
cool IdeIiberateness would be impressed
so strongly and so soon. Yet so it
proved.
Whenever he entered her presence,
Miss Save absorbed him. Not of her
own will, but his I must do her that
| Justice. He was not in the habit Of
concea1ing his preferences, or making
any sacrifice to appearance. I was
quite used to this in my own case
| quite accustomed to see him neglect
| every one else in the room for the sake
/ of exchanging mere nothings with me.
| 1t was new to have the disposition
manifested as I now beheld it in the
| total ignoring my presence. was an
/ old friend, at least, to whom some
| courtesy was due. Yet I might sit in
/ the same apartment with him for
/ hours without the slightest notice
/
/ tacles glanced over me as unconscious.
| ly as if I had been a chair or table
| Miss Saye had all his glances, all his
/ interest, all his attention.
! She was good, this girl. / knew it
/ but did not really like her the better
] There must have been room in the
/ world for her and friends, without hel
! coming into my sphere, taking away
what belonged to me. After waiting
awhile I made up my mind to recon
4 quer at least one of my realms.
4 should not submit to be thus quietly
put down and forgotten. ] was toIera
bly, confident of my power if onc'
1 chose to exert it.
] Beautifully my plan worked! A
| one time it might have imported some
thing to Erastus whether were friend
! ly and gracious or cool and distant I
| certainly did not now.
/ I was vexed at myself for the pair
this caused me. If really cared fo
/ him, thought, I should at once de
sist I would not court a truant re
| gard, But he had treated me will
such fickleness-offered me evervthin,
one week and withdrawn everythini
the next. I should not have complain
ed had he continued my friend but t.
sink at once to such entire inconse
quence was too much. Ny pride re
belled at the idea Of such defeat.
So I renewed my warfare Sucl
stores of wit and accomplishment as
possessed we're brought forth-and Il
what purpose? One of her ineoherent
artless remarks outweighed it all. Sh
had a beautiful, sincere nature; / ac
knowIedged that its charm was gen
uine, and deserved, perhaps, Il
triumph. Not the less was eager /,
reclaim my own. was even guilty o
the meanness of trying to outshine he
in my dress. It was not difficult, for
/ ss,,E,o Il,
; bright-hued silks and sparkling Jewel
do for me ? Her soft outlines, her pur
tints, remained the same. Should tn
tulip haunt in her gaudiest colors, tb
violet is only sweeter and more modes
by contrast.
And then-just by the merest chanc
Il learned something of the history o
the man had refused. Then for tn
fiIss | knew how much of real wort
his odd demeanor had Obscured wha
active, unassuming goodness dwelt un
der that seeming Incidence and i'm
! I ! 4