Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-05-10

his beefsteak off English china with such a
relish that Il wondered as | gazed Per
heps. however, the favor was rendered toll
cradle by the presence Of the ladies, who,
being easy in their manners, lively in their
Conversation, and, above all, attractive in
appearance, made the meal pass, for me at
least. ike banquet of the gods When
Paul left that evening, he squeezed my hand
long ard hard
Well by Joye, ny dear Jack. = he said.
Il believe you have the best of it, after all
l can't say that 1 admire your choice of
houses CT furniture, but your taste in women
is without fault Your Carolina is hand
some enough for duchess. and tharliitle
blue eyed sister of yot'rs is as lovely as an
angel | wish | we're a rich man, he ad-
ded, with great sigh, then L could be
happy too, and marry for love.
NO. no, that cant be thought of, said
l, laughing. You can't afford to marry
for love. Make up to some heiress who
wants somebody to help her spend her mon
ey. That is the course for you. my dear
fellow, and the sooner it is done the better
it viii be for your pocket.
went back to. tie parlor, much pleased
with my friends visit. Caroline and Susie
had already taken Paul into their good
graces, and the warm interest had so long
felt for my old schooI-mate was soon shared
by both these sympathetic women.
But alas for the blindness of masculine
eyes. Paul's visits. which now came on
fast and furious, ostensibly 10 consult
me as to his entrance on business career.
had really another object and l, foolish bat
Of a fellow, never saw that it was Susie's
blue eyes that attracted him, and not our
plain dinners aud my still palmer talk
even laughed at my wife when she mildly
insinuated that she thought Paurs looks
were wandering and melancholy when our
little eharmcr vas not within visible dis
taucc.
My dear love, aid l, with the know
ing air OF man vic has been down to the
very roots OF human nature, ard knew ev-
cry fibre of the sane, women who think
men Ike Paul Centend have any hearts to
lose are nightly mistaken. He has been
all over the world and seen all sorts of beau
iy, and come back perfectly heart whole. Ii
Is not in our little back parlor, over girl
as unsophisticated as Susie, that this man
OF fashion is to become spoony. No, no.
Besides, be is rs poor as a church-mouse. ."
VERY well. -Tas,E. aid C-r,iisas, puck
erInE up her mouth, and looking as
wise as an owl have it your Own way, my
dear; but remember. if anything comes of
it, | have warned you beforehand. You
forget that your friend Contend is great
admirer Of elegance, and every one admits
that your sister Is as graceful as she Is hand
some: also Mr.. Contend never denies him
self any luxury that he thinks suited to mis-
position, aud as to poverty he knows moth
ing of its reality-not the shadow Of II
haunts hlln while he has a penny he can call
his own
Still those words made but little impres-
sion, and Paul came and went, as fancy led
him, altogether unques;ioued By me.
1t was nearly year after this that Susie
walked into ms room one morning and told
me, laughing and blushing, that Centend
had offered himself and she had accepted
him. Had the skies fallen could not have
been more surprised, for Paul, in all his pri-
vate condolences, had never approached this
subject Neither was / at all gratifed, for,
fond as / was Of Centend, | loved my sister
far more dearly, and dreaded lest the man
she had chosen should fail in his duty TO
protect her l Immediately, Of course,
when it was tco late, did all l could to pre-
vent this marriage, which was in many re
spects very unsuitable. Paul was one OF
those who should never have married at all,
or at any rate entered into the holy bonds
only under the most brilliant auspices.
To deny himself of his elegant tastes, to
live tor others and be content to work and
suffer for them. was something he had new
er conceived of, much less put Is practice,
and to all srch marriage Is. CT caght to be,
impossible.
well, tEcy married, notwithstanl ding.
and l gave my dear Susie away With tedr-
dimmed eyes, and more sighs in mF speech
than congratulations while my wife. ready
always to look on the bright side, ard make
the best of everything, planned the arrange
ments as well as our limited means would
permit.
And Susie went cut into her new life
with man she adored, and who loved her
as Isaac in the simple times of old loved the
wife whom he had sought SO faithfully. But
alas for tie simplicity OF those happier
days; they are gone neyer to return. Flocks
and herds will not suffice the modern re-
quirements of taste, neither in the shape
of wholesome provisions or comfortable
clothing. Furniture, china, and silver
must not only be good, but beautiful, artis-
tically designed. and very costly: otherwise
they fail TO come up TO the standard that
fashion has erected, and which few have
the courage to rebel against. My views on
this subject were original, but it was in vain
| endeayored to impress them upon these
my best friends. Paul finally obtained an
Office in the Custom House. given him thro'
the influence Of his quoRdan schoolmate
Wilson, now a fourishing politician and