Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1874-12-03

her predictions fully realized in respect to the
attentions bestowed upon her by the ''relative
by marriage" of Mrs. Podgers, for Scribble-
ION did invite he- to horseback excursions,
and long carriage-drives, and rows upon the
pond, and walks up and down the pleasant
paths, and reading and games indoors; in
short he did bcset her with what literally
amounted to the "no end of attentions" she
had anticipated. But instead of being bored
thereby, as Jennie had promised herself to be,
she was constrained to admit that she found
it all extremely agreeable. Indeed, al the end
of this brief period she was SO completely
won back to her former unrescrvcd conf
dcnce III her atfianccd that she was perfectly
willing, if only properly entrcatcd to do so,
to waive entirely the stipulation concerning
the years probation and take Scribblcten at
a venture She had become satisfied that it
was indeed only in the pursuit of literature
that Scribbleton developed any of those
dreaded peculiaritics, and that this pursuit
abandoned he could be depended upon to be
always the affable, generous, highminded,
agreeable gentleman he always appeared in
her presence, and who would, when married,
be the tender, devoted, cherishing husband
her heart had promised to her in the first
sweet moments of her berothal. II must be
confessed, however, that Jennie could not
without i pang see him at once and forever
retire from field in which he had gathered
such laurels, and where perhaps still greater
ones only awaited his pursuit to fall to him.
She was proud of his literary success; and at
times in past day-dreams she had loved to
picture herself standing 10y his side aiding
and encouraging him in his labors and enjoy
ing with him the tribute of the world 5 further
homage. 1t was not easy now to surrender
all these pleasant anticipations, but the single
alternative presented compelled the
Had Scribbleton deveIop.~
fierce ambition for distinction w" '''"'
goadins so many men to desperate efforts and
sacrifice for its attainment, she would haye
had no faith in his ability to keep the prom
ises he had made to her; for he was undoubt-
| edly possessed of genius that needed but room
for development to win him a large share of
the worlds admiration, and ambition would
not have permitted that genius 10 slumber.
Love might restrain it for time, but only to
sec it burst forth ultimately with accumated
powers, like those manufacturing reservoirs
of New England, where the harmless waters
of little murmuring rivulct are gathered till,
if they burst forth, they sweep away villages
and desolate whole district in the irresisti-
BILE impulsion of their mad freedom from
confining walls. But such an ambition he
did not seem to have. He had never ap-
peared to her to crave publicity; he always
bore himself With exceeding modesty when
his productions were mentioned in his pres
encc; and she felt that she could accept un-
reservcdy hisrepeatcd assurance that he had
taken up his zen in the main because it was
his most successful means of support. He
did not, he aid, aspire to distinction. True
he did not dspisc the worlds commendation,
on the contnry he was pleased with it; but
after all it was secondary consideration ex-
cept in so fg as public commentator made
for his liteRry wares a better market and
brought hin better price for them. But
Scribbletonvas to succeed to the Podgers
estate-her unit had told her this-and that
estate, Jenie we'll knew, would place him
far above ay future necessity of earning
living by storytelling. Under these circum-
stances Scpbleton made no difficult or con-
siderable scrificc for her sake, none at least
(and Jenni,smiled to herself as she thought
this) that tt gift to him of herself with her
boundlcss I've and devotion would not COM
pensate hir for and leave him the gamer by
the bargain
Thus til present passed to Jennie like
pleasant diam, whose Joys in incessant flow
were so bhded that she retained only gen.
cral consciousness of indescribable happiness
devoid oflistinct impressions. The future,
too prcseled cloudless prospect, giving no
token of impending tempests. But to the
other inrates of Podgers Place their came
anxieties nd heart-aches. Scribbleton could
not but bd,appy in the presence of so many
every-dayecurring evidences of Jennie's re-
newed cofidence; but he felt that he rested
upon slmbcring volcano, and was harrass-
ed with snstant dread that every moment
would seit burst forth in terrible and over
whelmineruption. THIS consideration was
present ten in his most tender experiences,
at those ire, delightful times that OCCASION
ally fall o the lot of all lovers, when the
smiles, IL loving, trusting glances, the ca
resses, th soft words that omnipotcnt love