The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-10-01
ROYAL DRUMMOND'S CAUTION.
By ELLA

81 don't like the risk" ~soliloquizet
Royal Drummond, banker and bacnelol
of Laurence. "No, don't dare to run
the risk, though she is 4 deuced fine wo.
man, and quite to my taste"
Royal Drummond was thirty-fvey years
old, a bachelor, good-looking, and
wealthy. His life had been spent in i
determined effort to acquire Il compe.
tcnce. He had not been a miser, but he
had been a close calculator, Il cautious
cXpender, and had reSolutely shut away
all subjects but business from his mind
and heart. Hence his snug fortune and
handsome residence.
Now he was resolved to marry. He
had money enough for hiS-and his life
was getting mOnOtOnouS; and just as he
began to realize the need of a change in
his situation, Isle Morgan came to Laur-
CnCe. She was an artist, and came with
excellent recommendations from Cana
da, to fill a vacancy in Laurence semi
Ah"i e 'iS 49, - PhNNtN , iIDNS tIb1N
woman, with large dreamy dark eyes,
and fine rounded form. Accomplished,
cultured, and thoughtful.
She attracted many lovers, and Royal
Drummond looked upon her conely
face with eyes of favor. But Royal
Drummond prided himself upon being L
very cautious man. 1t was his caution
which had brought him his fine proper
~. He never did any thing raShly. He
weighed all things carefully before he
came to Il conclusion. "CautiOn, cau-
ton. You can't be too cautiouS." This
vas his mCtto. That was the advice he
always gave i'll business matters. Having
been SO long 4 business man, and con-
fined all his thoughts to practical mat
tcrs, he could not shake off the habit Of
years in a moment. He looked upon
this affair of marriage from avery prac-
ilcal standpoint, albeit he had a warm,
loving, and tender heart to give some
m A heart brimful of love and
kindness.
"But marriage is a matter concern
ing ones future life" he reasoned. 81
want a wife whom | can love, respect,
and trust. Trust, ah, yes. There's the
rub. Miss Morgan is a charming woman.
But what do | know about her! She lisa
strangerto all people here. She comes
well recommended as an artist, but what
do we know about her us Il woman? She
may be Miss MOrgan-she may not be.
She is somewhat reticent, and does not
seem inclined to converse on her own
affairs. Very likely there are things in
her past life she wishes to conceal. She
may be an adventures. 1t would GER
tainly be rash, very rash, to ask hertz be
my wife, and always live in doubt and
suspicion. Caution has always been my
motto. Caution shall be my motto still.
No, | will not make my advances to-
ward Miss Morgan. Her very name has
q mysterious s0und-Lisle Morgan!-
decidedly like romance h~eroines. l will
run no risk"
That decided once for all, Mr.. Drum
mond gave no more thought to Lisle
Morgan, in this direction, but began
10 look about him. He did not have to
look far. His next door neighbor was
DR.. Winters, a widOwer with two
daughtcrs-Patience, 4 spinster of forty,
and Hope, q lovely girl of twenty-three,
whose life had caused her mothers
death. They had lived in Laurence for
twenty-five years, and Hope had grown
up almostin the shadow of Royal Drum
mond's residence. He had seen her al
most daily since he could remember,
but he had been too busy to note how
very lovely she was before. Now quite
suddenly she stood before him as she
was-a graceful, pretty creature, in all
The bloom and glow of her ripe young
womanhood. She was medium sized,
1.-the formed, oval faced, amber eyed,
and sunny haired. Her mouth had an
almost childish droop, and a pretty
baby-fashion of quivering at times She
was a domestic girl; boosted some few
accomplishments, and would grace his
home charmingly. She had lived in
Laurence all her sweet life, save a few
months fifty miles distant spent IN
boarding-school, returning even then
twice every month. Was she not then
in every respect a woman fitted to be his
wife? So Royal Drummond reasoned,
and straightway began to pay court to
H. IHr:4A ClO .aa:uAl l:.-a44n..