The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-04
WElaHED In THE BALANCE.

IAppleton's Journal

tempt me to brave even the rheuma-
tism, not to speak OF the perils OF steam
tug navigation" ,.. H..
ing the summer we often make these
excursions: indeed. they may be called
q Buffalo specially in the way OF amuse-
ments. .,..-...,.-s,,
party, Kate 7"
You have seen most Of them, I
think. First. there are Mr.. and Mrs.
Oscar yanderheyden. Mr.. Vanderhey-
den IL decidedly the most agree
able gentleman in the city, intel
lecttal. elegant, accomplished, and, ut
the same time, devoted to his wife. In
these days of ompatibility. 1t Is re-
freshing to see such q domestic, affec-
tionate husband. You remember him,
do you not2"
"Perfectly. They arc % handsome
couple" ..-..,.,
. What O. pity the young men of our city
cannot form themselves after such q
model Our society would then be
full Of vitality, whereas as now
1t is ineffably commonplace. Do you
know, Aunt Jane, / do not think Mrs.
Vanderheyden appreciates her hus-
band2 There is an ICY GOODNESS in those
black eyes OF hers at times.
"Thay ARE beautiful eyes, however
Kate?"
Il don't deny that, aunt. Well--then
there are Pearl Brandegee and Nathan
Day-Mary Rathbone--Frank Ronalds
and ourselves. / believe that is all.
oh. no-Alleyne Forsythe."
"The gentleman who was here this
morning 2"
Yes. Blythe: what do you
think of Pearl ?"
Miss Brandegee is the most beauti-
full young girl have ever SEEM
Il knew you would think SO; every
one always does.
Don't YOU agree with me, then ?"
"Oh, don't go so far as to disagree
Pearl is engaged to Nathan Day, they
are to be married In the fall, and I shall
be relieved when 1t Ia over, for it IS diff
cult for ordinary mortals to breathe the
atmosphere of the seventh heaven"
"Mr. Day seems to be unusually
quiet and relicent."
$50 he is with everybody but Pearl.
He Is the Beast, and Beauty has con-
,dilered his callous heart. IL we could
only know that he was to be changed
into gallant young prince at the altar,
we should look forward to the wedding
with greater aesthetic interest. Poor,
homely old Nathan, how he will look
by the side Of Pearl in all Che glories Of
her bridal lacel''
"A mans looks are Of small conse.
quenee, Kate.
Particularly when be happens to be
millionaire But, in spite.pf the
diamonds, feel sorry for peaff.7 She
ought to marry some fresh young heart,
reaJy to do and dare, the soul OF d gal.
liant knight under the guise of modern
gentleman-a brave spirit, sans peur ct
sans reproehe.
"Mr. Alleyne Forsythe. for instance?''
'sYes some high hearted. loyal youth
like Alleyne. Have you noticed how
like he Is to the Apollo in Guido's
Aurora To me he always seems a
type Of the old Greek race, that glorious
mental and physical perfection SO sell
Sand the rest of the party?"
"What an unresponsive soul is yours,
Aunt Janet To descend from my Apollo
to the two commonplace members of
the party, is like dropping from am
brosia to tepid tea. Mary Rathbone Is
a good, plain sort Of u girl. and Frank
Ronalds is Harvard freshman, soft as
the white of an egg, and about as in
.sipid."
E'And my niece, Miss Kate Keller?'
"a mistake, at your SERVICE replied
found courtesy; ''else why did Dame
Nature make me just SO near q beauty
that the world can never cease lament
ing the missing link? IF her nose was
only q little longer'-'it her mouth was
only trille smaller'-'if her eyes were
only o shade darker and So on. /
would rather be frig y ltrght than u
half-tinished mistake.
Now my Kate. in spit u her faults, Is
R.St Yt,t.s , 't,i al -
bright, fascinating girl ; heiress, too.
with no more thought G : ; ar money than
the lilies Of the field.
The time for the excursion came.
Sailing out of the harbor in the
afternoon, we tossed awhile on
turbid Lake Erie, and then glided
through tho portals into the beautiful
river-the broad, rushing Niagara
sweeping onward with tremendous
speed, and carrying the compressed
tide OF four fresh water seas between
its green banks. Our boat--a tug dig
nified by he title Of steam yacht, and
manned by crew of two men-was a
queer little craft, with an open bowl Of
a cabin in front, an engine behind, ct
3rdeteren Mill After descending with
great difficulty into the bowl, we took
our seats upon the cushioned bench
which ran around three sides. and. pro-
tected by wooden awning supported
on stanchions, rode gaily onward, the
little engine, sending US along at rapid
speed through the deep-hlue water. At
first, we all talked merrily together.
$50 you do not approve Of woman
suffrage, Mr. Vanderheyden?' said my
niece, Kate Keller.
mo, Miss Keller. I do not dispute
the keen delicacy Of woman's intellect,
but maintain that love is her power,
and we love her, not for her mind, but
rather for her heart. We do not wish
to see her laboring at our severe toll
we do not wish to see her gentle, de-
pendent nature roughened by contact
with the hard world; we will neither
tear her from her shrine, nor suffer her
to slip down thence. That shrine is
home, there is her place, and there may
you yet find your goddess, my young
friends. as I have found mine," said
Mr. NAnderheyden. glancing toward