Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-12-18
CHAPTER ".
A BAD QUARTER OF AN HOUR.

its softening influence over the ripe charms
Of the lady of the house, who was seated
with her back to the window. Eminently
cosy and luxurious were her surroundings
"A rich, sonber, Turkey carpet covered
the center OF the floor, which was stained
to simulate oak around the edges. The
skin OF a grizzly bear lay in front of the
fireplace, as a fitting relief to the bright
steel Of the fender and fre.irons, and
siIken. covered lounges and rockers invited
the weary or the idle to be at rest. a
rare Japanese bronze stood upon the
mantsl. piece, unequaled in the vigor and
life Of its execution by the best produc-
tions Of French art, and few gems of
California landscape hung upon the walls,
interspersed with mirrors and girandoles,
framed in Venetian glass and ormolu.
TIE interview did not seem altogether a
pleasant one. The lady of the house was
performing an obligato on the carpet with
her foot, vulgarly known as the devils
tattoo, and the millionaire was looking
savage, with the hard lines of his mouth
set like steel wise.
George, you are acting cruelty towards
me, said sire, looking at the fireplace.
81 would like to know what you want, ="
he ang1ly rejoined. 81 have furnished
this house for you. and put you in way
of making your living decently. l have
given you stocks and shares without stint
in fact everything you could possibly want,
and still you keep on growing. What's
the matter now"
"Money is not everything, George, she
said.
"Oh that's what's the matter, " he broke
in, savagely. Hang it, Eliza, this per-
petual jealousy is enough to drive man
crazy.
''You were in that woman's box the
whole evening, at the California, two nights
ago"
"Who told you 50 And what if was?
I believe I am free to go where I please"
Men are so ohangeable. l always
tremble lest you should break your prom
ises to me, when l hear of your paying at
tentions to other women"
"Prcmises !" he rejoined, angrily. 81
know nothing about any promises. Oh,
Eliza ' he continued, going over ana sit
ting down alongside her. putting his arm
round her waist and taking her hand ''for
Gods sake, let US have no more of this.
I don't Gene here to be scolded and wor-
ried, as if 1 had committed a crime. This
eternal jealousy is enough to drive man
out of his senses and in your heart you
know it is entirely without cause. 1 don't
care two straws for her, and you know it,
or you ought to know it,
The situation is not a new one-a woman
being persuaded to believe that which in
her heart she wishes. There is a fatal
weakness inside the walls of the fortress,
and the enemy within her own breast be-
trays her. Only too readily does she ac-
cept persuasions and protestations of doubt
full value, after the first brief storm of her
fleeing wrath is over. Having shot the
swift bolt of her indignation, pity takes its
place she is sorry for her own violence,
when her victim protests that he is limo
cent, and viii never do so any more, and
so it was in the present case. Eliza Har-
lay was tain to accept for pure gold that
which she feared was only gilded metal.
Perhaps, moreover, the lady thought it
might not be judicious to drive him too
far, and SO lose all prospect of the carrying
out of whatever further designs she may
have had. We viii not pry too deeply
into the secrets Of her widowed heart.
Mr.. Charkup had been married, but his
wife was dead some time, and he was the
father of grown-up daughter, who did
the honors of his house, when at home.
Just at that time the latter was in Europe,
but was expected back shortly, when Sc
ries of entertainments was promised.
She leaned her head upon his shoulder,
and in more satisfied tone resumed: 81
see you so seldom, George, that 1 scarcely
know what to do about anything. What
would you advise me to do with those
shares .
"Oh, keep them, of course, he replied.
E'They have scarcely touched one-fourth
of their real value as yet"
"Haye they any real value?" she
asked, doubtfully.
"Of course they have. We win begin
paying dividends next month, and we mean
to hold on to cur property as paying in
atitution. Why the profit on the milling
of the ore and the sale of our lumber to
the mine makes it worth our while to keep
the control, even if it only paid expenses. "
But I have nothing to do with the
mills or the lumber, she objected.
"Of course not but you will receive
your four or five per cent. a month in divi-
bends, with the certainty of the shares
quadrupling in value. They have reached
their present point on mere talk, and a
series Of dividends. steadily paid, Will con-
vince people that the money is there. The
reports, Of course, were overdrawn but
still there is an enormous body of ore.
But these dividends won't continue
for ever, she persisted.
NATURALLY; bnt viii let you know, in
time. when we are about to pass them. OF
course, that win cause break in the mar
ket."
sit seems like a tempting of Providence
to have so much money in sight as the
shares would bring at the present prices,
and not put out ones hand and take it.
Tempting of Providence !" he re-
peated, angrily. 'tDo you suppose Provi-
dence is always lying in wait to catch peo-
pie tripping Perhaps you had better sell