Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-11-11
A BUSINESS TRANSACTION.
BY b. NJ. NELL.

5SHticAah Vi IuITt}-UNe ana
lady perhaps FIVE years younger sa
side by side. If there be truth in tn,
protested science of a physioguimis
he would have told yon that the face!
showed a similarity OF though
and experience. Tney had known
each other since childhood; haC
watched each others course in lif,
TIL now; could look back to the
time when she was a romping, 10y,
Gus country girl, he hearty unso
phisticated country boy. Now the,
sat facing each other, thorough man
and woman of the world. The face
OF each showed life of disappoint
ment, and that kind of suffering
which is the result of such lite ;
showed too that artificial suppression
OF ones self, and that deafness Of
the heart caused by contact with the
world which is irresponsible to all
sentiment. Yet in those faces there
was something which told that the
hard worldly surface hid q POSSIBLE.
ty OF something better.
They were talking of a subject
which would seem furthest from the
thoughts of such pair-marriage-
ana their own marriage at thau 1t
was the strangest match ever con-
templated by man and woman.
AS has been said, they had been
friends from childhood. With little
trust in the rest of humanity, they
had much in each other. Yes we
repeat, it was the strangest match
ever contemplated by man and won
an.
She, Eleanor Tracy, was a widow,
who, by the death of her husband
had been left, if not rich, at least in
comfortable circumstances.
He, Herbert Knox, widower. had
by the death of his wife received the
same good fortune They could re
member no other good fortune their
now happily deceased partners had
brought them.
What manner OF man and woman
they were, why they contemplated
marriage, what dry dust of the years
was thich upon their hearts, may be
gathered from what they said.
They had been talking some time
i think, Eleonor, he went on, our
marriage would be stroke of policy
which is the opportunity of our lives
You know what the immortal bard
said about tide in the affairs of
men, and women, too, | suppose, ia.
ken at the flood, leading on to for.
tune. People like you and me, who
know the world, know that riches
purchases its best favors. To quote
again, 'in union there is strength
and this proverb applies IS truthtully
to finances as to government. Ny
money and your money together
would be the means of far greater in
crease than both separately. Of
course our marriage would be sim.
pie business transaction, but in that
only differing from many of which
we know in that we are honest about
it. There will be no sentiment in
the matter, and I make no pretense
of any. In fact, Eleanor, our days
Of sentiment are long since past. We
certainly have higher respect for
each other than for anybody else,
and that IS enough.
This was love-making with a ven.
geance; strange words to utter 10 a
woman's ear; yet she answered in q
business like strain.
Herbert, since our last conyersa
tion have gwen this matter some
thought. | confess, had it nothing
but its eccentricity TO recommend it
the plan would have its charm for
for me; but beyond this my judg-
ment tells me you are right. As you
say, there is or will be, no sentiment
in the matter; so here's my hand to
have and to hold until death do us
part
Each one was conscious Of the in
congruity of the situation. By be
ing more farcical it might be less re-
pulsive. He said playfully Chow the
tragedy OF both their lives was writ
ten in bis playfulness), Il believe it
is usual on such occasions to salute
the loved one.'
With that he bent and kissed her,
both smiling at the mockery. What
a farce What tragedy! Laugh
ing at the dead sea fruit each offered
the others lips.
Their happiness was not to be long
delayed. In a month it was to be
crowned by marriage. The time
passed quickly enough, for they felt
none of the lmpatience of lovers. -
The only exhibition of sentiment in
to which they were betrayed was
the desire both had to be married in
the little country church of their
childhood Perhaps even this was
more desire TO do violence to sen
timent, than to indulge in it.
The wedding day was beautiful,
As they walked out of church over q
path of flowers strewn by rustics,
nature smiled as pleasant welcome
as it ever had to happier bride and
groom. All the brightness of May
morning, the air full of the fragrance
OF spring, the song of birds and the
glory of the sun gro wning all. They
hated the day for being beautiful.
This marriage had made a sensa
ton among the plain country folk
It was an event of importance, a
compliment to the village, and ths
village were out in great force
Bashful sw aims and anxious maid,
gaped at the bride and groom, envi
Gus of their happiness. How wei
the worldly crust hid the feelings o.
this man and woman.
Herbert qazed upon his beautiful
wife, she upon her handsome hua
band, and each heart was bite
against the tate that had made then
loveless.
Yet that bitterness was good
was the flutterings of wings which
longed for fight.
When they were alone he mad
some eommon-p place remark sbou
the beauty of the morning.
yes. and it should have rained
this day of all the days of our lives.
Yes be said. trnn ara rirht. j