Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-11-05

Archer and Goodwin had from the first
been mutually attached, as much, maybe,
by difference as by likeness of tempera-
ment and character. Although the doctor
was, as has been said, somewhat his friends
senior, the latter seemed older than he was,
his diversified experience and early orphan
age having given him undue maturity.
When they met at the Northrup reception,
Goodwin had been several years admitted
to the New York bar, and there was sign
in Pine street, "Oscar Goodwin, Attorney
and Counselor at Law" His practice was
not extensive but he had distinguished
himself in several cases, and might have
had considerable business, had he had more
ambition. He admitted he was deficient
in this, but was fond Of inquiring "What
is the use of ambition %
1t was nearly midnight when the two
left the residence of Thomas Northrup, in
Madison avenue, to walk home IL the clear,
crisp December air. They were both fond
of walking, and had many strolls together.
As they were going down the street, Archer
inquired, "How did you like the Count :
Didn't your prejudices yield before his
pleasant manners q
"No, Archer, they did not. His man
ners are good in conventional sense-very
good. l admit that. But there is some
thing behind them which I instinctively
distrust. ] can't say precisely what it is,
though it is very sensible to me. do not
and cannot believe him what he assumes
to be. He has the outgiving, to my mind
call it prejudice or nOt-Of an adventur-
er; and shall never be able to put any
confidence in him. He appears to be mas
querading all the time
"He talks well. certainly. What excel
lent English he uses.'
Excellent indeed. I've rarely known
Frenchman to speak with SO little
accent-it is scarcely perceptible. In fact.
it struck me as better than his French.
You may laugh at my criticism but you
know that I've lived a good deal in Paris,
and my ear is tolerably quick. Some of
the Counts French pronunciations have al
most foreign sound. I noticed it par
ticularly when he made a quotation from
Racine. He is inclined to pedantry t
you think SO +? He is a little too fond of
talking learnedly, of speaking of his passion
for literature"
Yes, he is, Goodwin. To be frank,
he impresses me very much as he does
you and, like you, I can't tell why. He
is greatly liked, especially by women, at
least by some women. know others who
can't bear him.
sit is their instinct which repels them,
I am sure"
..But how about the instinct of the
women who detest him? Haven't they
instinct, too?
Doubtless, they have, doctor; but
their instinct must be at fault"
"Of course. We men think woman's
instinct correct only when she reflects our
prejudices. There's vast amount of sham
about woman's instinct anyhow. Because
she doesn't reason, it is gallant to say she
depends on her instinct. The fact is she
obeys her impulses in everything, and they
are more apt to lead her wrong than right.
Woman's instinct may be as good as mans
reason but the man who reasons is one in
ten thousand. By the by, how do you like
Miss Royden, after making her acquaint-
ance?''
81 can scarcely tell, Archer. In truth,
she puzzles me. On the whole, she scarcely
equals my preconception. Her face con-
veys more than her speech. To talk with
her is disappointment. She suggests
something that she does not redeem. I
fancy she is rather cold, negative, indeed.
I tried hard to interest her by talking of
subjects which women of culture are usu-
ally enough concerned with; but failed
entirely. She replied chiefly in monosyl-
lables. I'm inclined to think that she con-
siders me bore; and dread the idea of
boring anybody. Imay be mistaken about
her. It may be the adverse influence of
the Count, who was near her all the time,
that affected her unfavorably. How very
disagreeable that man is to me !"
"No question of that, my dear boy for
you put everything off on the Count. I'm
sorry Miss Royden has already disen-
chanted you. There's something in the
girl, whether you have found it or not.
She's the reverse of shallow. Perhaps
when you understand her, you will like her
better. Hers is not the sort of character
to be comprehended by fifteen minutes
talk in a drawing-room. Her nature is
deep, I suspect. She does not pin her
soul on the front of her gown, along with
her ribbons. You're too sentimental to
understand her. Nothing SO blinds a man
respecting women as sentiment-or rather,
SO distorts his vision. To judge them i'm
partially, one should have made up his
mind never to marry. The bachelor habit
of mind is great aid to discrimination.
cit pleases you, doctor. to speak of me
as sentimentalist, though l am very far
from being one. I haven't half as much
sentiment as ought to have. The circum-
stances of my life have stified it, probably.
Much knocking about the world has aged
and hardened me prematurely."
81 know you think SO, Goodwin. The
werst of all sentimentalists is he who be.
lieves himself destitute of sentiment. But
sentiment is not SO bad. l enjoy it in
others. He who can keep any in this sci.
fish, mercenary world, deserves to be con-
graduated. But here we are at your hotel.
Have you any engagement tomorrow
evening? No? Then dine with me at the