Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-12
CHAPTER XIV.
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and 90 back to the morning after the
Charkup ball to listen to the conversation
of Mrs. Harlay and Gertie Blake, concern
ing recent events.
"But, said Gertie, 81 can't see the
good of it. No good ever comes to any
one from stirring up a scandal.
81 was not looking for any good to come
of it, - said Mrs. Harlay; " I only wanted
to touch him and his stuck.u daughter
on the sorest point. I think have sue
ceeded."
81 suppose you have succeeded in wor-
rying them considerably, but l doubt if
it pays in the long run. -
eff there is anything in the world that
l hate, it is to have the long run thrown
in my face. What do you or 1 know about
the long run ? 1t is always safe to say
SO. for no one can tell how long the run
will be or anything else about it. p"
81 was referring to the immediate
future, said Gertie. " How do you ex-
pect to carry your point if you begin by
outraging him and his daughter. She will
be your enemy for life. -
81 know it; but you can always get
more out of such people by frightening
them. They viii kick a beggar, where
they will fawn on those they are afraid Of "
They will say you have done your
worst now, said Gertie.
" Not at all. l will soon show them
that have only begun. They can be at
tackled through the press, and there is
nothing their own friends will read so
greedily as scandal about people IN society.
He and his daughter both live in terror Of
the opinion of society and then there are
the law courts.
81 don't see how they come in, said
Gertie.
"That is simple enough. 1 don't know,
yet, whether | can prove a breach OF prom
ise of marriage against him, but | can at
least drag HIM through scandalous law
suit which would be sweet morsel for
society. In fight of this kind he has
everything to lose and nothing to gain. .
81 don't see what you propose to gain
by it?''
him pay dearly, in coin, for his treatment
Of me.
81 can't say like it, said Gertie. "If
| were you, | would abandon 1t where 1t is.
Do you suppose, if man acted so to me, l
would ever as much as look at him again p
, ooh, you are child, Gertie. Wait
till you have gone through as much hard
ship as | have, and you may talk. But
there that is enough for the present about
my affairs. Let us talk about yours now,
There is something between you and
Charlie Gould, is there not p
oh, nothing out of the common, " said
Gertie, flushing slightly.
"0h, yes there is he kissed you, you
know he did, last night when you got
home"
There is nothing so very terrible in
that, stammered Gertie.
Nothing very terrible, perhaps, but,
unless l am much mistaken in you, you
are not the girl to let him 90 so far without
knowing what for? Tell me, are you en-
gagged :" s...,...,,,..
not to tell, I suppose 1 may as well con
fess"
w ny Suoulu Sou nv IL 40 AOtl44I5
to be ashamed of. :"
Well, | don't like to he teased.
Con- | won't tease you, and won't tell
anyone l suppose l ought to congratulate
you. Ones first engagement is very pleas
ant
81 hope it will be my first and last, "
said Gertie, stiffiy.
"Of course; but there are so many
things which may happen. Indeed, a girl
seldom marries her first lover.
81 scarcely see why" said Gertie, i'm
patiently.
1T is a fact for all that, whatever the
reason. 1t may be unpleasant to think
that you are wasting your tenderness on
some other woman's husband, but this Is
what really happens in more than half the
engagements.
g wish you would not talk so unpleas-
antly."
"Well, you may console yourself by re-
hecting that even if it should not end as
you expect, you have not lost anything so
very splendid"
Mrs. Harlay, you shan't talk so to
me, said Gertie, who was now thoroughly
angry.
"Oh. excuse me, but you needn't get
mad. You take me up all wrong. | am
not speaking of Charlie Gould, but of hus-
band and marriage in general. As rule,
marriage is a me-down for a woman, IN
nv opinion. You give up your individual
ity; Won become kind of appendage TO a
man, who may or may not be your supe-
rior. and who is invested with power to
bully you if he wants to,
90 In spite OF all that, II woman loves a
man, think she is bound to marry him. "
q [ think women are generally mistaken
in men. Few men whom they marry IN
derstand the delicate instrument chat Is
placed in their hands. They think we are
like their own coarse natures, and don t
care how they handle US. 1t isn't strange
If we become like them after while.
g You are very disceuraging, said Ger
tie, . hut your actions show that you dom
believe much of what you say now.
" And vet l believe it. in spite Of my
actions. But never mind that now. Do
you know anything about his eircum-
stances ? Has he got anything besides MS
position ~
"No; we have had no time for ex-
plantations. | think he said he had some
Lone Jack stock some time ago, but he
may have sold out indeed hope ne has.
mean to realize my stock Just as quickly
as l can get time to go across the bay and
see my broker.
This companionship with Mrs. HarIay
was not likely to do Gertie Blake much
good. Just now the mind of the former
was out OF Joint with the failure of her am
bilious plans, and all her experiences Of
life had seemed to foster distorted views,
and to disclose the worst aspects OF human
nature. What wonder If women who have
had to fight their own battle with the
world come IN time to form low opinion
of their fellow creatures F.? The fault, l am
sorry to say, lies chiefly with the nascu-
line half of the community, or rather,
it may be said, with certain frac-
ton of that half who are only
too ready to take advantage of the In
experience and trusting faith Of poor hui
manity, and who will spare neither man
nor woman when smart bargain is in
view. There is a class of men who take no
shame to themselves, but rather boast of
being the hero of sharp transaction, and