Richland beacon., 1881-02-12
modify this, lie adds, "and Of seeing

taken such hold on her
"No," said Jimmie. II enioved my
row too much the other day not to come
to this hop. Do you know that have
lived bv that lake all my l!fc. and never
knew how beautiful il was before last
! Friday"
Then this is really your home? We
were wondering whether you belonged
here. or We're only a visitor"
At this ?alpable attempt tc pnmp him
he was silent for n moment: but think
ing It hest to Seem candid, he answered.:
'Yes, l was born and raised here. :"
Then, smilingly, I'm only country
boy, you know. You may he sure.
though, not too much Of an one to thank
you for your kindness To me.
Little m he vet understands the full ex-
tent Of his influence over her. and think
ing that she only takes some such inter
est in him as Mr.. More has. he vet feeds
that he must not shock this rich young
laly with the full truth about himself
that he is only poor workman's son:
and to avoid more inquiries, at once asks
for the dance Just commencing. When
the couple follow this mp by another
and still another. the Larton party begin
to talk: but all look on it as Irritation
i'll which Eta is amusing herself at this
country boys expense; and Mrs. Larton,
an easy-going woman. not especially re-
luctant 10 see Etta-who is only n step
daughter - get herself into scrapes,
makes no attempt to interfere.
George Larton alone gains little
clearer sight from his intense jealousy.
the natural result of his long and painful
suit. Rather dissipated when very
young, the fathers consent has only been
won after a most earnest siege and re-
newed proofs of reform; and when at
last obtained, has by no means brought
with it Etta's love. At thirty he is not
even on trial, and has n morbid hatred
for any man who seems to be receiving
the least favor.
| Hurrying across the room to claim the
next dance, which is due him, and he
is doubly infuriated at Etta's quiet re-
fusal.
80 George, / am very sorry. but for
got You, and have promised this to Mr..
Gordon
Il am sorry too" was the angry reply.
''to deprive Mr. Gordon Of your society,
IS this will I've his last chance of seeing
sou; but / wish particularly to speak to
yoH at once"
q little scared at his manner, she takes
his arm pcttishly, and turns away with
| him. saying:
''The next shall be yours, then, Mr..
Gordon"
Eta" exclaimed George lyon posi-
lively must not dance with that fellow
again. | am acting i'll place of your
| father now. and cannot see Won flirting
publicly with man not iit associate
for YOU, ALL bcco,ning the talk of the
entire roo.n.'
N"Very well; consider this fellow a
tit associate for me or for you, and as |
never was kept from doing what pleased
by peoples talking, You won't frighten
me in that way"
And So he has killed his own hopes.
Rousing all her feminine and individual
perversity. the only result of his protest
is to see her spend the most of the even
ing with Jimmie; to see him brought up
to Mrs. Larton, and capturing her as ef-
fectuallv as her daughter with his sunny
blue eyes and sturdy. handsome face, to
hear him invited to Cleveland
In the midst Of it all Jimmie's heart is
beating very fast, and his head SWIM
ming a little; but he comes through 1t
triumphantlv, and leaves for home that
night with strange, new hopes of secur
ing the wished-for wealth by an easier
and quicker route than he had even
Il al g la sc.
mercenary it would be hardly fair to say;
for most men can be flattered into
liking, if not into love. and Jimmie GER
tainly can hardly help being flattered
Very few young men exist but are lit
tie inflated by the evident liking and
even admiration of pretty and attrac-
tive girl: but wher there is SO great diff
ference in social position, in wealth and
every thing else as in these two, we must
look for more age and experience than
Jimmie had to keep his head from being
turned. Being turned, it is easy to sec
why it should fancy it was the heart,
and almost TO think itself in love as easily
as Eta has been.
And now We will drop the curtain for
a few weeks, to raise it again during the
early fall in Cleveland. In the cab that
is driving up Euclid Avenue we find our
hero, the same boy whom We met on the
lake at Brownfelds, still intent on his
object, though no longer with dream
ing indefiniteness The time since Eta
left Montrose for home has by no means
been spent idly. She, Cor the first time
in her life, has found whim to which
she is constant; and in the correspond
ence which she grants him has, instead
of dulling her interest in this latest no
tion. added fresh fuel to the flame.
Jimmie. seeing now Just how things
stand. has been vigorously making pre-
parations for appearing before Mr. Lar
ton creditably. His first step is to bor-
row little money his father has laid by,
and the next to hire desk-room and an
office-boy in New York, where he puts
up a sign as "Broker in Iron" this being
to give color to the character he intends
to assume of being an agent for Mr..
Peters. And now, with all his arrange
ments completed, he is driving mp to
Etta's home. not vet cured of all his
palpitations, but with considerably more
self-possession.
He feels verv tremulous again as he