Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-12
WRITTEN FOR THE REcoRD-UN1oN.,
WRITTEN UNoNl
The Ventures and Adventures Of Charlie Gould;
a ROMANCE OF THE STOCK MARKET.
BY EDWARD =. cAHILL.

considerations drawn from the experience
of anyone else. Such motives 90 for little
in that balance which determines our ac-
TONS nor was Gertie Blake in the habit OF
allowing that balance to waver after she
had made up her mind.
If the morning after the ball found Mrs.
Harlay and Gertie Blake more or less sat
isfied with the course things had taken,
Charlie Gould awoke with the awful feel
ing that it was incumbent on him to inter-
view, with all possible speed, the dragon
who guarded the golden apple, by which
playful allegOry you will be good enough
to understand Mrs. Blake. If the dragon
might be appeased with honeyed words, it
would be well, but Charlie was haunted
with lurking consciousness that she
wished to reserve the apple for her own
private munching, and was ready to de-
YOUR, or at least scratch any impairment
interlopers who might covet its guarded
sweetness. Nevertheless, there was no use
trying to shirk the encounter, and Charlie
prepared himself for it as cheerfully
as the exigencies of the case per-
mitted. he thought, however, that ne
tervieW until after business hours.
W ItA VIC hdS 10 law JOOpAC arc hoS 81 "tN
to take as rosy view of things as when 1t
has advanced to the eliminating point of
dinner and SO, in the twilight hour, he
sought the sacred seclusion of Mrs. Blake's
chamber. He knocked at the door. and
mournful "come in authorized him to en-.
ter. Mrs Blake was evidently suffering
from the neglect of person or persons un-
known, and was ready to make an example
of the first conner.
"Oh, it's you, is it ?" as she raised her
self on the lounge with disappointed sigh.
g thought it was my daughter Perhaps
you would be good enough to go down and
ask her when they are going to send up my
tea?'
"In one moment, Mrs. Blake. l must
ask for moments conversation won't
be minute, Charlie managed to jerk out.
Il suppose can't help myself, groaned
out Mrs. Bake, who had some idea OF what
was coming
Thus ungraciously invited, Charlie
opened his budget 60 Mrs. Blake, am
come to tell you that love your daughter,
and I have asked her to be my wife.
'Asked her to be your wife." she
snapped out, now sitting bolt upright on
the lounge. "And what did she say, may
| ask, without being impairment ?"
''She has consented, and now am come
to ask your consent also, pleaded Charlie.
81 must say you have taken me alto
gether by surprise. A most unpleasant
surprise" Gertie had told her that morn
ing of what was coming, and she was sur
prised, but it had taken some hours for her
surprise to reach its present hight. Elk
plicit surprise had taken the place of i'm.
plicit surprise, and was now being poured
forth on Charles defenseless head. L
have scarcely ever been able to conceive
the idea of my daughters marriage at all.
How can you ask me to give her up?" she
said, beginning angrily and ending pit
eously.
II do not ask you to give her up, Mrs.
Blake. Surely her heart is large enough
TO have room for both
'.Oh dear, it is very dreadful. How are
you circumstanced as to money, Mr.. Gould"
she asked, as a ray of light broke In on her
that there might be possible way OF
escape in this direction.
II have Just realized a considerable
amount by speculation IN stocks, and
have also my position in the office OF Steams
& Darkle."
"Oh, your position you may lose at any
moment, and dealing in stocks Is so very
uncertain. | could never consent to give
my daughter to gambler.
~ hope l am not gambler, Mrs. Blake. y"
"Oh. YOU men are all one worse than
another. There is nothing too bad for you.
suppose my daughter will decide for her
self. She always does. am treated like
a child. God knows how carefully l
brought her up, and it's all forgotten in an
instant. But there, | won't complain.
This was extremely uncomfortable and
not very Ineligible so Charlie twirled his
hat in his hand aimlessly and in silence for
a few moments, not knowing what reply
to make to this last speech. Mrs. Blake
had again betaken herself in her despair to
the ample and consollng bosom of the
lounge, and from that sanctuary gave vent
to copious groans by way of inarticulate
and unanswerable reproach. Charlie sat
helplessly staring at the carpet until de-
cent interval for the indulgence of Mrs
Blake's woe had been allowed to pass, and
then ventured to ask, " Perhaps, Mrs.
Blake, you would like to see your daugh-
ter. Shall go and find her! "
Yes, you may 90. Oh, my poor
head " came from the lounge.
Charlie slipped away on tip-toe and with
as little noise as possible, through the half
opened door. If you will pardon the ex-
preston, " ne felt as though he could have
crawled through a crack, so great was his
discontinue. He knew that his point was
gained, and that Mrs. Blake's opposition to
her daughters will was not formidable, but
the thing had been done in so ungracious
manner that ne felt as though he had been
committing a crime. He realized that love
making had its drawbacks as well as its
pleasures, and while gathering the rose he
began to feel the thorn in his flesh. How
ever. he went in search of Gertie Blake,
knowing that she understood the intricacies
of her mothers mind better than any one,
and he found her with Mrs. Harlay, who
had just received the following letter by
the evening mail:
OFFICE OF MANNING & GRANGER,
ATTORNEYS AT Law,