Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-10-16

M IHOS!t. -HtFCRTHt-
tanning the earliest years of discretion. the
sons decided that it was more incumbent
upon them than upon the generality of per
sons to be particularly particular in their
choice of friends. As they were alniable,
right-feelinG young men, they looked upon
this duty sad necessity.
Had they been tempted TO swerVe from this
line Of conduct, respect for their father should
have kept them steadfaSt. He had always
impressed the great duty upon them. Before
the two BOYS were out of the nursery the great
coup which Is expected by every Sanguine
business man came off. Mr.. Talhart realized
his capital and sold his business. He obtained
less for it because he made tie stipulation that
his name should no longer appear i'll connec-
ton with it. Then, widower with one
daughter and two sons, he bought Lakewood
House, and settled down to drift gradually
into good society.
He educated his children by this creed 1t
is tie duty of all people to rise i'll the world
both in commercial and social circles. Thanks
to his exertions and good fortune, the first
half of the obligation had been discharged.
The second rested chiefly with his children.
He did not tell them this in definite words,
but all the same preached it to them most elo-
quently, and was more than content, and felt
tic II ulIS VI IL we've SIloNIl
themselves. when his daughter married Sir
Maingay ClauSon, fairly respectable and
well-to-do baronet.
This satisfactory alliance gave the Talberts
a lift in the social scale; although, SO far as
Oakbury was concerned, it was little needed
Mr.. Talbert had now been out of business for at
least ten years. He was quiet, gentlemanly,
and, if not retiring, at least unobtrusive. His
wealth was estimated at about three times its
correct amount. With these advantages he
already found himself we'll received by the
families of position, his neighbors. Content
as he no doubt felt ON his own account, he,
nevertheless, held up their sisters brilliant
match example to his sons, and talked
so much about the necessity of their choosing
their intimates fittingly that it is marvel
the young men did not speedily develop into
fools or Sn0bs
But even now when verging upon middle
age they We're neither-although any man
who would decline Your acquaintance or
mine ought, of course. to be one or the
other-perhaps both The worst that could
be urged against the Taiberts WIS this: From
the very first they had told themselves: I'VE
can find as pleasant and as true friends among
the upper ten thousand-among those who do
cot make their living by barter-as we can
Ia
only associate with the best. 4 man has an
undoubted right to choose his own friends.
WeShal not 70 out of our way to t0ady the
great, but with our ideas on the subject we
can only make associates of those whom we
consider the proper class of people. a Duke
of fa.tE,;ntUn MAJ associate with wholnSo 'ver
he chooses. he is always, per Sc, the duke.
We are not dukes. Our father made his
money in-well, never mind in what. We
are not even nillionaires. We have enough
wealth to live comfortably and like gentle
men, but not enough to roll in. If we go hand
in glove with oil, tobacco, sugar, etc, we
must, on account of the narrow distance
which divides us from the status of commerce.
sink to the level, or at least get COMPOUNDED
with those useful respectable, profitable, but,
to us, diStaStcfui commodities. Therefore ii
behooves us TO be fastidious even to a fault"
Who can blame such sentiments as these:
To my mind there is kind of shrewd nobility
in them!
Why. with such sensible views on things in
general, the two young men did not follow
their sisters example and make brilliant
matches is matter which has never been
clearly explained When, after an immacu-
late career they left Oxford, they were tail,
well-built, young fellows; moreover carrying
So far as the world knew they had no vices.
Indeed, in spite of stature, good looks, and
broad shoulders, in some quarters they were
accounted milksops Perhaps because, in ad-
dition to the polite, even courtly, style which
they strove to adopt towards every one, they
had many little finnicl1ing, old-maidish WAYS
which were source of merTiment to their
contemporaries. Nevertheless, among those
who were honored with their friendship, the
Talberts were not unpopular With many
women-the middle-aged cspecially-these
tall, handsome refined young men were
prime fayoriteS. The fact of the brothers
having reached the respective ages of 40 and
Il without having selected helps-meet for
them argues that something which makes
a marrying man was missing from their
natures.
1t may be that the pleasure they found in
travel prevented their settling down For
many years, either together or singly, the
Talberts spent nine months out of the twelve
away from home. Their father who had no
wish to see his sons striving in the ruck of
humanity for the worlds prizes, made them
handsome allowances. Greatly to their credit
they lived within their incomes, even saved
money. These savings they invariably in
vested in works Of art, so that as years went
by their acquisitions if united would have
formed valuable and tasteful collection, the
units of which had been culled from east,
west, north and south-so judiciously that
the brothers felt sure that, if such a thing
were needed, the selection would enhance the
reputation they already enjoyed tor refined
tastes and knowledge OF matters artistic.
The brother were tie best Of friends
They understood and sympathi1ed with each
others likes, dislikes and weaknesses. Onls
once in theiF lives had they quarreiled. but
that quarrel had lasted for six years. They
shudGer nov Is they lock back upon thai
time.
1t was no vulgar dispute, which is made
known to all the world and in which mutual
friends are expected to take sides. It was
only thu TaIberts themselves who knew that
q quarrel existed To outsiders they seemed
more absurdly polite to each other than be
fore
The cause II the quarrel was the interfer
ence of one brother in the others affairs. They
were peculiar men, and very tenacious Of the
Englishmanis duty Of minding his own bust
ness On a certain occasion one of them
fancied rath<- delicate matter as much his
own business Is his brothers. He was his
taken They did not use high words, because
such things wGe not in their line: but eaeh
brother was sadly firm The upsbot was that
for SIX years they only spoke when they inst
IN society.
At last old Talbert died. His successful
daughter had been dead long time. The old
man left Hardwood House and its contents
to his sons coniointly. The rest of his fortune
be divided into three parts, and left in this
proportion to each OF his children or their
children, If any. Then the sons met at Hazie-
wood House and considered What they should
do.