Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-07-31
" THERE Is A TIDE"
The Part a Dress Suit Played in
O Love Affair.

There is q certain set of people, amongst
whom q colorsd bed gown with q sum
flower ranks as full dress, by whom the
naulo Of Smedlar Brown is reverenced.
This distinguished msthete has several
claims on the regard and admiration of
the cultured. He is a painter Of the Inn
pressionist school,. His enemies declare
that his impressions of men and things as
shown in his pictures arc very diff erent
from the impressions of the unawakened
many; also he is a critic on art and drama;
but perhaps not the least Of his charms
consists in the fact that he has rarely been
seen in a clean collar, and never in a chin.
ney-pot hat. The Smedlar Browns reside
in an unassuning villa in that region of
town which by coarse cabmen has been
christened Jacks Timber" The hall
door has long since forgotten even the ma
ture of paint; but there IS the word Snlue
craven on the brass knocker; and Yale on
the inside is a fair substitute for a carpet
in the hall.
Mr.. Smedlar Brown is the father of two
The girls affect the aesthetic or daffodown-
lilly style of dress n ornament; they
dye thor hair a dull yellow, and disguise
their complexion with prepared chalk.
The boys, William and Frederick, both
artists, the former twenty-six years old,
the latter two years younger, are likely
youths enough, unkempt as to the head,
and prone to many -hued handkerchiefs.
Worshipers of the Beautiful, these amia-
bic youths naturally detested their very
their fellow-students at the Academy
schools had nicknamed them "Hardlines
Bill' and "I.ucky Freddy" subtertuge
was useless. Ever since he could remem-
Der, it had seemed to William that he had
been under an unlucky star, while Fred
fortune. Their mother having died when
the BARNS were all young, they had been
left to tumble up into years of discretion
pretty much according to their respective
fancies.
1t was lucky for the two boys that their
natural inclln had led them to adopt
art as a profession. For in that alone
could their father be Of any assistance to
them. His influence had got them artistic
work on some OF the magazines he wrote
for; and he nobly canvassed for subscrib-
es for the engravings of his sons pic
beyond board and lodging they had cost
him nothing for the last six years,
he was quite satisfied with the male
half of his brood. But the girls
We're a deep source of solicitude to Smed-
lar Brown; low to get them we'll settled
in life was a still vexed problem to this
fond parent. How could he, to whom life
Was unbearable without his after dinner
slhoko, trot about playing chaperon at
evening parties? He felt his uselessness in
.hls quarter, and tried to make up for it by
planting Grace and Louise (thess were the
d%anisels' names) at country houses for in
definite periods; where he left it to their
ewn sense Of duty to do their utmost to
obtain suitable matrimonial situations.
AT this planting business he was a real
ranjDs SI~,,ll - V-s~l H. orto ri >ntu1 in
a burst of friendly leave-taking, say:
MI. Smedlar Brown, why don't you let
Your Grace and her sister come and see
my daughters; they would be charmed to
nave them" Smedlar had nailed her be-
tore she had time to recant. He would say:
1T is the distance that has prevented
IL, not my little girls inclinations; but
since you are really so kind as to wish to
nave them, Tll tell them to pack up their
traps tomorrow, and they shall be with
you the day after" So far, however, be-
You'd the pleasure the girls felt in getting
shese visits had borne no fruit; and the
Miss Browns were still spinsters. To the
m1ys the father gave sound wholesome
advice. Across his coffee and cigar he
reiterated these words of wisdom: For
you, William, L have no fear. Your
you, will certainly one day attain
1nr you a great position. But yo";
frederick, arc too apt to trust
10 the chapter of accidents. You are,
moreover, slightly e~xtravagant. Marry,
ny boy, make a wealthy alliance. Miss
nresgs, the cocoa peoples daughter, you
seem TO get on we'll enough with; win her
Iahl You will fill q fathers heart with JOY.
lou are. You know, very good.looklns
9mnst people dec.n.s you resemble your
%lather), and you lave address. Do think
Ever this advice, Fred, and act on it,"
th6se addresses were far from pleasing
we !aborious William; for two reas ons ne
not appreciate these illusions to Freder-
ack,s beauty; and secondly, he had seri-
ously thought of Miss Dreggs for himself;