Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-03-18
CHAPTER II.
BLANCHE.

CHAPTER IL
BLANCHE.
Blanche and strolled about the door ward.
The gate was half open--its normal condition
and proper one as Indicative Of the EASY.
happy go-iucky disposition of tlss parent SET
tons. Capt. Tommy, the father, ran sloop
to New York. His real homo was on that
craft, and it was saying among the vii
layers that he could pilot her through Long
Island sound and the East river with his
eyes shut. His daughters made frequent
trips with him to the city. The 'old MAN.
was most at home when it blew, and blew
hard, to the CONSERVATION of Mary and
Phoebe, who would implore him at such
times to put in at some Of the sound harbors
on the north shore of Long Island. But no
wind blew too hard for Blanche, though so
far as outward seeming went, hers was an
equal ISacidity in storm or calm As a bow
! had looked upon Blanche rs one of the
Older girlsn--girls already treading the
shore of womanhood, and girls soon to con-
summate the great aim and end of life-as
life was regarded in our village-matri-
mony
Recently, had timidly ventured Blanche
some attentions, and was pleased and sur-
with apparent pleasure. She had a uueenly
way with her. In my own private col
loquies, which never talked to any one I
called her the .Empress;n and often. as T
saw her walking the street, did / lament
that such a face and form should ever he
come worn and wasted with the labors and
cares OF the everyday commonplace life
about us
blanche is the mum of our family was
Mother Seftons frequent remark She
seemed to stand in some awe Of this daugh-
ter. Blanche was not imperious or arrogant.
yet something about her kept every one at
the distance she desired to keep them. II
was not so much what she said or did Int
something she made you feel; and rebel
against it as much as you might, you could
not break through the barriers she chose to
put up at any distance she pleased
For this reason Blanche was not a gem
eral fayorite People said she was stuck
up and put ON airs Her real ofYense
lay in her keeping her own counsel She did
not tell all she knew regularly every day to
half a dozen friends leaving with each one
the idea that they were honored with her
special confidence
had admired this girl all my life When
l say 'all my life," mean the life of a bow
who worships queen at a distance-the bow
of fifteen, who sees that queen surrounded by
older courtiers This had seen-felt is the
better word-when / was navigating mud
puddles barefooted and barelegged Her
world seemed as one never to be reached by
me.
Yet within the last year an unprecedented
acquaintance and friendship had grown nm
between myself and Blanche Seton How it
commenced could hardly tell. found my
self talking with her on subjects which
seemed Of little interest to my other COM
panions. was surprised to find that could
talk with her at all / had imagined that tho
thought and conversation of these '.grown-up
young women" lay on topics l could not COM
prehend. All women over a certain age
seemed as possessors of some secret not vet
revealed to me-
We walked for some time in silence
through the main street of the village. its
sidewalks shaded by the great sycamores
| reached the outskirts, crossed the bridpe
leading over Pond creek, and reached q
wooded promontory jutting into the Cove
The moon shed glittering, tremulous mark
far over the beautiful expanse of water. and
the katydids were filling the warm August
night with their calls 1t was one of the en-
chanted nights of our North American sum-
mer.
well, John, said Blanche 'syou are po-
ing away with the rest. What are you going
forr'
II don't know" / replied, "and 1 don't
CARE
'Do you really want to Corr she asked.
II do and / don't There's no home for,
me here. That's why l leave it."
"But you viii come home rich and take
care of your mother, and marry"
Marry, marry, marry" | exclaimed inn
patiently. ut seems to me that's all people
think of in this world
She laughed in her own pleasant way and
said. "Why, John, you take gloomy view
of things tonight You need cheering up.
What q pity I'm not going to California with
YOU"
What pity you are not" ventured OF
last to say, and I said it very seriously;
had little idea OF badinage or saying daring
things in a sportive way. Finally l added
would you go if you couldw
II would" she replied decisively. Her
manner and bearing seemed suddenly to
change
What! all by yourself in the Ann Mary
Ann, with seventy men on boardg'
sd go all by myself in the Ann Mary Ann
with 500 men on board"
why, what do you want to go forF
ITO see the world" she replied wasn't
it made for women as well as menu
Il suppose So" was my rather doubtful
reply. "But what would you do in Cali
forniar'
I'D find something to do See here,
john" said she, with an access of energy;
'here's thousands of men and boys going
there from all parts of the country. Don't
you think you'll need women2 Who is to do
your cooking and washing and mending2
It's just the mistake you're all making not
taking women along with you Why, women
will be worth their weight in gold out there
Do you think you can live without theme If
was able I'd send out two or three ON shares
myself, just as Judge Gardner is sending
that thick-headed Bill Roper, with the idea
that Roper will ever send a cent back Now
if had my way I'd fit out Louisa Bird and
Mary Talmadge and Sophronia Stebbins,
bright, lively girls, who have hands to work
with and wits in their heads, and I'd go N.Y.
self along with Them
We'll" said l, after a pause, 81 think
Blanche, that you and / ought to change
places. You to go, to stay behind
John, certainly think we ought Any
way, wish had your chance. I've got the
fever as bad as any of you-much worse
than you. l plan it all out in my mind,
sometimes how III disguise myself as man
"a boy, rather-and serve as cabin boy on
some ship bound out there. But there are
| other ways of getting there, added she, re-
| fectively. Then, resuming her former tone
she added: I'D go to take care of you, too,n
accompanying the remark with one of her
smiles, which left one in complete doubt as to
the sentiment which prompted it.
'You think, then, need some one to take
| care of met" asked
YES; / do, indeed. You're fit now only
| for a victim. You trust everybody who
| smiles on you, believe everybody who
| speaks fair, and would give your head
away, if you could. to any one who asked
| for it,
| WELL" | said, showing possibly in my
tone some annoyance, you're frank enough
anyway. Why don't you call me a goose and
be done with itg'
Forgive me, John, ~ said the girl, her man.
ner suddenly shading to tenderness. II know
it's not pleasant for you to hear this don't
want to pain you. But you're going away
| going out in the world among men, hard
cold. merciless men-yes, and women, too
| wolves who'll devour You alive
She advanced and laid her hand on my
| shoulder. The movement seemed almost un-
consciously done, nor had ever before seen
her show such feeling. For moment her re-
| Serva and ha bitY,aI control vaoieba,I Eba an,