Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-03-27

l had not gone to it. The world would hustle
mo about with it. l wished it would let me
alone.
CHAPTER II.
BLANCHE.
Blanche and l strolled about the door yard.
The gate was half opcn-its normal condition
and a proper one as indicative of the easy,
happy-go-lucky disposition of the parent Self
tons. Capt. Tommy, the father, ran a sloop
to New York. His real nome was Oh that
craft. and it was a saying among the viii
layers that lie could pilot her through Long
Island sound aud 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
wind blew too hard for Blanche, though 50
far az outward seeming went, hers was an
equal placility in storm or calm. As a boy,
l had looked upon blanche as one of the
Colder giris"-gills already treading tile
shore OF womanhood, and girls soon to con-
snmmate the great aim and end Of life-as
life was regarded in our village-matri-
mony.
Recently, l had timidly ventured Blanche
some attentions, and. was pleased and sur.
priscd to find that she had accepted them
with apparent pleasure. She had q queenly
way with her. In my WI private col
loquies, which l never talked to any one, l
called her the '%'Empress;'' and often, as l
saw her walking the street, did I lament
that such a face aud form should ever be-
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 Sefton's frequent remark. She
| seemed to stand in some awe of this dnugh-
ter. Blanche was not imperious or arrogant,
yet something about her kept every one al
the distance she desired to keep them. II
was not SO much what she said Dr. did, but
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.
Fol- this reason Blanche was not a gen
eral favorite. People said she was s'stuck
up and put on airs" Her real offense
lay i'll 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 We're honored with hel
special confidence.
had admired this girl all my life. When
l say "all my life," I mean the life of a boy
who worships a queen at a distance-the boy
Of fifteen, who sees that queen surrounded by
older courtiers. This l had seen-felt is thu
better ~word-when l was navigating mud
puddles barefooted and barelegged. Hel
world seemed as one never to be reached by
me.
Yet within the last year an unpremeditated
between myself and Blanche Seton. How il
commenced I 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 I could
talk with her at oil. l had imagined that the
thought and conversation Of these tgrown-ur
young women" lay on topics I could not com
preheud. All women over q certain age
seemed as possessors Of some secret not vel
revealed to me.
We walked for some time in silence
through the main street Of the village, it
sidewalks shaded by the great sycamores
reached the outskirts, crossed the bridg,
leading over Pond creek, and reached
wooded promontory jutting into the Cove
The moon shed q glitterfng, tremulous mari
far over the beautiful expanse of water, ont
the katydids were filling the warm Angus
night with their calls. 1t was one of the Ell
chanted nights Of our North American sun,
Mer.
.'Wel, John," said Blanche, "you are &c
ing away with the rest. What are you poin.
for"
II don't know l replied, "and I dom
care"
do you really want to go!" she asked.
Il do aud ! don't. There's no home 10
ME here. That's why l leave it."
But you will come home rich aud tax
care OF your mother, and marry
: Marry, marry, marry" ! exclaimed in
{, patiently. 1T seens to HE that's an peopl
think Of in this world"
She laughed in her own pleasant Nay IN
said, "Why, john, you take a gloomy vie
OF things tonight. You Heed cheering "
What a pity I'm IN. going W California wi
you"
"What Il pity you are not,"I ventuiei
9 last tc say, and | said it very seriously:
+ things in Il stnrtive way. Finally addc
'Would you so il You could
: II would" she replied decisively. Fl
AL Ato "N>sSN
u change.
. What: all by yourself III the Ann Ma
y Ann. with seventy men on boards"
Q I'D go all by myself in the Ann Mary A
with 800 men on beard
why, what 40 you want to go forN
y 10 see the world" she renliea "Wns
It made tor wolnc US well as men?'
W Il suppose So" WAS Iny rather doubtl
y, reply. But what would you do in q
s" forniaF' .
" I'D. find something to do. See he
~ JOHN" said she, with an access OF enere
" ''heres thousands Of men aud boys goi
there from all parts Of the country. Do
you think you'll need womcns Who is to
=. your cooking and washing and mendil
y. Its just. the mistake you're all making ,
ne taking women along with you. Why, won
will be worth their weight i'll gold out the
Do you think You can live without them.
AVE l was able Id send out two or three on sha
% myself, just as Judge Gardner is send
that thick-headel Bill Roper, with the Il
~ that Roper will ever send a cent back. NJ
" ! II / had nv wav I'd ct out Louiss Bird I