The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-04-24

said, "Why, John, you take gloomy view
of things tonight. You need cheering up.
What a pity I'm not going to California with
you"
What pity you are not.rI ventured at
last to say, and | said it very seriously;
had little idea Of badinage or saying daring
things in sportive way. Finally l added,
Would you go if you couldF
Il 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 board"
I'D 20 all by myself in the Ann Mary Ann
with 800 men on board"
"Why, what do you want to go for"
ITO see the world" she replied. Wasn't
it made for women as we'll as men"
II suppose So" was my rather doubtful
reply. But what would you do III Cali
fornian
I'D find something to do. See here,
john" said she, with an access Of energy;
there's thousands of men and boys going
there from all parts of the country. Don't
you think you'll need women' Who is to do
your cooking and washing and mendiug'
Its 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 them' IL
l was able I'd send out two OF three on shares
myself, just as Judge Gardner is sending
that thick-headed Bill Roper, with the idea
that Roper will ever send cent back, Now,
if had my way I'd fit out Louisa Bird aud
Mary Talmadge and Sophronia Stebbns,
bright lively girls, who have hands to work
with and wits in their heads, and I'd go my
self along with them"
We'll" said |, after pause, II 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 | plan it all out in my mind,
sometimes, how III disguise myself n, a man
"A boy, rathcr--and serve rs cabin boy on
some ship bound out there. But there are
other ways of getting there, added she re
tlectively. Then, resuming her former tone,
she added: I'D 90 to take care of You, too"
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 me!n | asked.
YES; | do, indeed. You're fit now only
for 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" I said, showing possibly in my
tone some annoyance, you're frank enough,
anyway. Why don't you call me goose and
be done with it,"
Forgive me, John, said the girl, her man
ner suddenly shading to tenderness. Il know
its 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 UNI
consciously done, nor had | ever before seen
her show such feeling. For moment her re-
serve and habitual control vanished, She con
tinued:
John, the real reason | sad this is because
it was forced out of me, 1t is because you
are going away from me, perhaps forever,
and u
Then she did what none had ever before
seen grown-up Blanche Seton do. She turned
aside. ! knew she was weeping.
Here was pretty go. Why, the girl
loved me! And, of course, | loved her-had
loved her for years, had looked on her as
among the impossibles, unconquerables, UNI
attainables. Here was the Empress" the
majestic iceberg, melted into tears. Here
was the heaven | had never dared aspire
come to earth-my earth. Here was the last
drop in the cup of bliss to make PASSPORT
more desirable than ever to me-and the Ann
Mary Ann to sail tomorrow morning, my
traps all on board, my chest slowed with
Clothes and the interstices filed with tracts
and devotional books, gifts from my numer
GUS aunts--I was wealthy in aunts then-all
Of whom were glad l was going away.