Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-05-06
THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA
BY PRENTICE MULFoRD.
tcoPTRIoHrED BIT THE AUTHOR ALL RroHrs nm
sKRvED.l
CHAPTER XXI.
ONE TAKEN; THE OTHER LEFT


and bottle of choice wine. ssThis. also. Is
an important business matter we are to talk
over, said he, "and good wine and good
tobacco in moderation are most useful aces
series for smoothing over the rough places
one may meet on these roads"
What nowi | thought to myself. Some
other startling change in the Kaleidoscope.
and presume that Blanche viii figure in it.
Holder, said Broener, after the wine was
poured and cigars lighted, ''fate has recently
placed woman between us two--a powerful
wedge between any two men, no matter how
closely they may have been previously united
by the ties of what most people call friend
snip. In this case the wedge is very power
full one. When / first saw Blanche Seton
made up my mind to make her my wife
don't look grave now, but hear me out, /
might soften the expression a little, but it
would mean the same thing, and possibly the
observation-disclosures of the words for YOU NAV
be removed when l say that Blanche-Miss
Sefton-will never be Mrs. Broener.n
'She has refused him." thought
She has not refused me,n said Broener.
with his usual satanic facility of reply to an
others thought It's particularly disagree
able thus to be inclosed in a glass house
while your companion dwells in one more
opaque, though in the long run people might
be spared great deal of time and trouble if
they could know Immediately what they were
thinking rather than hear what they were
saying to each other
II have reason" resumed Broener, ssto be-
lieve that Miss Seton has considerable re-
gard for me. To you 1 dare to say this. to
Others | would not, since they could see only
vanity, egotism and coxcombry in the re-
mark. / believe Miss Seton admires me for
some qualities. How does that sound to
youg"
Il admire you for much myself-and envy
you, too" replied.
''l'll go farther them and say that for some
things l admire myself, u he said "If man
owns fine horse he has no hesitancy in
admiring the animal-his property-and the
more he admires it the more disposed is he to
take good care of it. Now, if man believes
knows-that he owns certain form of genius
or talent, or that he possesses some fine
quality to marked degree, may he not adj
mire such in himself, and as part of him.
self, just as he would his horse and won't his
admiration prove better incentive to keen
his talent or quality from rusting than if he
depreciates himself or is Indifferent to his
gift!'
l asented, but wished that Broener would
cease philosophizing and return to the origi-
nal topic.
ITO return to Miss Seton" he said with a
twinkle in his eye and the extreme of d.
liberation in manner as he poured out half
gill of wine in the glass and held it up to the
light, II could not marry Miss Seton now
even if she offered herself to me. / speak
with the utmost regard and esteem for the
10
a mans respect, and when one ceases to
respect her, that, in my opinion, will prove
him no man.
He paused. There was nothing for me to
do except to listen and be perplexed
Hearts" said Broener, 'are, as l see
things, indispensable articles in matrimony
A wife should always bring heart to her
husband. Husband vice versa heart to the
wife. Some couples think differently Some
wives bring only Saratoga trunk to the
the husband brings money TO fill
the trunk, and reverend pronounces a
blessing over this union of cash and trunk
Miss Seton is remarkable girl. The one
thing lacking in her is she has no heart"
what" / exclaimed
"For me, meann replied Broener
"For heavens sahe Broener," said, 'do
and say what you have to say in plain words,
without going round SO many barns"
you want palmer English!' he said.
swell, here it is: Miss Seton loves another
"Anotherm
"Of course. When | say another, / mean
another man. Now, have patience with me
for a few minutes, and let me finish my
original proposition. l can't get hold of so
lppreciative listener as you every day, and
when do want to make the most of him.
People to-day have various ideas concerning
Some look at it in one way, some
another; but all come to it at last--or want
TO. As an experience with a largo proper
ton, don't think, when it's tried on, that it
iustifies the anticipations set forth before the
honeymoon. That may not be the fault of
the institution. l believe that to be a solid
affair. The fault may lie in this: that the
parties may not be solid who enter into it
solid, say, as to health, adaptability of tenn
permanent, command over themselves, and
purpose in life. If they come to-
gether without these, you see, they may be as
an unmatched pair of hinges or a pair of
hinges with broken joints Result: the mat
rimonial door does not swing WELL creaks,
groans, slams, bangs, and lets in all manner of
stormy weather. l doubt, sometimes, if there
be a pair of really matched hinges in the
world /"
Miss Seton loves another" These were
Broener's words that made the strongest i'm
preston upon me.
Had Miss Sefton's heart been free,n said
he, II should have devoted myself to her.
But when find any woman having prefer
ence for another man, / always retire into the
About the last situation in this
world | care to figure in is that known in
parlance as trying to cut another
fellow out; and for me, about the meanest
maxim of modern times is that AIS fair in
love- l except the last two words.
and war; though it seems a fit
ending to the phrase after all, that
anything which may be justified in
the trade of killing is equally applicable to
the winning of a companion for life But
you want to know whom Miss Seton loves
Well, we'll end this sermon with a short ben
ediction. 1t is yourself!n
sIgn
Eyes, you. | discovered that the morning
found Miss Seton at Pratt's house. You
see the elements in the affair were too near
together to prevent that disclosure. When
woman's heart is in the house next door, no
matter where her body is, its absence will be
soon felt l guessed at the secret, and, to
get rid of suspense, asked Miss Seton if it
was so. Sensible girl that she is, she saw my
motive in so doing and, instead Of simpering
over it, or doing the indignant in telling me
it was none of my business, or doing the half
and half business saying neither yea nor nay
direct, she said yes and that ended the
matter"
Some minutes elapsed before word was
spoken.
Il have to ask your pardon for my manner
toward you of late" / said. THAT was jeal-
ousy"
Il knew that" he replied, $50 soon as you
let out your secret You know when.
Jealousy is simply disease-runs in the
blood, and must come out like measles and
cough, though much harder to get
rid of, and one attack won't bar the door to
others with most of us But you suffered
more than l."
"Can you be jealous, them asked
"Oh, yesl Don't take me for demigod,
and above all these emotions, because / spout
philosophy"
How do you get rid of its' inquired.
Partly by doing the magnanmous, when
there's nothing but the mag left to do
Virtue out of necesh, you know"
Il don't think I'm worthy Of Blanche
Seton, anyway" said.
''Well, as to that, he replied, sit may not
be so much a question of worth as of
destiny
This made me vince. Self accusers after
all don't fancy much outside backing in self
condemnation
There's n tradition, theory, call it what
you please he said that's been out a long