Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
CHAPTER Il
BLANCHE.

. IONS OlDL lbLllly, NLe ldlucIs IdA q sup
TO New York His real home was on that
craft, and it was a SAYING among the vii
/ layers that he could pilot her through Long
Island sound and the East river with his
ewes shut. His daughters made frequent
trips with him TO the city. Tn 'old man
was most at home when it blew, and blew
hari to tho CONSERVATION Of Mary and
Phoebe. who would implore him at such
times 10 put in at some of the sound harbOrs
on the north shore Of Long Island. But no
VIVID blew too hard for Blanche. though 50
far as outward seeming went, hers was an
Il flacidity in storm or calm. As a boy.
SSGAL " g2on Blanche as one Of The
Older girls girls "mSe"'Y tSSSSt!2lng the
shore Of w~omanhoOd, and girls soon to con
summate the great aim and end Of ife-as
life was regarded in our yillage-matri-
mOny.
Recently. | had timidly ventured Blanche
some attentions, and was pleased and sur
priSed 10 inl that she had accepted them
with apparent pleasure. She had a queenly
way with her. In ny Owu private col
Ioruies. which / never talked 10 any one, |
I called her the Empress and often. rs l
saw her walking the street. did l lament
that such a face and form should ever he
come worn and wasted with the laborS and
cars Of the everyday commonplace life
about Us
Blanche is the mum Of our family was
Mother Sefton'S ~freJuent remark. She
seemed 10 stand in some awe Of this daugh-
ter. Blanche was not impcriOuS or arrogant;
vet something about her kept every one at
the distance she desired 10 keep them. 1t
was not 50 much what she said or did, but
something she made YOU feel; ami rebel
against it as much aS You might, you could
not break through the LarrierS she chose 10
put UP at any distance she pleased.
For this reason Blanche was noS a gen
eral f~ayurite. People said she was stuck
up and put on airs Her real otfenSe
Law 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 We're honored with her
special confidence.
/ had admired this girl all my life. When
ISay all my life" / mean the life of a boy
who worshipS q queen At a dLtance-the boy
Of fifteen. who sees that queen surrounded by
I older cOurtierS This l hal seen-felt is the
better word-when l was navigating mud
puddls LarefOoted and bareiegged Her
world seemed u one never 10 Le reached by
me.
Yet within the last Year az unprecedented
acquaintance and friendship had grown up
between myself and Blanche Seton. How 1t
coumenceI / could hardly tell. found my
self talking with her on subjects which
seemed Of little interest to my other COM
paniouS Twas surprised 10 find that | could
talk with her at all Ead imagined that the
thought and conversation Of these 'grUwn-up
.-..,,.r ,s.rr.r." l,,. ar T,1rIf- .yl4ll pAf CON.
pr,heuL All women over a certain aye
seemed a. pOSseSSOrs Of SUme secret not Yet
revealed Ia 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 bridge
leading over Pond creek. and reached a
wooded promontory jutting into the Cove.
The moon shed a Slittering, tremulouS mark
far over the beautiful expanSe Of water, and
the katydids were Filing the warm August
night with their calls. IL was one of the en-
chanted nights Of our North American sum
ugeT.
Well, John" said Blanche, you are 90
ing away with the ryst. What are you going
for
Il don't know" l replied, 'and don't
care"
DO you really want TO GoF' she asked.
Il do AMI I don't. There's no home for
me here. That's why l leave it
But YOU will come home rich and take
Cars Of Your mother. AMI marry
Marry, marry, marry" l exclaimed inn
: patiently. 1t seems TO me that's all people
think ot in this world"
She laughed in Ser own pleasant way ani
sail, Why. john. you tako a gloomy view
OF things tonight. You &eci cheering up.
What u pity I'm not gUius to California with
you
What a pity YOU are not. | yentured at
last to say, and | said it very seriously, |
hal little idea Of baiIuage or saving daring
things in a SpOrtiye way. Finally added,
Would YOU 20 il You cuuldF'
Il would" she replied deCisively. Her
manner and bearing seemed suddenly 10
change.
What, all by yourself in the Ann Mary
Ann, with seventy men on hoardF
I'D go all by myself in the Ann Mary Ann
with SD men on board"
Why, what do You want 70 go for!~
TO see the world She replied. Wasn't
IL made for women as we'll a. mem
Il suppose So was my rather doubtful
reply. But what would you do in Cali
forniaf'
I'D find something to do. See here.
john said she. with TN access Of energy;
heres 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 mcnding'
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! II
/ 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 ld tit out Louisa Bird and
Mary Talnadge and Sophrunia StebbinS,
bright, lively girls, who have hands to work
with and wits in their heads, and Id 90 my
self along with them
Well said l, after a pause Il think.
Blanche, that You and | ought TO change
places You To 20. / To stay behind
John, certainly think We ought Any
way, | wish | had Your chance. I've got the
fever a. bad rs any Of yOu-much worSc
than YOU. l plan it all out in my mind.
sometimes, how I'll disguise myself as a man
"A boy, rather-and serve Is cabin boy on
some ship bound out there. But there are
other ways Of getting there, added she. re
tectively. Then, reSuming her former tone.
she added: I'd 80 10 take care Of YOU. too
accompanying the remark with one OF her
smiles, which left one in complete doubt Is Il
the sentiment which prompted it
You think, then, | need Some one to take
care OF me- / asked.
YES; l do, indeed You're fit now only
for n victim. You trust everybody who
smiles N YOU. believe everybody who
speaks fair, end wOuld give Your heal
away, if you could, to any one who asked
for itn
Well 1 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 itF
Forgive me, John, said the girl, her man
ner suddenly shading 10 tenderness Il know
is not pleasant for YOU to hear this Idon't
want to pain YOU. But you're going away
going out i'm the world among men hard