Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-08-23
CHAPTER ~

"THE AFFAIR WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.
watching the sun go down. aMaking pro-
gress, l see. You have nothing to do; the
affair will take care of itself"
"What AFFAIR."
"Don't be stupid puff Your affair with
Miss Norcross puff. There's a wonderful
charm in music puff Two such young
people might fall in love, to be sure, without
singing together puff. But music is the
true aqua regia; it dissolves all into its own
essence. A piano and tenor voice will dc
more than a seige of months, though aided
by battery of bouquets"
Chow you run onl l have called twice,
once with you and the second time by the
lady's invitation. Besides, told you-indis-
creetly. am afraid-that / am already en-
gagged to be married"
"Oh, yes, have not forgotten the touch
ing story puff but we get over all things,
even such passions as yours. We are plants
that thrive very well for a while in the pots
we sproutcd in, but after time we must
have change of SOIL"
81 don't think we outgrow affection, honor,
TRUTH
"That is all very pretty; but our ideas OF
honor and truth are apt to change"
II don't believe you are half so bad q fell
low, Palette, as you would have me thit&.
You utter abominable sentiments but you
believe as well as other people-nearly"
"Thank you But listen moment daying
down his pipe. Do you have the same tastes
you had at eighteenl | don't refer to the
pumpkins with whom You played when a
boy, and who, now that you have outgrown
them, look obviously askance at you.
don't care to dwell on literary tastes how
you have outgrown Moore and Festus
Bailey, and are fast getting through Byron.
| wont pose you by showing how your ideas
in art have changed, what new views you
have of life, society, but think of your ideas
of womanly, or, rather, gifted beauty, AT
different ages. BY Jove, I should like to see
your inamoratas arranged in chronological
orderi"
at would be a curious and instructive
spectacle"
"You may well say that, Let me sketcl. a
few of them"
81 think l could do it better"
"No; every man thinks his own experience
peculiar, but life has wonderful sameness
after all. Besides, you would fatter the por.
traits. But to begin too early and without
being particular about names, there was
first, Amanda, aged IA, face circular, cheeks
cranberry, eyes hazel, hair brown and wavy,
awkward when spoken to, and agreeable
only in an osculatory way Now, being -
she is married, has two children, is growing
stout, and always refers to her lord and mas
ter as He never by any accident pronounc.
ing his name. Second, Julia, Is, faxen.
haired, 1.-THE, not ungraceful, self-possessed
and perhaps a little pert. She is unmarried
but having fed her mind with nc
more solid aliment than country
gossip, no sensible man could
talk to her five minutes. Third, Laura, IS
black hair, with sharp outlines on the tenn
pies, eyes heavily shaded and coquettishly
managed, jewelry more abundant than ele
CANT, repeats poetry by the page, keeps q
scrap-book, and writes endes, letters to her
female friends. She is still romantic, but
has learned something from experience. i,
not so impressible as when you knew her.
won't stop to sketch the pale poetess, nor the
dancing hoyden, nor the sweet bueeyed
creature that lisped, nor the mature and
dangerously charming widow that caused
some perturbations in your regular orbit"
snow, my dear fellow" Palette continued,
1you fanced that your whole existence de.
pended upon the hazel OF the blue or the
black eyes, in turn; but at this time you
could see their glances turned in rapture
upon your enemy, if you have one, without a
pang."
Zone would think you had just been read
ing Cowley's. charming poem, Henrietta
first possest But what is the moral to your
entertaining little romancef That love mus
always be transientW
"Not necessarily, but generally. We are
frox limo OF
on different planes. Happy are the lover.
who advance with equal step, cultivatine
similar tastes, with agreeing theories of life
and its enjoymentsp
"Wise philosopher, how comes it, that
with so just an appreciation OF the true basis
Of a permanent attachment, you remain
singlel | see gray hair or two not only OF
your head but in that favoritc inoustache oil
yours"
"Grayl oh, yesl gray as badger, but
Immortality young. AS for marriage, Tn
rather past that. | had my chance, lost it.
and shall not throw again I"
Palette did not seem inclined to open this
sealed book Of HIS personal history, and the
friends We're silent Oakhurst at length
broke the pause.
II ackr owledga the Justice of your ideas in
their general application, but in my own case
they do not apply at all. | was not in my
teens when l went to Ralston, but in the ma
turity Of such faculties as | have. Agnes sat
isles my ideal of a lovely, loving woman.
She has capabilities, taste, thirst for in
provement, and viii advance in everything
to which l am led"
u won't disturb your dreams nor play the
Mephistophoes, as you sometimes call me.
| am rather serious to-day. But here you are
where every faculty is stimulated, where
you unconsciousy draw in new IDEAS with
your daily breath Agnes remains in q
country town, without society, with few
books, with no opportunity FOR culture in art
or III the minor graces OF society. You are
not ready to marry your ambition forbids it
and your means win not allow it. Ard be-
fore the time comes when you are ready to
establish yourself think what a difference
there may be between you'll The thought is
cruel, but worth your consideration none the
less. But let us change the subject. What
are you doinga Any new orders2"
two new ORDERS One for a large picture
from Mr.. Norcross. The price is not what it
should be- but it will give me living, and
am thankful for my employment / loathe
idleness. die if haven't something to do. "
"Mere uneasineSs, my youthful friend!
Be tranquil, and you will find
that lazinesS has its COM
| forts However, tomorrow let me see your
pictures. You lack firmness and certainty
of touch that nothing but practice viii give.
But your forms are faithfully drawn, your
eye for color is sharp and true, and, what is
more than all, you have the poetry which in
| forms, harmonizes, and crowns ALL
a am gratitied for your criticism said
oakhurt with a sudden flush. "You know
that people call you blunt, and that most of
the artists think you almost malicious in your
severity; but you are the only man who ever
talks sincerely 10 me-"
Palette noticed the emotion and spoke