Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-08-16
CHAPTER III.

! CONTAINING SOME CONFESSIONS NOT IN
TKNDED FOR THE PUBLIC EAR
Miss Irene Norcross, after breakfast wa
sitting in her chamber with her widowe,
sister-in-law, who had come to spend few
months with her late husbands family. Tn
widow no longer wore the roses of you'll
but was yet on friendly terms with Time; in
deed, so quietly had their annual settlement
passed Off that it would have puzzled an,
one not in their confidence to tell how tn
account stood The simplicity of her dress
the chastenrd look, and the sobriety 0
phrase, of which her recent affection was the
cause, might have limited at thirty-ive, but
when her clear, placid eye was turned upon
you, and you saw the delicate flush deepen
ing or vanishing upon smooth cheek, and
noted the changeful expression that lowered
like a spiritual presence around her mouth,
it would have been treason to think of day
beyond twenty.
She had known but little of Irene and that
little had shown her as a lover of dress and
Of admiration besides being capricious to a
degree unusual even in o spoiled favorite
A musical soiree was under consideration.
Irene was proficient upon the harp ana
piano, and, as she had heard that Mr.. Oak
hurst, the handsome painter, as she called
him, was fine singer, she determined To
practice some operate duets with him, that
should move all her musical friends to envy
"You seem to have taken strong liking
to this MIR. Oakhurst, Irene"
Eyes Catherine" replied the beauty, Il
do like him exceedingly what have seen
of him. He will do-for a month or so.
People are frequently quite charming at
first, like fresh bouquets-but duh and tame
enough when the dew is off, !"
"But you can't have new admirer, as
you have fresh flowers, everyday"
"That's true, and pity It's, It's true.n
"What female Biuebeard you arel'
"Wouldn't you, now, like to meet soma
new, delightful person every day! Consider
how prosaic man is after you know all
about him."
IL always find something new in man
really worth knowing"
ado you2 l wish l could / always look
them through as would my toys l never
cared for my crying babies, after l found
out what made them squalL"
~ am afraid the comparison viii hold out
farther than you intended You wore never
satisfied with your toys until you had not
only explored their machinery, but had
smashed them into the bargain
"But men stand it better than toys. II
they get smashed, as you say, they heal
wonderfully. l sometimes think that, like
Holsters, they can repair their injuries by new
growths, fresh claws, and fins and feelers. y
Complimentary, truly But notice you
don't speak of vital organs"
Hearts, you mean, suppose. That is an
obsolete idea--a relic of superstition"
Q.t4 - thaea hralyaTt idols ha
you thrown aside, Irenel Have you kept
accounts"
"Dear mel MOI Why should Il'
at would be interesting | think, to a stu
dent of social statistics, to know how many
engagements there are to one marriage, how
many offers to one engagement, how many
flirtations to one offer, and how many tender
advances to one Irritation"
"Oh, Catherinel Love and arithmetic
they never went together leave all calcu-
lations to my wise and busy brother. / like
to wander like humming-bird that keeps
no account Of the fower-cups it has slipped
out of.
"Let us reckon, can help you, perhaps.
l have heard you talk Of half dozen. There
is Col. Gunlock, one"
Handsome, proud, and shallow. Let him
gol"
"There is Lieut.. Hayes, -two."
"Fierce, impatient, and exacting. He can
60 also. had as lief be loved by a lion
Next is Mr. Lawrence,-three."
"Wily, plausible, passionate, and PREACHER
GUS He is only cat in a new sphere Of ex-
istence"
@Then there is Cotton-I am not sure about
the order,-four."
erich, vain, and stupid there never was
such dolt.'
"But you kept him for longer time thar
usual"
ayes, rather; but he was too dull to under.
stand my ironical compliments, or to resent
my studied neglect"
"Sartoris makes five"
"Oh, the precious crony of my brother
GeorgeI The best specimen of the dandy
race. The man who gives SO much love tC
himself and clothes that he has none to spare
for any one else. But, Catherine, this is te
dious; we shall never get through at this
rate. Besides" with a mock sentimental air
ayou have not been here long enough tC
know the melancholy history, to count the
wrecks that are strewn along the coast where
the Siren resorts. Let me take up the list.
Wheatland, who really loved me six, and
went to sea to cure the heartache. / heard
of him in Wall street a month ago. with q
blue shirt and leather belt, and chewing q
piece of gum as large as his thumb He
seemed as happy as a king"
"Then there was Fielding, Seven who was
so furious at the refusal, that he Immediately
married the gay Miss Flimsy Castle, forty
five, short, stout, and $50, 000--he twenty
six, tall, slender, and some distant expecta-
tons. / heard him, at party, call her
'Dearrn
Il don't think you get on any faster than
did. We shall have to finish the tour OF the
portrait-gallery another day"
"You are not tiredl / wanted to tell you Of
several more. Yet don't know why should.
| declare to you seriously, that
never before mentioned the names of these
persons in this way, nor referred to them as
rejected lovers"
II have no doubt Of It. 1t has seemed like
a fresh spontaneous confession
seThere is some magic about you Sister
Catherine. You invite confidence; or rather
YOU seem to be like one of those chemical
agents that penetrate everything; there's no
resisting you Don't protest. i know what
you would say. 1t isn't your curiosity. You
are no Paulina Pry; if you were, precious
little you would get from me"
aBut, Irene let me return moment e
what you were saying. Did the reason never
occur to you why you so soon become tired
of your admirersl You see through them,
you say. Is it not possible that lady who
has the reputation of caprice-a fiirt, as the
world is apt to call her,-though ever so
brilliant, witty, and accomplished may not
attract the kind of men that can bear scru-
tiny, but only the butterfly race, fit for a
brief acquaintancel Believe me, Irene,
there is a reason for everything, and with all
your beauty and fascination you must your
self have the element of constancy to win
the admiration of the best and worthiest
men,"
$50, you are going to preach" said Irene,
Gather crestfallen-
aNo, l don't preach. But what see, ]
ought to tell you should not be a good
sister, otherwise"
@Iil think about it. But now for the mu-
steal party l mean to send for Mr. Oak
hurst to practice some songs and duets. He
is not butterfly, am sure"
"But, Irene, is it well, is it right, for you
to try to fascinate this new friend Of yours,
unless you feel something more than trans
lent interest in himp
aHow eau tel what interest shall feel IN