Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-08-30
VOLUME 40.
Wall Street. World.
CHAPTER X.

THE SIREN COMES TO THE sEA-sHORE.
Oakhurst worked assiduously upon his
landscapes and, notwithstanding the pres
sure in the money-market, was fortunate
enough to dispose of them to gentlemen
whose incomes were not affected by the vicis-
STUDIES of business. For this he was princi-
pally indebted to Norcress, who took pains
to bring his works to the notice of connois-
seurs. But, with all his success, the object of
his ambition was as far Off as at first. I'm
perceptibly he had acquired expensive habits.
He was not prodigal, not extravaganza; but,
having a keen sense of the beautiful he grad
ually became more fastidious in dress, and in
all those nameless elegancies which seem Of
right to belong to the accomplished man, as
to the gentleman in easy circumstances. This
desire for ease and luxury did not conflict
with his simplicity; he seemed born for all
the enjoyment which the most educated socie-
ETY. could bestow. He had the power to spend
the income of fortune worthily; unhappily,
he did not have it TO spend. He had written
constantly to his betrothed, and when he told
her of the prices he had received for his pict-
ures, he was at a loss how to make her COM
prehend the new relations into which he had
grown-to explain that he was practically as
poor as when he first came to the city How
could he assure her of his desire to end the
engagement In marriage, if he spoke of post
ponement now that he had an income beyond
his first expectations Imperceptibly to him
self, his letters became more like intellectual
conversations, or essays rather-pleasant
enough in themselves but far different from
the simple and fervent epistles he wrote while
the memory of Agnes was fresher. She felt
this, although she had not reasoned upon it.
and her sensitive, womanly heart was full of
vague forebodings.
Would he confess to himself, that, as he
looked at her cherished picture, another
| face with q more brilliant air and a more
dazzling beauty came between him and the
silent image before himl Dared he to think,
that, in his frequent visits to Miss Norcross,
the ties which bound him to his betrothed
were daily weakenings-that he found a
charm in the very caprices and waywardness
of the new love, which the unvarying con-
stancy and placid affection of the old had
never createds The one put her heart unre-
servedly into his keeping; she knew nothing
of concealment, and he read her as he would
an sophisticated child; there was not nook
or Granny in her heart, he thought, he had
not explored The other was full of sur
prises; she had as many phases as an April
day; and from mere curiosity, ii from nc
other motive, Oakhurst was piqued to follow
on to understand her real character. The APP
prehensions he felt at first wore away: he
became accustomed to ner measured SEN
fences and her apparently artificial manner.
What seemed affectation now became a natur-
al expression. The secret influence she exert
ID increased, and, at length, possessed him
wholly while in her company. 1t drew him
as the moon draws the tides, silently, uncon-
sciousy, but with power lie could not resist.
1t was only when away from her that he
could reason himself into a belief in his indie
pendence.
Oakhurst and Palette were at Long Branch
at the close of the season. A few struggling
visitors only remained; the fashionable world
had returned to the city. The friends
sketched the sea from the shore, and the