The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-07-12

mere was nothing In the mouse that OLD
not belong to Harry Trent-not only in the
ordinary sense of proprietorship. but as be-
ing the material incarnation Of his thoughts,
tastes and accomplishments. His house
was he-and it is paying him no small
compliment to say so. A mans interior
is not always so comely an object of con-
temptation. You might discover, indeed,
here and there, picture, a statue, q sweep
of drapery or a passage of color that indi-
Gated regions in the designers nature Of a
somewhat sumptuous, sensuous or voluptu-
| Gus tendency; but they were never obtru-
sive, never out Of due subordination to the
rest, and were after all only what would be
expected from a man of his artistic and
generous temperament.
But what was Harry Trent going to do
with his new home. He was going to live
in it. doubtless; but did he mean to live
alone. This question had latterly thrown
good many charming women into medl-
tative frame of mind. 1t was known, of
course. that Harry Trent had been mar
rird; hut that was in his youth; his wife
had died within year and had left him
in the way of his marrying again,
and upon other grounds such an event
was probable. For, as has already been
intimated, he was still: TO all intents and
purposes young man. That quality In
him that led to his being called Harry
Trent. instead of MIR. Trent. or Henry,
may serve to convey one meaning. He was
still in the swim; he was not on the re-
tired or retiring list: he was modern and
active, not fossilized and antiquated. Men
younger In years than ne had not half his
elasticity and vitality. He kept pace with
the times and looked ahead rather than
backward. Moreover, he was fond OF so
ciety and constantly in it, and a man more
liked by women could not be found. 1t
n he lad wi iS
brilliancy, but he made them brilliant; he
drew from them the best that was in them,
and enchanted them with themselves.
Mirabeau had the ''don terrible de la
familiarite;" Harry Trent had the no less
terrible gift of sympathy, magnetic
sympathy Ito employ once again that
abused adjective). There was q vigorous,
masculine fiber in him that never fails to
attract the other sex. They felt that he
understood them and could manage them,
could do the thing they wished to have
done, whatever it might be. This, of
course, is not quite the same as saying that
''the American Castellani' (as he was
sometimes styled was man whom women
could afford to trust. There were stories
about him, never fairly authenticated, how
ever-that pointed TO a different con-
clusion. II we give ear TO the gossips OF
the world, who would escape. Harry
Trent was man of the world, and he was
highly cultured, fasticious man. Low
intrigues would not come in this way;
On the other hand, he made no
profession of sainJship; he went
TO church, and was privately
charitable; for the rest, you must take HIM
for what he appeared, and he was taken for
an uncommonly fine fellow.
But to return to the marriage question.
The opinion gained ground that Harry
Trent contemplated matrimoDy, though no
seer was found bold enough TO point out
the particular woman who was to enjoy the
good fortune of being made mis- wife. Some
fancied it might be the handsome New
Orleans widow, Sally Matchin, who was
known to have been on terms Of cordial
friendship with him for many years, and at
whose house in West Eighteenth street he
was often seen. But experienced critics
objected that, had she been the destined
bride, she would have become Mrs. Trent
long ago-the acquaintance was now too old
to issue in that manner. A few enterpris-
ing spirits threw out suggestions looking
toward Olympia Raven, a beautiful
girl of eighteen, and cousin Of
Harry's by marriage. But Olympia was
really too young, even for Harry, and be-
sides, he had quietly made known his in
tention of inviting her and her mother to
come and live with him-which, 1t was
agreed, he would scarcely have done had
he ment to wed her; nor would he have
settled an income of 5000 year on the
mother and daughter had he looked forward
to becoming the formers son-in-law. So
one hypothesis after another was advanced
and rejected, and at the end nobody was
wiser than at the beginning.
The house was completed in what seemed.
Judged by our standards, a wonderfully
short time, for it was ready TO be lived in
before the end of the winter season of 1870
say in carnival time. But harry Trent
had himself superintendent the work in all
its stages, and had seen TO il that the work
mems hours of rest did not exceed their
hours of labor. And yet, when all was
done and February was drawing to close,
he still delayed moving in. 1t may have been
merely accident: it may have been
that he was waiting for Olympia Raven
and her mother to get ready, or possibly
for all men have their weak side-he was
the least bit superstitious and was haunted
by a recollection of that old prover0,
"When the house is built death enters in.''
But he was strong and healthy, in the full
enjoyment of life that had never met with
serious failure or disappointment In
everything he attempted he had been sue
cessful, and either prudence or a naturally
happy temperament mad kept him from
spelling his nerves and digestion by too
anxious and assiduous labor. If ever the
afternoon close of a mans life promised TO
be sunny. easy and prolonged, il promised
so to him. He had built a house perfectly
adapted to his needs; it was ready to re-
ceive him; his many friends, impatient for
the house warming. were counting the
days that had to elapse before Lent came
and postponed the celebration to a remote
Easter-and still Harry Trent made no
sign. What was the matter with himl
He had, in fact visited the house almosl
every day, letting himself in with his pass
lra, nd no ft,1
rooms, where fires were kept burning in
the open CRATES by the care-takers in
charge. He contemplated the interior from
all points of view and in all moods, some
times tentatively makinga slight modifica-
ton of arrangement which he was as likely
as not to restore the next day. He seemed
10th to persuade himself that was really
just as he would have it, and yet he could
devise no Improvement. So might lover
study the face of his mistress, afraid to be-
lieve that her lovely features were abso
lutely without flaw, or so might any NOR
tai regard the most nearly perfect earthly
achievement, unable TO suggest any better
ing of it, and yet vaguely conscious that, IN
some way, nothing of this earth could be
perfect indeed.
The 25th of the month arrived and
found the situation unchanged. Harry
Trent had on that day gone to afternoon
tea at Mrs. Matchin's, it being her day at
home, and had remained till after 6 O'Clock.
A dozen other people were present, and the
talk was lively. Harry himself seemed in
fine spirits. When he took
his leave Mrs. Matchin accompanied him
to the ante-room and stayed there few
speaking with him in an under
tone They were undoubtedly on conf
Dental terms, and (for every straw must
COUNT il sent up her stock as the possible
Mrs. Trent several dee rees. She came back
with a deepened color and mysterious