The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-06-05
CHAPTER vI1.-continued.

shall find 1t out"
"I hate mysteries" :" saidL. "What is it,
stockss"
''That's very good" he replied. "Yes,
did take stock min something. Look
here; If a fellow should hesitate about do
ing something, and then see another fel-
low go in for the same thing and nearly
succeed, don't you think the first fellow
ought to prick up his ears and go in him
self?"
"Why, yes," said L "sHe either fears
his fate too much'-you know the rest"
"Hah!" His exclamation was quick and
deep toned.
II think it would be better for me to
drown my sorrows in the bowl-a jolly
sight betterl''
Again felt little of my own softness
toward him, and said in sympathizing
tone:
Don't do that-Bran."
He gave the horses couple of cuts,
which made them jump horribly, and. then
pretended to be entirely taken up with
them.
81 don't altogether believe it's girl"
said to myself. .tDear me, hope it's
nothing disgraceful." And on that very
evening, as I was standing by myself on
the piazza enjoying the first soft breezes of
the young season, he came up and took my
hand with something of clutch .Shall
tell you about that now?" said he.
I didn't mind his taking my hand,
though did not think it was necessary for
him to squeeze it, and as I was in a some
what sentimental mood just then rather
fancied the idea of consoling him and be-
ing ministering angel, SO said softly:
eyes, if you liken
But he hesitated, and then, muttering
slowly that he had not yet made up his
mind, he went away again.
After that, was it remarkable that de-
cided that his sorrows were little of a
bore? Why on earth should people be
tragic? was not tragic. / was rarely
out of temper-even with my dressmakers
So settled it with myself that Captain
Brague was the man of our little circle
who best suited my disposition.
Belmont Lascham and Jack Newmarket
were very devoted to me, and were awfully
proud of me on horseback; but they were
little narrow minded, and then they had
a way of talking Of their achievements
that didn't much care about. To be sure
Paddy Gander and the captain never made
any secret of the number of their bottles of
losses; but then they never pretended that
such things were any special credit to them,
and never mentioned them unless they
were germane to the conversation; but I
must admit that they frequently were so.
1t is unnecessary, and indeed it would be
tiresome, for me to recount all my advent
ures during the second yearsof my married
life. The tenor of my days was even
enough. The course of my doings may
easily be imagined. In the summer we
went to Newport again, and continued our
career of simple and unpretentious gayety.
know that those two adjectives have an
ironical appearance, but / use them ad-
visedly. Our gayety was simple, for it was
absolutely unmixed with any foreign ele-
ment of any kind, unless, perhaps, little
soda water in the morning for the men is
to be considered an incident foreign to
gayety, and we certainly never pretended
to be any better than anybody else, though
we possibly were allowed to be faster.
sometimes used to think that should like
to have little conversation with some of
the people who deprecated our doings and
condemned our way of life.
my dears," should have said to them.
"what is your complaint? My friends and
Icertainly don't interfere with you. We
enjoy life, no doubt; but then consider, we
are in a position to do SO, and we act on
principle as much as you do. Only think
how many things we have that you have
not. OF course 1 don't speak of money!
mean, for instance, good taste and appre-
citation and health and a certain amount Of
animal spirits. Do you think we cannot
enjoy the natural beauties about usi
What nonsensel Instead of carping at us,
come and pay us visit. You will find US
very hospitable, unaffected in our manners,
and willing to be fond of you if you please
us. We'll take you driving in delightful
vehicles, we'll tell you exceedingly anus
ing anecdotes. we'll make you nearly die
of laughing when we expose to you the &C.
centricities of your relations and of ours as
well; Well give you toothsome things to
eat and drink, delicacies of which you have
never dreamed, perhaps; you shall play
charming games, have your own way in
everything, and say anything you like of
us to our faces.
assure you we are charitable and very
liberal minded. For see, we don't object
to you, though goodness knows your seri-
BUSINESS is assez bette, and If you do visit
us you shall be as Puritanical as you please,
and we'll not murmur, "Que voulez-vousi"
Something of this sort did say to Lofty,
who came to us with her husband for a
few days in August. but they went away
soon, thinking, l believe, that they didn't
get enough of each others society, Though
goodness knows" said to myself at the
time, 'if they didn't want to racket about
with us they needed only to have said So"
But oh, how agreeable was my lifel If
to be lacking several things, such as rocs'
eggs and private Pullman cars, and a coro-
net, and company of soldiers to ride about
with you, is to fall short OF absolute happi-
ness. then was unhappy, but If content
ment is the test of happiness then was !
happy to degree. deputed all my unat-
tractive work, and did well everything
that / wished to do, and therein lies the
true secret of happiness, If you are only
wise enough to wish for the right thing.
Otherwise your career will be cut short by
Nemesis, who win come down on you just
like the fairy godmothers in the old fables
But never became so paganized.
spent my time in idleness, it is true; left
undone most of the things that ought to
have done, and did many things that
ought not to have done, and the rest of my
time was taken up in doing things that
made not much difference one way or the
other. l entered with perfect equanimity
into discussions which only engaged the
notice of my companions by their doubtful
character; viewed with federation the
errors OF some Of my associates; indeed.
remember that when. on one disastrous