Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-05-20

society MS pipe ana ms O!G associates III
bar-parlor. And Mr. CE;pp spoke Of
the Vine in a tone of witlel .uG contempt.
His wife had grown very silent, for her
memory was recalling gradually Sylvia's
| reckless conduct. A hundred TRIES came
back to her mind. which nov bore a fear
full significance. What would not the poor
woman have given TO have been deaf.
dumb, and blind! Like everyone who has
been sorely disappointed III life. she felt
as If ignorance was the most desirable
thing in the world.
Mrs, Denman rose to 90 Mr.. Chipr
lighted the gas In his empty shop. ana
his wife cried quietly in her dark back
room.
When Job reached home. his sister was
there to receive him. and she told him Of
her visit with tears in her eyes.
"They refused to believe me- she said.
Her brother patteG her kindly on the
shoulder.
I'VE did it for the best. my dea~, and
for the honor of our dear old masters
firm"
From this time forth Job was sad and
silent. His cash-box was kept very low
by constant applications for money from
young Speed.
MY confidence is shaken he said tC
himself, in a low voice. And in the middle
of the day. he saw Sylvia in gorgeous
raiment coming down the " itte stone steps
of the house. he grew hot with indignation
as he looked at her. Was If for such a
mass of frippery as that. that the honor OF
a great mercantile house was impe,illed?
Mrs. FlOrCT2e never suspected Tat the
old cashier behind his wire grating. was
her bltterest enemy, who watched her
every act, knew the hour that her sing
ing mistress arrived. and how many times
aAwcek her milliner and dreE~~0&ker. both
laden with boxes appeared. job counted
the parcels that came from the shops.
and peered culiouslv in at all the windows
Of the FlOrenCes' rooms. The rich cover
ingS of the furniture, the baskets of rare
flowers, the tall china vases. none OF them
escaped his observation. But he studied
FlorenCes face more than anything else.
Could 1t be possible that this man acccp-
ted his dlShOnOr QuIetly-that he knew II?
| There seemed something mCnst1ous in
connecting such an idea with his Cd
friend ; the kindest, themost generous. the
most sincere of men! But it is singular
fact that unsuspicious natures, once
aroused to d certainty Of evil, go after
wards always too fa", Once convinced Of
the falsehOOd of George and Sylvia. it was
easy for the cashier to believe Florence
to be base also. Besides, low could any
one understand otherwise his eNtraolqii-
nary indifference to the increased and
enormous expenditure Of the firm2
job had little comprehension of Flor
ence's nature. Although the latter was
| a thorough business man, he had mucn
of the temperament of the artist. the in
vent0r. job could not understand that a
man or the verge Of an important dis
covcly, that would revolutiGni2c THEN.
business, lived entirely within himself,
and had neither eyes nor ears or am
thing else. Such people are like Somnam-
buli5tS; though their eyes are wide oucu
they see nothing.
But job fancied that Florence saw all.
This false idea rendered. tlie old man cx-
| trelnely unhappy, He w2tchoG Lis friends
face whenever they We're together &aey3
gave his own solution Of EACH fccting s.x-
preston; until at lasG. Discouraged hv the
abstraction which ho saw there. he would
turn away in disgust. busz himself with
his papers and accounts, and halyjlv
'deign to answer a question.
No more pleasant little chats ovca. the
| books; nc more friendly smiles. Florence
vaguely felt the change, and finally spoke
OF It to his wife For scene time she had
! perceived the growing dislike OF those
about her, Sometimes III passing through
| the garden, she felt annoyed at The severe.
scrutinizing chances cast upon her by the
the cashier at his little window. The
present coolness between the old friends
alarmed her But she took 8.er measures
at once.
'"Do you mot see," she said to her hFfss-
band, "'that he is dreadfuIly jealous OF
you, Of your pcsition2 Formerly you,
were eqF9ls; now you are superior, and
he is beginning to- dislike you. AS forme,.
1 have got used to that sort Of thing
Your said Florence, opening his eyes
ia establishment
me, for they do not fancy seeing little
Chipp' in the position of your wife Eeay-
en- knows Whist nasty Things they say OF
| me; your cashiers tongue is as8ong as
the resi-. He as q horriG man"
These words had their effect. Florence
was indignant, and, tooproud to complain.
returned GOODNESS for GOODNESS. These two
good men, distressing each others pre-
Sence> ended 10y rarely meeting.
Sydvia's time was fully occupied in
managing ali THE details, of her luxurious
life. She must have e. country h@usc. 1t
was true She detested trees and fields,
and +honmh+ +haro ,,s4ta1Iv 6rassrv But
Annie passed the summer at Oaklands.
were DackedJ curtain and carpets were
shaken and pGrt away; and the cab, laden
with baggage, was .surmounted by the
baby's cradle
Then Sylvia considered London deser-
ted; and although she loved the great
metropolis, even in July and August.
when 1T was hot and uncomfortable, she
| was nevertheless annoyed and envious
when she thought that the world of
fashion was enjoying itself at Scarborough,
Eastborne, or On the Continent.
The sea-side2 But Florence would not
leave town.
Then & house in the aeountryf
"But have not the means" said Syl-
via to herself.
George would have gladly come to the
rescue and at once grata6ed this new ca
price. But a country house is not so easily
concealed SIS diamond bracelet or lace
shawl Still, Florence was of so simple
g nature that they might possibly try the
experiment with him.
To pave the way, his wife perpetually
talked of her longing for 3 little home In
the country, not too far from town. Florence
listened with q pleased smile. He thought
of the green grass. of an orchard with
trees laden with fruit; but, as he was
prudent, he said: I'VE will see. I'll think
IT over! Wait until the end Of the year."
The end of the year means so much to
men of business. Then all the books are
balanced, the accounts all made ont; and
even the errand-boys in the establishment
are interested, for on the happy results of
those long columns of figures depends,
perhaps, their own bonus.
Job Denman, fe- the time being, master