The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-07-17


rosemary between the leaves when he tied
it up and be fastened il with seal of forty
years ago.
This is the story give you now; there is
nothing in il OF much interest except 10
those who believe that reality, wherever
we find IT, is part Of the poem the Creator
has written for US. Shall we ponder the
metaphors of an earthly poet and call
Coos figures Of speech dull. Nay, man is
only poet as he interprets Gods language
of fact. Let Us have some reverence, then,
for this mans account Of himself. He was
trained at time when manners and speech
were more formal He wrote at an age
when be and his opinions ioomed large on
his own horizon. He was, il is true, d
dull, pedantic, unchivalrous fellow, but he
was a man and be tells US facts; and are
we not all men, living among facts. He
had his hopes and regrets and he is dead
we, too, must die.
CHAPTER L
have long held that the wise choice Of q
wife is one of 3 young mans first duties.
some men act upon impulse in these mat
ters. bit / think 1t Is foolish, when we
have been mercifuily endowed with the
faculty Of reason, not to use this power
most carefully in q decision which must
make or mar our happiness.
l am Scotchman, a gentleman by birth,
nbd az 1ibleb w pIOlCcSlOu. AS i 1--we 4
small private fortune and have already at
tanned TO some professional SUCCESS / be-
lieve that Il is my duty TO marry. For
some years have endeavored critically 10
examine and carefully to compare the
characteristics Of all young ladies with
whom have been so fortunate as TO meet,
IN oroer that / might not be led by the mere
illusions OF youth and beauty 10 link my
life with one who did not possess those
sterling virtues which alone can render
marriage a blessing. / am aware that no
woman is perfect and that where there is
true love much can be overlooked and for =
given; but / can hardly be wrong In believ-
ing that no man could be per
manently happy with woman IN
less she were religious, truthful,
prudent and affectionate These
virtues | have made the essentials of my
standard; other circumstances are Of less
Importance, yet / am not without sen IT,
ment in the matter. l do not desire beauty
or accomplishments; the first is seldom an
tdeal 10 the soul, ana the second is too often
q tawdry garment harmful, not SO much
,~because it imposes upon others as because
II hides from the mind which wears the
knowledge OF its own Ignorance. I should
prefer also that my wife mad no fortune,
for gratitude is the basis Of love- and all
my life l have pleased myself with the idea
that my wife should be indebted TO me
life most desirable.
While thus seeking wife ! accepted an
invitation from my uncle, MIR. Thoeold, to
spend part OF the summer with him in
Canada. MIR Thorold held an Office under
the government in the French district Of
Lower Canada, and be invited me to spend
three months at his house near St Iuc. on
the Richelieu river, in order that l might
paint portrait Of his wife. Mrs. Thorold
was native OF Canada, descended from
one OF the early French setgRctrs; her
family had however, inIermarried with
the poorer Scotch settlers. She was q very
handsome woman, although an invalid, and
had French cast of features ombined
with Scotch Qnietude of expression and
manner which made her al once striking
and interesting. We had seen Mira. Thorod
frequently when she Travelled with her
husband, and had heard her speak in
affectionate commentator Of a nelce, a
young girl called Annsbel, who lived
with her, This niecs was daughter of
Mrs. Thorold's sister and had been early
left an orphan, dependent on the care and
protection Of her uncle and aunt. In look
Ing forward to my visit l naturally re-
called all that had heard concerning her,
and the more I consldered il, tho more it
appeared TO me not unlikely that | should
ind in her the ideal / had hitherto sought
in vain.
notion, which l now preceive to have been
g very romantic one, until it grew to be
something like a purpose. In the hrst
place. Annabels situation appealed TO ne
MIR. Thoroid was very busy man, his wife
was in delicate health, which made con-
slant attendance on her necessary, and the
only other member of the family was their
son. spoiled boy of seventeen. Set. as
this household waR, in g half civilized
region. could not but think that the girl
who had been adopted into it must suffer
much from lack OF pleasures and com
panions suited TO her age and sex. Then
again, her educational requirements must
have been OF the simplest kind; and this
was an advantage. for she would not be
ignorant from neglected opportunity. and
IL would be great pleasure 70 me to teach
her unsophlstlcated mind ard explain 10
her ali that she required TO know. Thus
pictured her, unspoied by luxury, I'M
tutored in the arts of the. world, shy and
simple-hearted as a fawn in one OF her
native forests. This was my dream; such
dreams are often like the radiant Cos
samers themselves spread out upon the
grass. when We come near TO touch them
the radiance Is gone.
had a fair voyage, and after rough
bit OF railway travel between Quebec and
St. Iuc, l drove with Mr. Thorold some
miles further and reached his house in the
green lawn, a wide. blue river rejecting q
clordless sky, village Of white cottages,
83d an old stone house standing in grove
OF splendid trees, these making up my first
impression OF the place. I was astonished
al the evident luxury and elegance Of the
mansion. All the doors and windows were
standing open, ard the air in the rooms
was sweet with the freshness or the veru-
ure outside. There was an atmosphere Of
comfort and tranquility everywhere
After dressing / went down TO find the
family grouped among the rich but faded
colors OF curiously furnished drawing
room. Mrs. Thorold did not rise TO receive
me. but, little TO my surprise, lifted her
sweet lace for me 10 kiss. My cousin
ErneBts welcome was bluff and manly.
Annabel was there also gray eyed. dark.
haired, slender girl She greeted me de-
nurely. little awkard and shy perhaps.
but gentle and charming. We went into
dinner at once and sat beside her. tried
10 set her az ease by telling her some Incl
dents Of tie voyage. She told me long
afierward that / spoke IN s patronizinr
manner and that she resented il, but was
unaware OF this at the time. As Annsbel
only answered me in monosylables and MIR
and Mrs Thorold had not much to saw. |
was glad when Ernest absorbed the atten-
ton OF US all by talking about his dog.
The animal had distemper, and appeared.
from bis conduct to be in wretched con
ditlon.
have often heard remarked Anna
bel. thoughtfuliy, ''that genius is allied 70
insanity, but 1 never believed it until the
other day when was reading that Raphael
had painted picture OF the twelve apos-