The Portland daily press., 1895-09-09
DULL JACK DALTON.

that he was old enough, been one of the
workers of the world. He had early shown
evidence of having the commercial in
stinot, and his fischer, who wss wool
dealer, fostersd the tendency, Is the hope
of training up son who ahould be lead
err In trade.
So Jack Dalton had. received a CONNER
cial education. When other boys were deal
| ing with the theory Of fractions and profit
| and loss, Dalton was practically concerned
with qualities and prices and learning the
ways Of the market.
What wonder, then, that he should grow
up tho most energetic. unaentimental and
| hard headed of business men?
It would have been difficult to find two
people moro entirely unlike. both by ma
ture and training, than this plain, prac-
| tical jack Dalton, and that learned expo
nent Of tho higher culture, Miss Beatrice
Harcourt.
She had bean to oneof the leading wom-
ans colleges, had taken honors apd was
a Phi B. And throughout the society Of
this Particular CITY the lame Of Miss Har-
courts intelleotuality had gone forth.
The good ladies always invited her
among the very first to meet their lions, !"
and chs always sustained their Judgment
Of her by being perfectly self possessed and
| una6rlghtsd in the presence Of the most
august Of these social aufocrzts.
All the young men who did not regard
themselves as pArtacular1y well equipped
mentally had polite way Of avoiding
Miss Hapcourt. Not that she had ever been
actually known to crush anybody or to
talk over anybody's head. But they con-
suited among themselves and decided that
| you can never tell what these intellectual
women will take notion to do call Of a
sudden"
Jack Dalton was introduced to her at
the Merediths' one evening, and, as every
one said, It was just like his hard headed
ness, after being warned, to take fancy
| to her.
"You beat any one ever saw, Jack, I"
said Fred Merimau. 81 believe you've
taken liking to Beatrice Harcourt;
you've been talking to her for fully 20
minutes"
aWhy, yes; she's rather nice girl,
think" said Jack.
s'Nice enough, to be sure, replied Fred,
'but she's SO darned intellectual, you
know; goes in for science and philosophy
and all that.
"Well, that's all right, isn't itP There's
no harm In wonpan's being smart If she
wants to, Is thereP'
"No, but how on earth can you talk to
hers''
"Iike talk to any other girl, Of course. +"
"But she's not like any other girl, tell
you"
ssWell, I'm sure didn't find her so very
different. Indeed, rather like her. She
says may call, and I'm going to do So"
s4Well, pity you if you do. You'll be
bored to death. She'll talk elective Atm
ity, the sympathetic philosophy and gen
oral science till you can't rest.
"Do you call thereP"
"Why, of course not-not l.
s'Then how do you know she talks these
things2"
"Why, everybody says So"
"Oh, everybody is too poor witness
You know, Fred, IN business you look for
Individual authority for statement and
then weigh the individual"
"That's all right, Jack; it's just like
YOUR hard headedness. Go on and first
thing you know you'll land up against a
stump"
."Oh, well, my plow is sharp and my
ribs are strong and it won't much mat
ter And Jack laughed as be passed on.
But he was not done with those who
feared for his safety at Miss Hareourt's
hands. That very night his sister--for no
had a sister-took him to task.
"Oh, Jack, Jack, you foolish boy'
she said. 81 saw you talking long time
this evening with Beatrice Harcourt. You
dear old Ounce, what could you find to
talk about?''
"Oh, we had great conversation, said
| Jack.
"Why, Jack, what do you know that
could possibly interest her? She's SO very
intellectual"
"She seemed to be interested in what I
said''
Seemed, yes, seemed. Seeming and be-
ing are two different things. What were
you saying to herr"
"We were talking about the tariff and
sheep and different sorts Of wool and''-
ooh, jack JACKIE broke in his sister.
Talking sheep TO Miss Harcourt! Horror
| of horrors!'
| "Why, she seemed to enjoy it, I'm sure,
and asked questions by the dozen.
"You poor, foolish boy, she was making
fun of you right to your face and Laughing
in her sleeve all the while, and you dlon
have the eyes to see it..
| "No, I don't think she was making run
| of me; she was very earnest, and l have
| ra.J Iex, that Dauanhl1f n