Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-08-27
XXHL.

that they have undergone the mental
metamorphosis commonly styled fall
ing III love. and preceding the critical
moment when the object of alteration
confesses her sentiments of reciprocity
or declares the woCing to have oeen in
vain, maintain their clearness OF under
standing, their evenness of temper, and
their soundness of Judgment. 1t is
conceivable, admit, that such men live;
| but it has never been my lot t. enjoy
the privilege of acquaintance with one
of them. | do not mean that when love
| flies in at the window common sense
/ rushes out at the door; but ] 10 hold
that the newcomer is prone to exert.
throughout that period of storm and
stress, a semi-paralyzing influence
| over the old tenant, making him sadly
untrustworthy at times when the de-
mands upon him are greatest. There
fore 1 regard myself as no exception to
the general rule general, that is, so
far do my observation goes-in having
| followed irrational courses and behaved
"rratically during three weeks or more
of dissatisfaction, uncertainty, and
doubt. For one of them made myself
miserable through jealousy of the man
Dorothy's aunt had been pleased to
make her guest. Without a shadow of
proof to support the fabric of srecula-
ton | laboriously built up, contrived
70 persuade myself that he was a rival.
favored, of course. for his wealth and
position. Even from his hasty derar-
ture gained little comfort The buga-
lal 4.
thrown by such a trifie. Full OF
gloomy forebodings, waited for news
that he would return, plotting, in my
more cheerful intervals, wild schemes
for turning his triumphant reappear-
snce into a by-word and a mockery.
Once | caught myself reading with vast
approval summaries of famous cases in
textbook on toxicology The vol
ume had been picked up hap-hazard, but
its terse account of several noted mat
tiers caught my fancey. and read on
until some noise about the house, in
terrupting my recreation. brought me
to realization of the righteousness
of the performance for there were
still moments when | could understand
that ! was playing the fool Perhaps.
also, the plea might be entered that at
this time | was victim of a recurrence
of my old perplexities. recent events
having served again TO force them upon
me with even greater vividness than
before
The jealous fit was ended by letter
wkich the late visitor sent from New
York 10 Mrs. Loring In it ne ex-
pressed deep regret that circums. ances
would prevent him from completing
his visit. Business, he explained. called
him abroad. and before the mis-
sive reached her he would be well on
his way to Liverpool. heard the news
with a decent effort at an appearance
Of regret, and from that moment had
more friendly impression regarding
The gallant colonel.
1t had been my intention to speak of
him TO Lamar, rather because of his
Brazilian interests. of which my client
might know something, than because
of his morning cruise about the chan
nels of the marsh or the abrupt termin-
alton of his stay. Mrs Loring's ac-
count of the colonel's manner Of life in
dictated that he was chronic tourist.
with no very active concern in happen
ings in his own country, so long as they
did not interfere with his sources OF
revenue. One thing after another,
however, occurred TO preyenta mention
of him. One day Lamar wa. busy
with his experiments; the mex. for
some reason of his own he cut short
our talk; the next he was back in his
laboratory. Thus, before an oppor-
tunity was offered to tell my bit of
news, its value appeared 10 ha e been
lost through staleness. and, in the end.
fresher topics took it's place when
Lamar showed Willingness to Indulge
in a brief gossip. So it happened THAI
he heard nothing of the incident which
had caused me so many hours of un.
necessary perturbation.
Jones, meanwhile. had been making
steady progress, and, while Banks and
saw him daily, there was little need
of our attendance We learned TINT
he would leave the nelghborhood as
soon as his removal could be attempted
with safety, but he told us nothing
further of his plans. tried occasion
ally TO lead him 10 speak of his reasons
for coming TO Rodneytown, but he was
| reticent, and had TO he content with
the explanation given by Lamar.
Dorothy Gray came often to read TO
him, and he manifested much graft
tude for her kindness; but even 10 her
he would say next 10 nothing of his
history or his projects.
Banks wrist was still weak. but his
! recovery from the sprain had gone far
enough 20 enable him TO circulate in his
old fashion among his patients, and my
| duties as his coadjutor We're ended. He
was beginning, though. 10 renew his
discourses about his desire to secure a
partner and practically 10 retire, and it
was clear that he would soon make me
direct offer. 1t WAS only fair that l
should prepare to give = definite answer.
hut l realized that my plans were even
mora unsettled shan ever There Xyns