The San Francisco call., 1897-05-30
TO VENTURE OR
NOT TO VENTURE
Mrs. Dimond Again Consid-
ers the Matrimonial
Problem.
A Two Years Open Offer of the
Heart and Hand of Mr..
Briggs of Yokohama.
A Moonlight Flooded Deck, Inq uisitive
Passengers and Unique
Proposal.

"Once bit, twice shy" is the way Mrs
Dimond sententiously sums up her latest
love affair, offering the trite old axiom as
her only excuse for keeping the 'dearest.
sweetest fellow in all the wo-ld' waiting
for the answer which Is to make him the
happiest or most mise ra BILE of men.
The fair and buxom Carey is perturbed
Her plans are indefinite and her opportu-
mites many With her it is the EN- bar
rassment of riches. Should she decide to
continue to sail her craft on the turbulent
waters of theatrical sea there is the Mon.
tana angel awaiting to launch her on the
gay New Worlo metropolis.
Should she desire to return to the home
of her girhood, again does fortune smile
on her-her stepmother has recently
passed from this world of care-and Mr..
Higley, her noble sire, stands ready to
welcome her to his heart, hearth and
home. Last, but not least, there is q
handsome young Yokohama merchan,
who is praying and watching for her in
his Far Eastern home and who generously
let's his offer stand open for two years.
This latest romance OF Mrs. Dimond
is quite the most romantic OF her not un-
to. be-continued-in-our-n story, and
opens with that delightful clause, "Once
upon time"
Thi, is the way Mrs. Dimond tells it,,
accenting the telling points with rippling
laughter or deep sighs, just as the situa-
tlon demands.
at was on my way down on the Coptic,
when I determined to go back and battle
for my rights. He was seated at my left
ho tab la oil dop pfoi iIv-o nv
conveI sation turned on Iowa, its customs
and its people. DO you know any people
in Cedar Rap'ds?' he asked. i passed
through there fifteen years ago and at
tended wedding. One of the brides
maids was a little schoolgirl with the
merriest laugh it has ever been the lot of
a poor mortal to hear. | have Travelled
halt over the world to hear that laugh
once again. / laughed-I could not help
it-and he recognized me. You are
Carey Heyley, he said, and from that mo-
ment we became fast friends"
Mrs. Dimond tells of the tete-a-tetes
with only the pale moonlight shining Cn
the water to play cnaperone, and OF the
Yokohama merchants growing interest
in the girl with the merry laugh.
Then l told him all, said Mrs. Di-
mond, ''or | should say, l gave him the
papers, in which the case was so wild ely
cabin and came up two hours later, his
eyes red and swollen. You poor little
woman he said, 1 did not mean to
speak just yet, but l must tell you what is
on my heart. First let me tell you, that
If it be best for you and your interest to
effect a reconciliation with Mr.. Dmond
do so. If not, and you can see it in that
light, come out 10 me in Yokohama. /
want you for my wife "
This unselfsh declaration so touched
the sensitive heart of the lady that it ap-
pears it was only the inquisitive passen-
gers on deck who kept her from fiingng g
her arms then and there about his mack.
And then he sailed away to his Far East
ern home. Each steamer brings 10 the
fair divorce tender letters filed with
sugary speeches and devotion. Each one
concludes with q wait and hope express
sion and Mrs. Dimond is seriously con.
templating the giving to his care, in the
near future, her undivided attention.
The name OF the chivalrous gentle an
Mrs. Dimond decided 10 keep to herself,
but in her enthusiasm it slipped out, and
it is Just plain and ordinary Briggs-Mr.
Briggs of Yokohama.
AT present Mrs. Dimond Is sharing her
quarters at downtown hotel with Mrs.
Jennie Douglass-she of new-woma
fame, whose husband procured q divorce
recently on the ground that she was toe
progressive. She acts as ch serfnl anti.
dote to Mrs. Dimond' s frequent attacks oil
the blues and is altogether, according tc
her hostess opinion, invaluable.
In the midst of all her cares and multi
tudinous plans Mrs. Dimond finds time te
think OF her sisters in distress. II am sc
sorry for Mrs. Abel, "she said, ~ will call
~, bor 70. ~, orrf,U