The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-06-04

Nil FIJI LHcIS-OI aspirations ana
kEA iEls ideals. l thank heaven
that it is so, and that am
endowed with lofty nature-a nature
that scars above the petty details and
sordid considerations Of everyday ex-
istence, and seeks only to lead the
higher life. To me a mans person
and possessions are as nothing. l look
only at his mind, his soul, which are
his real self. The one mate possible
Tor me is a man of beautiful, exalted
mind, of pure, sublime soul. He alone
could ever be congenial to me. He
alone could ever inspire my girlish
love. Where may such a man be
found? To find him is the dream of nv
life. And am not quite sure but
have already found him. 1 speak of
Jack Rendlesham. In the first place,
Jack is gentleman; and that, by it.
sell, denotes some graces of mind. But
ne is much more. He lives BY litera-
ture; and although he has not achieved
any great work, yet many of the
smaller things that he has done, both
In prose and poetry, breathe in every
line the true spirit Of sublime senti-
ment and lofty imagination
Jack, of course, is poor. That is as
1t should be. Have not the great gen.
fuses Of the world-the poets, painters
and musicians-all started poor?
Jack Rendlesham has always sought
my society, recognizing in me, no
doubt, kindred mind. That he loved
me, 1 could see from the first. And
also felt that 1 loved him. I used to
picture myself in the capacity of Jacks
wife, his inspiring help-meet, his con-
genial mate, his stimulating partner
In the higher life which we were both
resolved to lead.
Our home should be a dear little
cottage, covered with jasmine and
woodbine, in the sweet retirement Of
some rural paradise. And he and ]
should always be together, alone with
nature and natures Creator.
There came to live in my neighbor-
hood young man named Blobbsworth.
He was on the Stock Exchange, and
was 1uohl1l5 a great OedI u LlOuGy.
This set me against him at once.
Nor did his conversation at the out
set give me any cause to vary my
opinion. 1t was gossipy, trifing, shall
low. He referred to no topic more
eleyating than the latest success at the
West End theatres, nor to any sub
ject more abstruse than motor cars
and free-wheel bicycles.
When l came to know him rather
better, / found reason to modify, in
some degree my former opinion. Little
by little signs peeped out, trivial in
themselves, but important as ind1ca-
tors, which showed him to be less ma
terial than | had originally supposed
AT first, could not believe it; but
gradually, and somewhat against my
will, the truth forced itself upon me-
This young stock broker, in spite of
his profession, in spite of his wealth,
in spite of his educat ton, his bringing
up, in spite Of the sordid atmosphere
which he had always been compelled
to breathe-yet, in spite of all this. he
still had mind; not, indeed, beautiful
at present, but capable of becoming
beautiful; still had hidden away in
his innermost bosom yearnings, long
ings, vague aspirations towards the
higher life. 1sl
The more [ reflected upon the matter,
and the more I studied Mr.. Blobbs-
worth, the more I felt sure that in
him I had found the bright ex-
ception. was glad, and yet l
was sorry for him, when I realized
what narrow cage indeed it was in
which he found himself confined. This
was only brought home to me when
he asked mamma and me up one after
noon to the house which he had re-
Gently purchased in our neighborhood.
When | saw the perfect appointments,
the enervating luxury of it all, the
lawns, the gardens, the greenhouses.
the stables-when I noted the obseuui-
GUS menials, the butler, footmen, gar
deners and grooms who were every
where at his beck and call, when ex-
amined the gorgeous new billiard room
he was just building, and the electric
dynamo that he was just setting up for
the lighting of his house-my heart
ached for him.
1t was just at this time that jack
Rendlesham asked Inc to become his
wife. If he had asked me few weeks
sooner, before my mind had beguJ to
regard things in the light Of a Lager
Christian spirit; before / had begun to
pcculate SO deeply upon the hidIen
mysteries OF life and tie vast prohifms