The Holly chieftain. (Holly, Colo.) 1897-1987, 1904-09-09
CHAPTER XXI.
Breaking Old Ties.

den. Blake strolled into his favorite
| club. He was chatting with Kingsley
when Arthur Morris arrived, and at
| the first opportunity led Blake to
secluded corner.
"Padon me. old chap. don't often
talk business after hours" apologized
Morris: you will excuse me for men
| tioning little stock matter, won't
you?"
Certainly, Morris. What's up?"
Morris looked cautiously around
and dropped his voice to whisper.
Once in while l get hold of good
thing, ami I've got one now" he be-
| gan. There's going to be boom in
l.. & o."
Yes? What makes you think so,
Morris?"
"Cawnt go into explanations, old
| chap. but you buy little l.. & @.
When it drops below 26 it will take
jump of eight or ten points. Take
my word for it, old chap"
Much obliged to you, Morris"
| Blake took out his memorandum book
and carefully made note of the prof
| fered advice. Il imagine you've got
control of the stock. You needn't tell
| me. old man-I'll do my own guess
| ing. We Yankees are great on guess
| ing
Blake ordered his coachman to
drive to the Bishop residence. He
| lay back on the cushioned seat and
| laughed softly ITO think that such
hound is engaged to Jessie Garden!
fear Miss Garden is too fond of
money. Well. moneys good thing.
but il | were woman | wouldn't
marry Morris if he had billion. And
Johns got enough to buy and sell
him."
The carriage drew up at the Bishop
residence. General Garden greeted
Blake in the drawing-room. 1t was
restful to contemplate this abode, to
breathe the air of domestic luxury,
and to contrast it with the frigid ele-
gance of the bachelor apartments
where his recent years had been
spent. Blake's eyes wandered along
the walls until they rested on ror-
trait--that OF Jessie Garden He paus-
ed in the middle of sentence, mis-
eyes riveted on the canvas,
"a portrait of my daughter jessie
one of Steinbachs best productions"
exclaimed General Garden, with ia tn
erly pride, installing Blake's amaze
ment for polite admiration. "She
returned from abroad only few days
ago. All here she comes now"
AS he spoke Blake heard the faint
| rustic of silk and the music of laugh
ing voices. The portieres parted, and
Mrs. Bishop entered with Jessie and
her cousin, Edith Hancock. With
old-school dignity, General Garden pre-
scented James Blake.
There IS born in every mans brain
the image of an ideal woman; the
ignis fatuus of fancy lowering above
the swamps of realism. James
Blake's ideal was dethroned the mo-
ment he looked into Jessie Gardens
| eyes he felt the mysterious thrill of
her presence.
After a delightful hour spent caer
dinner, during which Blake was in
| lively humor, the young ladies left
the general and his guest to the en-
| joyment of cigars. For the first tine
in his life Blake would willingly have
sacrificed the soothing delights of The
weed. He was glad when his host
gave the signal and conducted Him
to the drawing-room, where they found
Jessie and Edith awaiting them.
At the generals request Jessie
| played several of his favorite selec-
tons, Edith standing by her side and
deity turning the music pages !or
her. Then they sang a duet; Ger
man folk song. Jessie's voice was a
pure coatralto-tender, rich and won
derfully expressive in its timlre.
Blake was passionately fond OF music
and, though he had been given little
| opportunity to cultivate his DECIDED
natural talents, was nevertheless an
excellent singer and capable critic.
THAT was grand" he exclaimed.
his handsome face aglow with ad-
miration of the music. Il have ne.er
heard Wanderers Nachtled render ed
more exquisitely. Please favor me
| with Der Tannenbaum, will you?"
Willingly" said Jessie. as Edith
smiled her assent. But Der Tannen-
| baum is much more effective with a
tenor part. You sing, do you not, Mr..
Blake? Something tells me you do"
I'm sure Mr. Blake sings" assert
| ed Edith. Come, Mr.. Blake. the gen.
| eral shall be our audience!"
Il have been charged with singing,
but never by such fair accusers,"
laughed Blake. stepping forward Il
| trust the general will not mete out a
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