The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1904-09-01

a jump OF eight or ten points. Take
my word Tor a. old chapi"
Much Obliged 70 you. Morris"
Blake took out his memorandum book
and carefully made q note Of the prot
fercd advice. Il Imagine you've got
control Of the stock You Beednt fen
me. old man-IIi DO my own gness.
iqg. We Yankees are great on nueas.
Ing.
Blake ordered his coachman to
drive % the Bishop residence. He
lay back on the cushioned scat and
laughed sofily. ITO think that such =
hound Il engaged 20 Jessie CArdent 1
fsar Miss carden Is too fond Of
money. Well. moneys a good thing.
but II we're a woman ! wouldn't
marry Morris IL be had a billion. And
John's gOi enough 10 buy and sell.
him.
The carriage drew up a. the Bishop
residence. General Garden greeted
Blake in the draNinE-room. II was
resffui 20 contemplate this abode. 70
" AAAAN AAE MAN Va ANAAEeAtk AAAMINa
and 10 contrast Il with the frigid ele-
gance Of the bachelor apartments
where his recent years had been
spent. Biake's eyes wandered along
the walls until they rested on a por-
trait-thst OF Jessie Garden. he paus-
ed in the middle Of a sentence. his
eyes riyeted on the canvas
"A portrait Of ny daughter. Jessie
one Of Steinbach's best productions"
exclaimed General Garden. with faith
erly pride. mlstaking Blake's amaze
ment for polite admiration. she
returned from abroad only a few days
ago. Al. here she now
As be 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
o~ld-school dignity. General Garden pre-
scented James Blake.
There ss born in every mars brain
the image Of an ideal woman the
igniE fatuus OF fancy lowering above
the swamps Of realism James
Blake's ideal was dethroned the no
ment he looked into Jessie Gardens
eyes he felt the mysterious thrill Of
her presence.
After a delightful hour spent over
dinner, during which Blake was ia
lively humor. the young ladies' left
the general and his guest 10 the en-
toymcnt Of cigars. For the first time
in his life Blake would willingly have
sacrificed the soothing delights Of the
weed. He was glad when his host
a the signal and conducted him
TO the drawing-room. where they found
Jessie and Edith awaiting them.
Al the generals request Jessie
played several OF his favorite selec-.
tions. Edith standing by her side and
deity turning the music pages for
her. Then they sang a duet: q Ger.
man folk song. Jessie's voice was a
pure oo1trslto-teneer. rich and won.
derfally expressive In its timbre.
Blake was passionageiy fond OF music
and. though he had been given little
opportunity 10 cultivate his decided
natural talents. was nevertheless an
excellent singer and a capable critic.
That vas grand" he exclaimed,
bis handsome face aElow with ad.
mirRtion Of the music, 4 have never
heard Wanderers Nachueid rendered
more eXqnisitely. Please favor me
with Der Tannenhaum. win yous
Willingly. sid Jessie. as Edith
smiled her assent But Der Tanner.
baum is much more effective with a.
tenor part You sing, d You not. MT
Blakeg Something tells me you do.
I'm sure Mr.. Blake sings, assert
ed Edith. Come, Mr. Blake. the ger
eral shall be our audiencein
y have been charged with singing
but never by such fair accnsers.
laughed Blake, stepping forward. n
trust the general wIH not mete out q
punishment 20 az the crime. Sing the
English translation and | viii do my
best 20 carry a part"
Blake acquitted himself famcusly.
IN san Francisco clubs and social
circles his clear, strong Voice had add.
ed TO his popularity, but never did he
sing 80 well as on that night standing
by Jessie Gardens side.