The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1905-08-01
CHAPTER XXI.
Breaking Old Ties.

| CluD. he was Chatting Win
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 a little stock matter, won't
you?"
Certainly. Morris. What's up"
Morris looked cautiously around
and dropped his voice to a whisper.
Once in a while | get hold of good
thing, AMI I've got one now" he be-
gan. There's going to be a boom in
l., & o.
Yes? What makes you think so,
Morris?"
"Cawnt go into explanations, old
chap, but you buy little L. & 0.
When it drops below 26 it will take
a jump of eight or ten points. Take
my word for it. old chap"
Much obliged to you, Morris, "
Blake toolr out his memorandum book
and carefully made a note of the prof
fered advice. Il imagine you've got
control of the stock. You needn't tell
me- old nan-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. "To think that such
hound is engaged to Jessie Garden!
fear Miss Garden is too fond OF
money Well, moneys a good thing,
but if | were a 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 drawingroom. 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 a por-
trait-that OF Jessie Garden. He paus-
ed in the middle of a sentence, his
eyes riyeted on the canvas
"A portrait Of my daughter Jessie
one of Steinbachs best productions"
exclaimed General Garden, with faith
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 over
dinner, during which Blake was in
lively humor, the young ladies lett
the general and his guest to the en-
ioyment 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
gave the signal and conducted him
to the drawingroom, 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
deftly turning the music pages for
her Then they sang a duet; a Ger.
man folk song. Jessie's voice was a
pure contralto-tender, rich and won
derfully expressive in its timbre.
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 a capable critic.
That was grand" he exclaimed,
his handsome face aglow with adj
miration of the music 81 have never
heard Wanderers Nachtleid rendered
more eXquisitely. Please favor me
with Der Tannenbaum, will your"
"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!"
81 have been charged with singing.
but never by such fair accusers,
laughed Blake, stepping forward. 81
truct tho general will NOT nata o,t q