The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-01-05
Grace Dalzelle had Chariotte's

money! am not quite sure how
many millions Charlotte will have
some day. It's something quite In
credible. Old man Flaxhaver is still
| piling them up, they say, and they
say also that if he gets that Panama
! contract he'll step right up into class
A, along with Andrew and Pier
pont and Edward. John, you know,
is in class all by himself. There
are only four Flaxhaver heirs
three brats Of boys, going to school
yet, and Charlotte. 1t isn't that she
is so bad looking-T've seen worse,
right here in Chicago society-but
that I'm a shade afraid of how old
man Flaxhaver would cut up if /
should call around at his shop in
fhe Railway Exchange and brace
him for his only daughter, till
death do us part, and all that. He's
grouchy old beast and has views"
Thinks men ought to work. Last
time | dined at his house he quizzed
me about my Career" Said every
American worth his salt ought to
have an aim in life. Said dad was
one of the best men he ever knew.
Added that dad was particularly
shrewd in disposing Of his money.
Then he chuckled. / hate that old
guy, but there's no denying it would
be mighty hard to pull wool over
his eyes.
Mind you, l can marry Charlotte
all right enough, any old day, or
night. She'll elope as fast as I'll
take her. But I'm in doubt; Pm in
doubt. Old Flaxhaver stickles for
his paternal and parental authority.
If he got his back up about think
less chee-ild he might not get it
down till after sackcloth and ashes
had done their awful worst to Char
lotte and poor Charley Lavender.
My predicament is really no less
than sickening. Grace hasn't a cent
worth speaking Of. Maybe $4,000
life insurance Dalzelle left her out
of his wreck, after he had blown his
brains out the day they sky-highed
q. P. to 1000. She lives with her
aunt. So do l, for that matter,
about three teas week and the
same number of late calls. Aunt
Lucy is queer, too. Thinks Grace
and | ought to marry just because
we love each other. So old-fash-
Toned, don't You think?
It's when Pm with Grace that /
fully determine to tell Charlotte
S'there are ~insuperable obstacles
which must forever forbid our
union"-I have it written out, along
those lines, and it isn't bad. And
then, after l leave Grace, and my
hot blood cools and the sweet sting
of her kisses no longer burns in my
mouth, l have to come down to
earth and remember my duty to my
self and my family, if / should ever
have one. 1t can't be expected it
is mans social duty to rear lot
of paupers.
And this is Decision Day. Mar
jorie said she would give me until
tonight to quit being fool. Grace
and Marjorie are chums, you see.
Sis says she will lend me $500 a
year on my prospects if / marry
right" / know what that means.
I might do worse than fright" If
there's a prettier girl in the world
than Marjorie Lavender it's Grace
Dalzelle. Her height is just right.
Her shape would drive Psyche crazy.
Her hair is aureate, her eyes are
stars and her glowing fresh is a
burning bush. The tip of her rose
leaf tongue between her scarlet lips
can sway a mans reason. All!
And, then, ! love her. Though /
am loafer, she, too, loves me.
Oh. well, I'll case to be the ass.