Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1892 — A WOMAN'S INFLUENCE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A WOMAN'S INFLUENCE

BY LULU JAMISON

CHAPTER Vll—Continued. “We will not dispute the point. I believe you love me In your way, not a very unselfish or disinterested way. You found me there in S’conset. The place was dull and lonely to you. For some unexplained reason you enjoyed my society. You thought it an excellent opportunity to try your arts of fascination on a girl who, so far as you knew, would place implicit trust in your honesty of purpose. Please let me finish. I am speaking truth, nothing more. The pastime amused you and gratified your Vanity at the same time. You knew that she nught learn to like you. There was no reason why she might not give her heart and her future happiness in your keeping. You realized this, yet you staid on, still knowing you had no intention of marrying her. And when you had tired of the diversion, you insulted her with a declaration of love and no proposal of marriage. You allowed a sordid motive to cheat your heart of its noblest instincts. You Oh, I wonder I can say so much! There are times when I positively despise you, and others when—l believe I am losing my self-respect. I wish you had never gone to S’conset.” She started from her chair and walked to the opposite window. Her hands trembled nervously, though her words had not been uttered with passion, but with a slow, deliberate emphasis that gave them accusing force. Brian had listened with bowed head. Only once he had tried to. interrupt her, then she had silenced him with amotion. Even after she had paused he did not speak for some seconds. “You are hard upon me,” he said, at last. “I acted contemptibly, but won’t you try to think there was some little excuse? I don’t know why I am such a worthless fellow. Perhaps because no one cares whether I ever amount to anything or not. I have not been so fortunate as you. You have been loved and praised all your life. I have had discouragement and condemnation on all sides. Perhaps I deserved so much, but it disheartens a man to be forever running him down." Her face softened as she answered in a gentler tone: “They are wrong todiscourage and condemn you. No one knows their possibilities for good or evil until they have been tried. There are redeeming traits even in the worst, and you are not one of the worst. Your chance is before you. I want to forget all that has happened. For your sake, and for mine, I wish to feel ” She hesitated and her face grew crimson. Not so much from his glance as from the drift of her own thoughts. “Why won’t you understand!” she cried, in helpless embarrassment, after a silence that was almost felt. “Why can’t you comprehend that I want you to hav6 what belongs to you?” “X don’t want it,” answered Brian, with dogged resistance. “The thought of that money is always between us.” “You don’t want it because you can’t have it without an incumbrance, I suppose?” “If the incumbrance means you, Margaret, there is nothing I desire so much as the incumbrance.”

“Then take it, please, Brian. The incumbrance finds you so slow of comprehension.” Brian was slow.no longer. Margaret’s meaning flashed upon him, and with a joyful face and glad cry he started toward her. But she stopped him rather precipitately with the words: “Don’t be foolish, Brian, please. I ■want you to understand that this is merely a business atrangement. We shan’t be very affectionate, but neither need we quarrel. ” “Then you wish simply to satisfy your sense of obligation,” he said, rather ruefully. “You don’t care for me the least bit, Margaret?” “If caring for you means giving you my heart, I can only say I haven’t it to give. I think you need not complain. Marriage will not make a great difference in our love. We shall always be good friends, I hope. Are you satisfied?” “I am happy to get you on any terms,” he responded. “For no otljer man can ever ciaim you. And maybe some day you will learn to love me, if only a little." “Don’t delude yourself with any such idea. That is all, I believe. Please leave me now.” “How cold and indifferent you are,” he said, turning to obey her request. “You make it very hard for me.” Her eyes drooped beneath the intensity of his gaze, but she made no remark, and the next second he had left her to her own thoughts. In a somewhat jubilant but rather peculiar frame of mind he sought Miss Hitton, and confided to her sympathetic ear his late go d fortune. Two hours later, as Margaret sat alone In one corner of the veranda, Brian stole up behind her chair, and dropped in her lap a ring of old-fashioned design and i xquisite workmanship. “Here is something I prize very high- ■ ly,” he said. “It belonged to my mother. I should like to see it on your finger. Pearls for the-pearl of pearls!” His sudden appearance and unexpected action made her blush warmly. “Put it on for me,” she replied, rather nervously, and holding her hand toward him. “lam not sure that I know the proper finger. ” “Asad confession,” he rejoined, experiencing a keen thrill of pleasure as his hand touched hers. “Why, it fits nicely and makes quite a show. ” “It is very beautiful, ” added Margaret, examining the magnificent pearls with critical Interest. “How can I thank you for It?" She raised her eyes to his, but dropped them immediately. Something in his glance sent the warm blood to her face. "I tkink I must show it to Miss Hilton," she said, starting up and leaving him without another word. CHARTER IX. A DOMESTIC ENCOUNTER. The news of Margaret’s engagement traveled rapidly, for S was one of those limited communities in which one knows every one else, if not personally at least by sight or hearsay, and where a lively interest in the affairs of others seems to be the congenial occupation of a large portion of the inhabitants. ♦ Opinions were somewhat divided in the matter. The unprejudiced regarded a marriage between the cousins as a happy solution of the unpleasant state of affairs, while the more interested, notably the mothers of sons whose matrimonial designs had thus been frustrated, shook their heads rather doubtfully, and prophesied all manner of dire

catastrophes, from what they considered a loveless union. They hoped it would turn out well; so they assured each other. Indeed, they were inclined to pity Margaret, and, with admiring glances at Tim or John, they wondered what she had seen in Brian to like. Margaret well knew that she was an object of unusual comment. “There were people in S ,” to use her own words, “who would sit at her table and break her bread and her character at the same time.” Yet, notwithstanding,, the knowledge that she afforded gratification to their curiosity filled her with a feeling akin to indignaiion. “Notoriety is the fate of greatness,” the Colonel told her, by way of consolation. “You and Brian are the most prominent figures in the neighborhood just now. Think of the distinction. But seriously, my dear, I’m glad you two have reached such a sensible settlement. Expected it all the time. Not quite so soon, though. You’ve made the quickest time on record. ” The old gentleman’s eyes twinkled at this evidence of his own humor. About this time he was deep in some cherished plans intended to affect the future of his son and niece. He gave no hint of his desires to either party concerned, for he could be politic on occasion, and he realized that this was a matter to be handled with much caution. “A fine pair, a fine pair,” he would chuckle, when privacy permitted him to give such expression to his feelings. “Plenty of spirit in the girl, and that young scamp, confound him, he’ll be something yet.” The scamp in question had enjoyed all the advantages a young man in . his position could expect or hope for. “I want you to make a good showing,” his father had said to him, when he started out on his college career. “You must look to your future and take up something practical. I prefer law, though it is a scoundrelly profession. Still, as good as most, I dare say. If you do start in it, stick to it. And for heaven’s sake don’t come out a firstclass idiot, fit only for a show piece. And don’t break-your neck, or get in debt.”

Bertie had managed to go through college without falling a victim to the latter evils. He had followed his father’s counsel as to adopting law, though he had not yet passed the bai. Under pretext of reading for this end, he spent much of his time in New York, from which point he paid frequent visits to The Cedars. Sitting in his office one day, and, poring over a law dictionary, he was rather surprised to receive from his father a letter setting forth the good points of a certain nameless young lady, and urging upon him the advisability of marrying her, and finally settling in life. “Well, in the name of all that's holy,” he ejaculated, “that must be answered.” And so it was. To such purpose that it sent his easily moved father into a towering passion. Alice was summoned. And that young lady, looking quite cool and composed, came tripping into the room prepared for a scene, and wondering what had occurred to disturb the equilibrium of her uncle’s temper. “Well, uncle?” she said, with a conciliatory inquiry. “Well, uncle,” he mimicked. “You come in smiling and mincing, just as though there were no impudent young seamp in the world. ” “I dare say there are a great many,” she rejoined agreeably; “and old ones, too, for that matter.” “What do you mean?” he broke in, quick to take exception to her words. “But, Lord!” what’s the use of arguing with a girl? Here! read this letter and tell me if you consider it the proper thing for an impertinent puppy to write to his father?” He thrust the letter in her hand, and her eyes glanced over the somewhat aggressive chirography, while its meandawned upon her. “Dear Respected Pater—Yours of the 15th inst. duly to hand. Contents noted. Would say in answer that lam very well satisfied with my present state of single blessedness, and while appreciating your interest in my behalf, I prefer to choose my own partner, when I elect to assume the cares of domestic life. “Though the Bible says it is not good for man to be alone, it is far more risky, to my mind, to jog along in double harness, unless the old mare is to one’s liking. “I’ve been doing finely; winning golden opinions on all sides. lam fearful of becoming too great, and Blackstone has a tendency to monotony; so I have very serious intentions of putting the old boy aside and gaining laurels with my pen. Visions 'of future greatness pass before my eyes, and—pardon this blot; it is the outcome of my perturbed feelings—who knows but that in the dim and misty future you may be known not as Col. Barton merely, but as Col. Barton, the father of Cuthbert Barton. Does your heart swell with pride at the thought? “Now, to descend from the heights of ambition to ordinary reality. The city grows warmer every day. Nothing of any moment transpiring. The last hot wave knocked the bottom out of the market, and everybody is now busy propounding the question of the day, ‘ls it hot enough for you?’ “I’m thinking you have the best of it down there, and I have serious intentions of dropping on your rural fold and enjoying some argumentative tete-a-tetes with you. Meantime I can’t write any more. I hear Thompson outside, hopping up the steps after his usual fashion. In a second I’ll see his classic countenance, with his grinning mouth within an unimportant distance of his flap-like ears, stuck through the door, and then farewell thought. “Once more assuring you of my thorough contentment with my present state in this world of sin and sorrow, and decling the wife with thanks, I am, yours most dutifully, “Cvthrert Barton.” “So you’ve been offering him a wife,” remarked Alice, when she had finished the letter and returned it to her uncle. “I told him it was time for him to get married,” was the short reply. “This is his answer, the rascal.. Prefers to choose his own partner. Wants an old mare to his liking. Let him get one. Confound him! Thinks of ‘giving up Blackstone and winning laurels with his pen.’ Winning fiddlesticks. He hasn’t sense enough to know he's an idiot. ‘Has serious intentions of descending on my rural fold!’ I’d like to know what else he’s been doing for the last six months? ‘Wants to enjoy some argumentative tete-a-tetes with me.’ Confound his assurance! What are you laughing at? Perhaps you consider it amusing? Maybe you agree with him?” “About the wife part, I certainly do. I know I shouldn’t let any one select my husband.” “Indeed, Miss! And do you think any one would take that trouble? Have some sense, for heaven’s sake. I’ve enough to drive a saint crazy. Come, sit here, and I’ll tell you what I’ll do ” Alice took a chair beside her uncle, and he began in a confidential tone: “That independent monkey, who calls himself my son, shan’t have a cent of my money. I’ll cut him off, that’s what I’ll do, and I’ll leave it all to you,”

“AU what, uncle?” “All my money. You don’t seem to be smart, Alice.” “Oh! I understand perfectly, now. I am much obliged, but you may save yourself any trouble in the matter, as, of course, I wouldn’t take it” “You’ll not be able to help yourself,” chuckled the old man. “If I choose to make my will to that effect you’ll have to take it. ” “Indeed I wouldn’t,” was the determined answer, as Alice rose from her chair. “It belongs to Bertie, and I wouldn’t touch a cent of it.” “ How dare you defy me to my face, ” cried the old gentleman, rising in hie turn. “I say you shall have it. ” “And I say I sha’n’t.” “For mercy’s sake, what is all this about?” “Oh, Bertie!” cried Alice, turning at the sound of the laughing voice. “You impudent scamp," added the Colonel, “have you dared to show your brazen face here.” “I protest at brazen, father. My classic countenance is strikingly like my father's. Among my friends it is sa d to be both modest and retiring," “Another word of your impudence, sir, and you will retire with your modest countenance. What are you grinning like an ape for, and Alice with no better sense than to laugh at you! I want to know how you dared to send me that trash.” The Colonel threw the letter on the desk as he spoke. “My letter,” said Bertie In assumed surprise. “I am sorry your opinion of its merits is so poor. I considered it quite excellent of its kind. You remember I spoke of my desire to be with you, and 10, I arrive with the wings of speed on the scene of b ttle. Pray tell me what caused the interchange of polite invective.” “I'll tell you, sir.” remarked his father, with some warmth, “I’ll tell you, when I got that trash of yours I decided to let you go to the devil and leave my money to this headstrong young woman, but the forward minx, with the most unheard-of Impudence, declared she wouldn’t touch a penny of it. But we’ll see about that; and let me tell you, sir, you’ve got to walk a pretty straight line or ’’ “Oh, I don’t mind the straight line,” returned Bertie, comfortably, “provided there isn’t a wife at the end of it. Unless it is the one I shall choose.” “Fudge!” was the contemptuous comment, but the old gentleman manifested no further anger. Probably he had gathered some new ideas in the last few moments and found them diverting. “What are you glaring at Alice for?” he said, presently. “Do you want to stare her out of countenance?” “Oh, no; I was only thinking how charmingly well she is looking. > The air of The Cedars is no doubt responsible. You, too, look wonderfully well preserved. No one would take you for a day over forty-five, if that.” “Humph!” was the old gentleman’s comment. “As big a fool as ever. Your talking has given me a confounded headache. Go out of the room, for heaven's sake. Alice, take him out in the grounds and try to ''keep him quiet for a while. I must have a little sleep.” “Certainly, I’ll depart, by all means,” said Bertie, with alacrity. “Delighted, I’m sure. Come, Alice, you must take care of me?you know.” The Colonel chuckled quietly as they left the room together. [TO BB CONTJNI’BD.]