DeMille_The_Dodge_Club.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
what have written," said , "if
you care about hearing it."
", if you have no objection, we should like to hear very much,"
said .
, taking a letter from his pocket, read as follows:
" ,-- have endeavored to follow out your instructions and
be as economical as possible.
" my tour through , have made the acquaintance of the
senior member of the house of , in , a gentleman with
whom you are acquainted. was travelling with his two sisters.
younger one is very amiable. know you would like to see me
settled have requested her hand in marriage.
" wish to be married before my return thought would let you
know. course in allying myself to a member of so wealthy a family
will need to do it in good style. you can send me will
therefore be quite acceptable.
" reply immediately on receipt of this, addressing me at
as before.
" very much oblige . ."
"," said the , "that's a sensible letter. 's to the
point. 'm glad to see that you are not so foolish as most lads in
your situation. should not a man talk as wisely about a
partnership of this kind as of any other? do declare that these
rhapsodies, this highblown, high-flown, sentimental twaddle is
nauseating."
" see, ," said , " must write a letter which will
have weight with the old gentleman. likes the terse business
style. think that little hint about her fortune is well managed
too. 's a great deal better than boring him with the state of
my affections. 't it?"
"'s nothing like adapting your style to the disposition of
the person you address," said .
"," said the , "you propose to start to-morrow, do you?"
"," said .
"'m agreed then was just beginning to get used up myself. 'm an
active man, and when 've squeezed all the juice out of a place
want to throw it away and go to another. do you say, ?
are silent."
", to tell the truth," said , " don't care about leaving
just yet. expects me to stay longer, and he would feel
hurt if hurried off, am very sorry that you are both going.
would be capital if you could only wait here a month or so."
" month!" cried . " couldn't stand it another day.
nothing induce you to come? can we do without you?"
" can do without you?" said , with some emotion.
", ," said the , "'m really pained. feel something
like a sense of bereavement at the very idea. thought, of course,
we would keep together till our feet touched the sacred soil once
more. seems to have ordained it otherwise. felt bad
when and the left us at , but now feel worse
by a long chalk. 't you manage to come along nohow?"
"," said . " really can not. really must stay."
"! must!"
", must!"
sighed.
.
!--, , ' ,
.-- -
.
a month after the departure of the and from
, reappeared upon the scene at , in front of the
little church which had borne so prominent a part in his fortunes;
true to his love, to his hopes, to his promises, with undiminished
ardor and unabated resolution. found the there,
who at once took him to his room in a building adjoining the church.
"!" said he, in a tone of the deepest pleasure. "!
has been more than a passing fancy, then."
" is the only real purpose of my life, assure you."
" must believe you," said , pressing his hand once more.
" now, where is ?"
" is in ."
" see her at once?"
" at once?"
", to-day."
", not to-day. brother wishes to see you first. must go and
let them both know that you are here. she is well and has been
so."
looked relieved. some conversation told to
return in an hour, and he could see the . waiting most
impatiently came back again in an hour. entering he found
. was dressed as a gentleman this time. was a strongly
knit, well-made man of about thirty, with strikingly handsome and
aristocratic features.
" me make my peace with you at once," said he, with the utmost
courtesy. " are a brave man, and must be generous. have done
you wrongs for which shall never forgive myself," and taking
's outstretched hand, he pressed it heartily.
" nothing about it, beg," said ; "you were justified in
what you did, though you may have been a little hasty."
" not been blinded by passion would have been incapable of
such a piece of cowardice. have had much to endure, and
was always afraid about her."
the utmost frankness the two men received each other's
explanations, and the greatest cordiality arose at once.
insisted on 's taking dinner with him, and , laughingly
declaring that it would be a sign of peace to eat bread and salt
together, went with to his hotel.
they entered 's apartments was lounging near
the window. had accompanied to . started at the
sight of .
" in !" he cried, bounding to his feet.
"!" exclaimed the other.
"!"
the two men, in true fashion, sprang into one
another's arms.
" is my best friend, and oldest friend, the brother of your
betrothed?" asked of .
only nodded. was quite mystified by all this.
explanation, however, was soon made. two had been educated
together, and had fought side by side in the great movements of
'48, under , and in .
full an hour these two friends asked one another a torrent
of questions. asked about his exile in ;
whereupon the other described that exile in glowing terms--how he
landed in , how , then little more than a lad, became
acquainted with him, and how true a friend he had been in his
misery. animated words of produced a striking
effect. swore eternal friendship with , and finally
declared that he must come and see that very day.
, leaving with the promise of seeing him again,
walked with out to the place where he lived.
reason why he had not wanted him to see that day was
because he was ashamed of their lodgings. that had passed,
and as he understood better he saw there was no reason for
such shame. was a house within a few rods of the church.
's heart throbbed violently as he entered the door after
and ascended the steps inside the court-yard. pointed to a
door and drew back.
[: .]
knocked.
door opened.
"!"
***
describe such a meeting is simply out of the question.
" knew you would come," said she, after about one solid hour, in
which not a single intelligible word was uttered.
" for you! , !"
" do not think now that was cruel?" and a warm flush
overspread the lovely face of the young girl.
"!" (and makes her see that he positively does not think
so).
" could not do otherwise."
" love you too well to doubt it."
" brother hated you so. would have been impossible.
could not wound his feelings."
"'s a splendid fellow, and you were right."
" showed him what you were, and tried to explain a
little," added , shyly.
" bless ! for you--you--"
"'t."
", your brother understands me at last. knows that love
you so well that would die for you."
came into 's eyes as the sudden recollection arose
of 's misadventure on the road.
***
" you remember," asked , softly, after about three hours
and twenty minutes--"do you remember how once wished that was
walking with you on a road that would go on forever?"
"."
", we're on that track now."
[ of these adventures feels most keenly his utter
inadequacy to the requirements of this scene. he say that
the above description is a complete _fiasco_? , your
imagination, if you please.]
.
.--' " ."
very long after the events alluded to in the last chapter a
brilliant dinner was given in at the " de et
d'." the arrival of the and at they
had found . and the without any trouble. meeting
was a rapturous one. was again an entity, although
an important member was not there. this occasion the one who gave
the dinner was !
[: 's .]
the delicacies of the season. fact, a banquet. .
shone resplendently. a factory was the sphere of the ,
a supper-table was the place for . . others felt that
they had never before known fully all the depth of feeling, of
fancy, and of sentiment that lurked under that placid, smooth, and
rosy exterior. was epigrammatic; the sententious;
uproarious.
's health was drunk in bumpers with all the honors:
" he's a jolly good fe-e-e-e-e-e-llow!
he's a jolly good fe-e-e-e-e-e-llow!!
he's a jolly good ------!!!
nobody can deny!"
this time was more joyous, more radiant, and altogether
more extravagant than usual. others asked themselves, "?"
the course of the evening it became known. advantage of a
short pause in the conversation he communicated the startling fact
that he had that day received a letter from his father.
" read it?"
"!!!" unanimously, in tones of thunder.
opened it and read:
.-- esteemed favor, 15th ult., have recd.
" beg leave hereby to express my concurrence with your design.
" connection with the house of has been of the most
satisfactory kind. have no doubt that yours will be equally so.
" inclose you draft on . , et of , for
$5000--say five thousand dollars--rect of which please acknowledge.
this sum is insufficient you are at liberty to draw for what may
be required.
" remain, ."
of applause arose as folded the letter.
speech from the proposed health of .
from the .
from . .
by .
by of immediate departure for .
cheers! 's jolly good health!
" he's a jolly good fe-e-e-e-e-e-llow!
he's a jolly good fe-e-e-e-f-e-llow!!
he's a jolly good ------!!!
nobody can deny!"