THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 1/ 
the ladies. Make one of them supremely hap¬ 
py > married, and make a man of yourself 
by showing that you are essential to the well¬ 
being of others.” 
“ Oh dear! oh dear!” was the response, with 
a long-drawn emphasis. “If that is my only 
remaining chance for happiness, the sooner I 
take to a hermit’s cave in the mountains the 
better. Thank you; I would 
‘Rather bear those ills I have. 
Than fly to others that I know not of.’ 
There are, no doubt, many happy homes, but 
I must seriously question whether I am gifted 
with the qualities necessary to add another to 
the blessed few. Doubting whether I can make 
a woman happy as a wife, I would rather re¬ 
main single than take the venture.” 
“Well, Charley, I’ve exhausted my logic,” 
was Rudolph’s rejoinder. “So I give it up. 
If you will go to the Rocky Mountains or to 
the dogs, why, you’ll just have to go ahead, for 
aught I can do or say. But, see here, old fel¬ 
low: before you hide yourself in some waste 
howling wilderness and turn savage, come with 
me and have one more taste of the delights of 
2 * B 
