The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-10-08
How He Failed.

David Popham owned a big house
up town, and David Popham wa:
rich. lie had come to the city
poor boy, and had worked lis way
up by his own industry, pcrsever
ancc, and rim. lie had been fortu.
nate, too; not pervcrsely fortunate
as some men are, but legitimate]y
and honestly Fortunate. Of bis
own accord, and in answer to his
own tastes, he would never have
bought the big house up town but
| lis wife was bent upon it, and he
was forced to please his wife. When
we say he was forced, we mean that
his own love forced him-his love
for domestic peace.
David Popham had three dau yh-
tcrs, who were very pretty, and
very good, and they loved their
dear old papa extremely.
Of course, Mrs. Popham trained
her daughters. Mrs. p. had become
a woman of society, and she wished
that her daughters should become
women of society. What it cost
Mr.. p. to sustain his share Of this
work, we will not say. He groaned
sometimes, but held his peace.
Another thing troubled David
Popham. AS his daughters grew
up, bright-hued young gentlemen
gathered about them, and it was
apparent that Mrs. Popham was on
the path of brilliant matches.
ri think Alexander de Costa We
ga is smitten with our LYDIA" she
said to he husband one day.
"Alexander de Costa Vega is a
spendthrift and numbskull!" an
swered David, with disgust.
"You're a BRUTE" was Mrs. P.'s
mild rejoinder. "The Vegas are of
our wealthiest and best; and Alex
andcr is heir of a grand estate"
Gin chancery," said David, soto
rOcc.
"What did you say, Mr.. P.?"
Il merely remarked, my dear,
that he had his chances
"And let me tell you that his
chances are brilliant. [ have no
doubt that you would like to see
our sweet girls married to clodhop-
pers!!'
"If we could find such a clodhop-
per as you were content to marry
fvc-and.twcnty years ago"
"Oh! Mr.. p, you are perfectly
frightful!" >,
And under this shot David
crawled away, and went down to
his office on Wall street.
But change was at hand-a
change sad and dark. Mrs. Pop:
ham could not stand the wear aud
tear Of the life she had adopted
The continuous round Of high
living, late suppcrs, and dissipation
was too much for her, and she gave
in, as hundreds of others are giving
in evsry year.
And thus it came that at the age
of fifty David Popham was left {
widoWer with three grown-uT
daughters. Of these daughter:
Lydia was twenty-five. MehitabcI
| (usnally called IIittc) was twenty
and Susan was eighteen. And they
were, at heart, good girls; and fur
thcrmore, they were good-looking
Lydia might have been married hat
not an unexpected obstacle arise1
in her pathway. When Alexande
dc Costa Vega had been accepted
by the mother, and blushingly re
ferred to papa by the daughter, th'
hard-hearted father had simply re
ferred to the gay and festive appli
cant:
"Alexandcr dc Costa Vega, yo1
may have my daughter; but, as SUR
as there is a heaven above us,
; she marries you neither you nor sh'
shall ever touch one dollar Of m,
money!
The gallant adventurer had be
lieved David, and had not furthe
pressed his suit.
Wheethe season of bitter grie
was passed, and friends could wit
propriety leave flowers upon tn
sideboard Of the mansion, sunshin
once more entered the household
Lydia and Mehitabel assumed tn
management of affairs, and hire
two new servants. Very shortl