Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-04-02
LOVING THE MONEY, NOT TIE
MAN

Eli w !!.tt.
Uncle Coleman put down his news
paper, pushed his spectacles up OF
his forehead, and glared' at hi
nephew.
"Going to marry Lucy Frothing
ham," he cried, after gasping awhile
ill sheer dismay. "You IDIOT"
''Ihanks," was the cool reply. g
know you do not like the lady, bu
where there is strong mutua
love-"
"Strong mutual fitldlesticks!" inter
rupted Uncle Coleman, cohtemp,u
ously. "You may love her; she i,
pretty and fascinating, but what sh.
loves is your bank account, my boy
l knew it would be so when Aun,
Jennie left you Il cool hundred thouS
and. But boys will be boys. Only
for goodness sake, wait year or two
before you saddle yourself with 8
wifer'
II am twenty-one, sir" with AZ
immense air of dignity.
81 am sixty-four! Now, Frank, d
hear reason. Lucia rockingham is
a fascinating woman, touching tn,
thirties, if not already over the line
"a finished flirt, and as mercenary
as she is pretty. l know her, and
tell you her affection is centered upon
Aunt ,ennie's legacy, and the hall
million in prospective at my bank
er's."
"Uncle Coleman" cried his nephew
hotly, 81 never thought Of it, much
less spoke of it,"
81 don't suppose you ever did
Having always had an Independent
income, l don't think you ever count
ed on a dead mans shoes. But Miss
rockingham was educated in the
hard school of genteel poverty, and 4
rich husband is the prize for which
she has studied and tolled, tor-well
say ten years. She was i'll society
before you were done playing with
tops and marbles"
~ ncle Coleman, you are speaking
of my betrothed wife, remember"
"Hemw
'Years are of no consequence
where thee is true love-"
"Hem!'
Sand l love Lucia as she loves
me"
''Not a bit it,
''To-morrow she goes to Saratoga,
and if you can spare me | will go,
too"
"And the business at Hartford?
should advise you to attend to all
matters belonging to your aunt's es-
tate as soon as possible, Frank"
''It may keep me in Hartford Il
month";" said Frank, disconsolately.
Coleman Burke looked with pity
ing affection at his young relative,
such boy yet in many matters.
though he had reached ''man's es'
tate"
"a month that may settle your
whole tor,une," he sal |. ''Remem
ber, men do not fall heir1o Il hundred
thousand dollars more than once in a
lifetime"
81 suppose must go.''
"It will be best. Besides" added
Uncle Coleman, dryly, sit will be Il
good test of your lady loves con
stancy!"
II am not afraid of her forgetting
me-" said Frank, loftily.
"You are actually engag d."
"Certainly! l bought diamond
ring at IS yesterday, and put il
on her taper finger last evening"
'Hem! Well, the tool-killer hasn't
been here lately, that's certain. There
be off, and let me finish my paper in
peace. You will 60 to Hartford?"
"Yes."
But after his nephew left him, Cole
man Burke let his paper lie idle upon
his lap, while he fell into a fit OF
muslpg, often interrupted by impa
tient CALCULATIONS. He was a man, rs
he said, of past sixty, and had beer
childish widower for thirty years
while four little graves beside that o1
his wife recorded the heart history ot
his life.
When he had lived lonely and :
sincere mourner for many long years
his brother and wife died, leaving
Frank, a curly-headed boy, to thu
care of his uncle Coleman. All tht
long-seated fountains of love in thu
desolated heart opened to pour on
their affection upon the child. HI
was truly the starlight of the ole
mans existence, ard though his man
ner had been cynical, his heart hat
been sorely wrung by the announce
ment of his engagement, but not from
any paltry jealous or any mercenar.
motive. Had Frank loved Il true
tender woman, were she bcggar
his uncle would have given her ;
fathers love and welcome. But b,
the light of his own brief married
happiness he read the misery in stor
for his nephew, if he married Luci;
rockingham "a tlirt, extravagan
and selfish. How to save him wa
costing the old man torturing thought
Active opposition would only strength
en- what was but a boyish infatuation
and yet, saved he must be. Suddenl.
a light broke over Coleman Burk'
face, and he rose from his chair AIT
went to a long mirror in the room.-
The reflection was not calculated L
waken any vanity, yet the old maj
smiled well pleased.
'If l can only carry it out, it vii
be positive proof" he thought.
Short, fat, nearly bald, with specta
cles, and cane, Coleman Burke wa
certainly strong contrast to the tall
handsome young fellow who had wol
Lucia for his promised bride, yet h
said aloud:
"I'll cut him 6: t!''
A week later all the fashionable
at G Hotel, at Saratoga, kne,