San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-05-30
MRS. CO0PER'S NIECE.

AUulU frlSClllu leIt you So,oVu u year you
have done nothing but spend the money.
Your income ought to be enough for q
single man, but you draw on me too"
"I'Il try to draw on you less, SIR"
"It is not that, Philip You are quite
welcome to check now and then, for l
know that you neither game nor revel,
and l don't mind your horses, your club,
your natural history craze, nor your
luxurious tastes. But still you spend
more money and get less for 1t than most
young men Of your age; have too much,
in fact"
~ don't find it too much, sir. In fact,
was thinking what graceful thing it
would be if you were to double it, mere
trifle to gentleman Of your means. I
have to use the most pitiful economy,
assure you."
"Oh, that's 1t, eh2 Well, there is a
mode to increase it very much. You have
heard me speak of Philander Spriggs, Of
New York"
money lender and skinflint' I have
heard of him."
"Nonsense, Philip. He Is quite worthy
as we'll as very wealthy man, and If he
prefers to invest ready money in short
loans what Of that? lend my money,
or some Of it, sometimes"
"But not cent per cent"
"No matter. I don't propose that you
shall borrow of him. He has an only
child, q daughter, who will inherit all
his vast property, just as you will mine.
"Does she shave notes, father?"
"Phil, be kind enough not to indulge
in chaff. have seen her and talked
with her. She is young, handsome. well
educated and has good taste, a society
gentlewoman with domestic tastes"
"Well, father, you are not so old, and
since you admire her so much, see nc
reason why"-
"Stop your nonsense and listen. Spriggs
and had talk over it when was In
New York, and we have concluded If yau
two come together, to chip in equally ant
settle half million on you on your wed
ding day. With what you have you'll d.
well enough for WHILE"
But" demurred Philip, ~ don't lik'
| Spriggs for n father-in-law."
"Stuff! You don't marry Spriggs."
"And the name. Just think of 1t
Spr-r-iggs"
What of that? With marriage the
name is changed. l don't think shell
gain much by it. Spriggs-Briggs. SlA
of one and half-dozen of the other"
ard like to oblige you, father. sup
pose l must marry some day, but 1t vii
be some one I love, and then, Philadel
phia like, I insist on a woman of goot
family"
See here, Phil" exclaimed the father
who by this time was at white heat
"you never knew me to break my word
! merely ask you to marry for your owl
good. l point out wife In every way
suitable to you. Marry to please me
and l will not only start you fairly IL
life now, but leave you all / have wher
! am gone. Marry to suit some foolish
fancy of your own, and rH-yes, III
found an asylum for idiots. Now yor
understand me-" And Briggs marched
off, leaving his son to his meditatlons.
.'If stay here" said Philip to him
self, "father and 1 will quarrel. Better
give the dear old gentleman chance tt
cool of. Ill ruralizo little"
That afternoon Philip packed port
manteau, and with n fishing rod an(
mineral hammer, started off to Mont
gomery county, where an old colleg'
/ mate Of his had married and settled
and whom he had long promised to visit
When he arrived there I've learned tina
Boudinot and his wife had gone to Lont
Branch for the season, and their ser
wants with them, the house being Il
charge of a caretaker. Philip heard O
good fishing In n stream four miles oil
and concluded to try it. He found lodg
ings at farmhouse near the place, owneC
by q man named Seth Cooper.
But neither that day nor that week die
he see any woman other than Mrs. Coop
or or the hired girl
As he sat upon the veranda ono after
noon debating the matter, wagon wa
driven up the lane and stopped at tn
door. Lightly out stepped a young wo
man in a neat travelling dress, and tin
driver followed her with large trunk
under which he staggered. burly as b.
was. Mrs. Cooper came from the kitch
en- and exclaimed: "Why, it's Gwenny
declareI''
"You dear old Aunty Ruth!- said tn
newcomer, hugging and kissing the far
mer's wife. "f came to have a goo
time for q month"
And 90 you shall. my dear" was th'
hearty reply.
Philip took an ocular inventory OF tn
looks, dress and manner Of the new
conner as he took OF his hat "a swee
face and graceful figure and presentabI
anywhere was his internal oommen,
"Here's luck. Ishall not visit the Brancl
yet"
"You have a boanier. aunty. said tb
girl e-hen upstairs with Mrs Cooper.
"Yes; he's a Mr. Bee said the other
"It don't look as IL he had any call q
work for his living. judging BY his Whit
hands and his FIX ups, and bs's plenty o
money"
"Bce! Then be isn't busy bee Bu
he's good hooking; II be be sgreeabl
he'll DO for a walking sick
lrs. Cooper's mistake as 10 Philip va
natural enough When she Rad aske,
his name On his coninz he had SID i
his airy way, Philip B., a. y01r seTv
4 fce.- and sfls had taken the souDd q ~
initial for his s1r1zr1e After sbs hst