The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-04-20
MRS. CO0PER'S NIECE.

ioSPonucu INC e.c9dnt young gentleman
addressed. Il am disposed to place
implicit reliance upon it and on you"
'lou have done nothing since you left
college but kill time"
at Is only retaliation in advance. sir.
some day or other the old chap with the
scalp-lock and scythe will Kill me-"
'lou are too fiippant. Since your
aunt Priscilla left you five thousand a
year you have done nothing but spend
the money. Your income ought to be
enough for single man, but you draw
on me too"
''I'll try to draw on you less, SIR"
at is not that. Philip. You are quite
welcome to- check now and then, for
know that you neither game nor revel,
and don't mind your horses, your club,
/ your natural history era e. nor your lux
urious tastes. But still you spend more
money and get less for it than most
young men of your age-havc too much,
IN fact"
Il don't find it too much. sir. in fact
l was thinking what Il graceful thing it
would be if you would double it-a
mere trlile to a gentleman of your means.
have to use the most pitiful economy.
assure YOU"
"Oh, that's it, ehl Well, there it
mode to increase it very much. You
have heard me speak of Philander
SpriggS, of New lork?'
Money lender and sknfiint: have
head Of him"
- onsense, Philip. He IS a quite
worthy as well as very wealthy man; and
if he prefers to invest ready money in
short loans. what of that, lend my
money, orsome of it, sometimes"
but not at cent. per cent"
'No matter. | don't propose that
you shall borrow of him. lie has an
only child. daughter, who will inherit
all his vast property, just as you will
mine"
docs she shave notes, father"
"Ehil, 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"
swell, father, you are not so old and
since y II admire her so much, | see 10
reason why
stop your nonsense and listen.
Spriggs and had talk over it when I
was in New York, and we have con
GUIDED, if you two come together, to
chip in equally and settle a alf-milion
on you on your wedding day. With
what you have you'll do well enough for
a while
'But," demurred Philip, 81 don't like
Spriggs for father-in law"
"Stud! you don't marry Spriggs."
And the name Think of 1t,
Spr-r iggs."
what of that2 With marriage the
name is changed. l don't think she'll
gain much by it Spriggs-Briggs.
Six of one and half dozen of the other"
I'D like to oblige you, father. Isup-
pose must marry some day; but it will
be some one l love; and then, Philadel-
phla like, insist on a woman of good
family"
"some one you love, How the deuce
do you know you'll not love her till you
see her: Good family Of course
you're entitled to that. The peerage of
Eng and is full of Niscount Briggses.
The Brlggses ale found in the Almanach
Won Gotha among the erlaucht families
our grandfather made three hundred
thousand dollars in hides and tallow.
and If he had not invested it in real es
tate that multiplied itself more than ten
fold before he lied, should have been
In the same business to-day, and you in
the counting room or warehouse. Fam.
ny, indeed! You're foolish boy, Philip,
and your aunt's legacy has ruined you"
II wish, sir, there were a half-dozen
more old aunts to continue my ruin in
the same way. 1t is OF 10 use getting
sng J, father. You cant keep it NJ.
IL take 70 anything you say-law,