The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-06-14
MRS. C00pER'S NIECE.

addressed; 81 am disposed to place inn
plicit reliance upon it,"
"You have done nothing since you left
college but kill time"
ut Is only retaliation in advance, sir.
Some day or other the old chap with the
scalp lock and scythe will kill me"
"You are too fippant. Since your
Aunt Priscilla left you $1,000 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"
SIT 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 craze, nor your
luxurious tastes But still you spend
more money aud get less for it than most
young men of your age; have too much,
in fact"
81 don't find it too much, sir. In fact,
was thinking what graceful thing it
would be if you were to double it, a mere
trifle to a gentleman of your means. /
have to use the most pitiful economy, l
assure you"
"Oh, that's it, ehp WELL there is
mode to increase it very much. You have
heard me speak of Philander Spriggs, of
New York;"
money lender and skinfint? have
heard of him."
Nonsense, Philip. He is quite worthy
as well as very wealthy man, and if he
prefers to invest ready money in short
loans what of that? l lend my money,
or some of it, sometimes"
"But not a cent per cent"
"No matter. I don't propose that you
shall borrow of him. He has an only
child, 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, l see no
reason Why
"Stop your nonsense and listen. Spriggs
and had talk over it when was in
New York, and we have concluded if you
two come together, to chip in equally and
settle half million on you on your we'd
ding day. With what you have you'll do
we'll enough for while"
But" demurred Philip, 81 don't like
Spriggs for a father-in-law."
"Stuff! You don't marry Spriggs."
"And the name. Just think of it,
Springs"
What of that? 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"
"rd like to oblige you, father. l sup
pose l must marry some day, but it will
be some one l love, and then, Philadel-
phia like, insist on a woman of good
family"
''See here, Phil" exclaimed the father,
who by this time was at white heat,
"you never knew me to break my word
l merely ask you to marry for your own
good. I point out wife in every way
suitable to you. Marry to please me,
and 1 will not only start you fairly in
life now, but leave you all have when
am gone. Marry to suit some foolish
fancy of your own, and rll-,yes, I'll
found an asylum for idiots. Now you
understand me-" And Briggs marched
off, leaving his son to his meditations.
'If stay here" said Philip to him
self, father and | will quarrel. Better
give the dear old gentleman a chance to
cool off. III ruralize little"
That afternoon Philip packed a port
manteau, and with fishing rod and
mineral hammer, started off to Mont
gomery county, where an old college
mate of his had married and settled,
and whom he had long promised to visit.
When he arrived there he learned that
Boudinot and his wife had gone to Long
Branch for the season, and their SER
wants with them, the house being in
charge of caretaker. Philip heard Of
| good fishing in stream four miles off,
and concluded to try it. He found lodg-
ings at "A farmhouse near the place, owned
| by man named Seth Cooper.
But neither that day nor that week did
he see any woman other than Mrs. Coop
er or the hired girl.
As he sat upon the veranda one after
| noon debating the matter, "a wagon was
| driven up the lane and stopped at the
| door. Lightly out stepped young wo-
man In a neat travelling dress, and the
| driver followed her with large trunk,
under which he staggered, burly as he
was. Mrs. Cooper came from the kitch-
EN- and exclaimed: "Why, it's Gwenny,
declare|
| you dear old Aunty Ruth" said the
newcomer, huggng and kissing the far
| mer's wife. Il came to have Il good
| time for MONTH"
"And so you shall, my dear" was the
hearty reply.
Philip took an ocular inventory of the
looks, dress and manner of the new
conner as he took off his hat. "A sweet
face and graceful figure and presentable
anywhere" was his internal comment.
Here's luck. shall not visit the Branch
yet"
"You have boarder, aunty, said the
girl when upstairs with Mrs. Cooper.
"Yes; he's Mr.. Bee" said the other.
at don't look as if he had any call to
work for his living, judging by his white
hands and his fix ups, and he's plenty of
money"
bee! Then he isn't busy bee. But
he's good looking; if he be agreeable
he'll do for walking stick"
Mrs Cooper's mistake rs to Philip was
natural enough When she had asked
his name on his coming he had said in
his airy way, "Philip b., at your serv-
ice" and she had taken the sound of the
Initial for his surname After she had
called him Mr., Bee several times Philip
saw the blunder, smiled at it, and, as the
naval officers say, "made it So" and
when GHenny came tc the table she was
introduced, "Miss Gwenny, Mr.. Bee.
AS she was the niece he concluded he
name to be Cooper, but as the farmer ad
dressed her as Miss Gwenny and tn,
farmers wife as Gwenny, Philip chos
tho more respectful Of the two.
AS Philip was gallant young gentle
man, and as the young lady was charm
ing in manner, he naturally paid he
much attention. When young MAJ
and young woman are thrown togethe
under such circumstances, it is not un
usual for a Irritation TO follow. 1t |
generally foregone conclusion.
Philip soon learned that "Gwenny
was the diminutive of Gwenllian, ant
not of the more stilted Gwendoline, whicl
i .at ~ IL l., 4,