Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-11
AT CROSS PURPOSES.

"Philip," said old John Briggs to his
son, lyon are % years old to-day"
$50 the family record says, father" re-
sponded the elegant young gentleman ad-
dressed. 81 am disposed to place i'm
piicit reliance upon it and on you"
"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-Ioc and scythe will kill me-"
"You are too fippant. Since your
AUNT Priscilla left you i've thousand
year you have done nothing but spend
the money. Your income ought to be
enough for single man, but you draw
on me, too"
an try TO draw on you less, sir"
at is not that. Philip. You are quite
welcome TO q check now and then, for L
know that you neither game nor revel,
and | don't mind your horses, your club,
your natural history craze, nor your luxu'
rious tastes. But still you spend more
money and get less for it than most
young men of your aPe-haVe too much,
in fact"
81 don't find it too much, sir. In frct
| was thinking what graceful thing 1t
would DE if you would double it = mere
trifle TO gentleman of your means.
have 10 use the most pitiful economy,
assure you"
'Oh, that's it, en-? Well, there Is a mode
TO increase it very much. Yon have
heard me speak of Philander Spriggs, of
New York;"
''Money-le and ssinfint? 1 have
heard of him."
'Nonsense, Philip. He is quite worthy
al nv hp
prefers 70 INCEST ready money in short
loans, what of thatY l lend my money,
or part of it, sometimes"
"But not at cent per cent
"No matter. l don't propose that you
shall borrow of him. He has an only
child, a daughter, Who will inherit all his
best property, just Is you will mine"
"Does she shave notes, fatherw
"PhiI, be kind enough rot to indulge In
chaff | have seen her and talked with
her. She is young, handsome, we'll edu
Gated, 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 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 a half million on You
on your wedding day. With what you
have you'll do well enough for while"
But" demurred Philip, 81 don't like
Sprlggs for q father-in-law."
'Stuff! you don't marry Spriggs."
"And the name! Think of it,!
Spr-r-iggs!
"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"
"I'd like to oblige you, father. l sup
pose l must marry some day; but it will
be some one l love; and then, Philsdel-
phia like, insist on 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 courss you're en-
titled to that. The peerage of England
is full of Viscount Briggses. The
Briggses are found in the Almanac Won
Gotha Smong the erlausht families. Your
grandfather made $3.50, in hides and
taIlow, and if he had not invested it IN
real estate that multiplied itself more
than ten fold before ne died, l should
have been in the same business to-day,
and you in the counting room or ware
house. Family, indeed! You're foolish
boy, Philip, and your aunt's legeo. has
ruined YOU"
II wish, sir, there were a half-dozeG
more old aunts to -ontinue my ruin in
the same way. 1t is of no use getting
angry, father. You can't keep it up. I'll
take TO anything You say-law, physic, or
divinity; sell my horses, iroL my club,
nv h. mt IN mo
cuse me-"
''See here, Phil" exclaimed the father,
who by this time was at his white heat,
'syou never knew me TO break my word ]
merely ask you TO marry for your own
good. | point out wife in every way
suitable to you. Marry to please me, and
l will not only start you fairly in life now
but leave you all | have when 1 am gone
Marry to suit some foolish fancy of your
own and I'il-yes, I'll found an asylum
for idiots. Now You understand me-" AuG
Briggs marched off, leaving his son to hi
meditations.
''If stay here" said Philip to himself
"father aud l will quarrel. Better givs
the dear old cen Iem6n q chance TO coo
off. I'll rnralizs little"
That afternoon Philip pa ked port
msnteau, and with tishing-rod and min
eral hammer started off TO Montgomery
county, where an old college mate of hi
had married and settled, one of whom h'
had long promised to visit. When he ar
rived there he learned that Boudinot and
his wife had gone to Long Branch for tn:
season, and their servants with them, TIT
house being in charge of care-taker
Philip heard of good fishing in stream
four miles off, and concluded to try II
He found lodging at farm house pea
the place, owned By man named Setl
Cooper.
His quarters were quite comfortable
The house was an old stone buildin!
of ante revolutionary erection, and wa
roomy. He was assigned chamber up
stairs, looking out on a trinity kept gar
den, in which old-fashioned flowers an
pot herbs were growing side by side, an
which sent a pleasant fragrance; throug