The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-12-27

TIC now clerk, as he could salely 90 III Ills Gu
pacity Of co-director of the Improvements
company. The young man had considerable
self possession, Marge admitted to himself;
but what would it avail against the fine
methods of man of twice his years, all spent
among men who considered it legitimate
business to pry into the business affairs of
otbersf
So Marge began operations at once; no
time was TO be lost. He had no difficulty in
making his approaches, and his courtesies
were so deity offered that Phil could not
help accepting many of them and feeling
grateful for Kindness rendered The young
mans suspicious were soon dsarmsd, for, like
honorable natures in general, he abhorred
suspicion. That there was a purpose in all
OF Marge's actions Phil could not avoid be-
lieving, but little by little he reached the con-
clusiOn that it was simply to forward the
Improvement company's prospects. As Marge
himself said, Phil knew the company's land
thoroughly, and was the only person who
could talk of it intelligently. Any vestiges
of distfust that remained were swept awuY
when Marge succeeded in having tho privi-
leges of his club extended to Phil for three
months, pending application for admission
1t was a small club, and exclusive; Phil
heard it named almost reverently by some
young men who longed to pass its portals,
and among its members were few men Of q
social set more prominent than that in which
the Tramlays moved.
To Marge's delight, Phil began to spend
money freely at the club; Marge had seen
other young men do likewise, and there was
but one end to be expected if their parents
are not rich. Phil drank no wine, smoked
no cigars, yet when he thought it proper TO
rsxr.., - ~ e
caterer could supply WIS ON the table. He
did not seem to have any other expensive
habits, except that he dressed so carefully
that his tailor's bill must be large; still,
man who gives dinners at clubs must have
plenty of money. From being a source Of
qualification, Pills free use of money began
gradually to cause Marge dismay. Where
did it all come FRONT He could scarcely be
earning 1t in his capacity of junior clerk in
an iron house. Could ID be that Tramlay had
him in training for tho position of son-in-
law, and was paying the cost of introducing
him favorably to the notice of some sets of
New York society to whom he could not
present aim at his own house? Such course
would be quite judicious in father desiring
wider acquaintance for his daughter when
she should become bride; but, if it really
were being pursued, would he, Marge, ever
hear the end OF the rallying to which his own
part in the programme would subject hims
There was more torment in this view Of
the case than Marge had ever experienced in
his life before, and it robbed him at times of
his habitual expression to an extent that was
noticeable and made him the subject of some
club chat. No matter how exclusive a club
may be, no matter how careful in the selec-
ton of its members shat none but gentlemen
may be upon its list, it cannot prevent
small, gradual, but distinct and persistent
aggregation OF gossips-fellows whose ener-
gies, such as they are, tend solely to investi-
CATION of the affairs of their acquaintance.
There was not an hour of the day or night
when several Of these fellows could not be
found at Marge's club, lounging as listlessly
and inconsp!cuously as so many incurables at
hospital but Marge knew by experience that
these were the only fellows worth going to if
he wanted to know all that was being said
about member, particularly ii it was I'M
complimentary. And now, confound them,
possibly they were talking about him, and
intimating that he was being used to improve
the standing of his own rival
Still, as he informed himself all his annov-
ance came from mere supposition, which
might be entirely without foundation. Per-
haps the young man had means of his own;
he had not looked like it when he first ap-
peared in New York, but appearances some
times were deceitful Marge had heard Tram
lay allude to Pills father as an honest old
farmer to whom fortune had not been.any
too generous; but perhaps he had been esti-
mating the old mans possessions only by New
York standards; was it not the farming class
that originally took up the greater part of
the governments great issues of bonds!
And, yet, If the young man had money of
his own or of his fathers, where did he keep
its Had he ever displayed a check, to indi-
cate his banking place, Marge would have
found ways of ascertaining the size and ma.
ture of his account But, though he had sew
eral times seen Phil pay bills which were
rather large tho settlements were always
made with currency. Was it possible, Marge
asked himself, that the traditional old stock
ing was still the favorite bank of deposit for
the rural community It might have re-
Iieved his mind to know that the country
mans customary method, when he has money,
Is to carry great deal Of currency, and that
instead of making payments by check he
draws bank notes with which to pay.
And so the weeks went on, and Marge did
not accomplish anything that he had intended
when he began to devote himself to the young
man from the country. Phil borrowed no
money, squandered none Mt cards did notrun
into dissipation, offered no condolences, and,
although entirely approachable, was as Sc
cretive about his personal affairs as if he
had been sworn to silence. Even on the SUBJ
Jet Of Lucia, which Marge had cautiously
several times he talked with
,almness that made Marge doubt the evidence
Of his own senses Phil did not even vince
when Marge reminded him of the horse he.
Knew of that would match Marge's own, the
reason assigned being that the sleighing sea-
ION was coming and he you'd be likely to
frequently take the ladies of the Tramlay
family out behind two horses. On the con-
,rary, Phil had the horse found and sent to
New York at his own expense, saying he
could make himself even by selling, in case
,he animal did not please Marge
The horse arrived; he pleased Marge, who
was delighted with the impression the new
cam made upon the family and his acquaint-
,nces generally, Phil included. Marge was
lot equally pleased, however, when within
ew days Farmer Hayn sent his son pair OF
black horses, which, though OF no blood in
particular, had quality of spirit and style
lot to be expected Of high born animals long
accustomed to city pavements and restricted
o the funeral gait prescribed by park COM
nissioners' regulations With their equally
lntamed country bred owner to drive them,