The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1889-06-22
MRS. COOPER's NIECE.

"You have done nothing since you left col.
lege.but kill time"
7'It is only retaliation in advance, sir: Some
day or other the old gentleman with the scalp
lock and scythe will kill me-"
"You are too fiippant Since your Aunt
Priscilla left you $4,000 year you have done
nothing but spend the money. Your income
ought to be enough for single man, but you
draw on me too"
"Tll try to draw on you less, sir"
"It is not that, Philip. You are quite wei
come to a 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 and get less fol
it than most young men of your age; have toe
much, in fact"
'I don't find it too much, sir. In fact, was
thinking what graceful thing it would be il
you were to double it, a mere trifie to gentle
man of your means. l have to use most pitt
full economy, assure you"
"Oh, that's it, eh? WE'LL 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 a worthy as
| well 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, some
| times"
"But not at cent per cent.
'rNo matter don't propose that you shall
borrow of him. He has an only child, a
ty, Just as you will mine"
"Does she shave notes, fatherW
'Phil, be kind enough not to indulge in
chaff. She is young, handsome, well educated
and has good tates."
"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 concluded if you two come to-
gether, to chip in equally and settle half
million on you on your wedding day. With
what you have you'll do well enough for
awhile"
But demurred Philip, II don't like
Spriggs for father-in-law."
''Stuff! You don't marry Spriggs:"
"And the name. Just think of it! Spr-r-
7'What of that? With marriage the name is
changed. 1 don't think she'll gain much by.
it. Spriggs-Briggs. Six of one and half
dozen of the other"
ard like to oblige you, father. 1 suppose
must marry some day, but it will be some one
love, and then, Philadelphia like 1 insist on
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. Imerely ask you
to marry for your own good. 1 point out a
WlI0 IN every way Suitable 10 you. marry "
please me- and 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 Pll--yes, I'll found an asylum
for idiots. Now you understand me-" And
Briggs marched off, leaving his son to his med
itatiOns.
"If l stay here" said Philip to himself
''father and 1 will quarrel. Better give the
dear old gentleman chance to cool off. I'll
ruralize little.
"That afternoon Philip packed portman-
teau and with fishing rod and mineral ham,
mer, started off to Montgomery 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 servants with
them, the house being in charge of a caretaker.
Philip heard of good fishing in a stream four
miles off, and concluded to try it,, He found
lodging at 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. Cooper or the
hired girl.
As he sat upon the veranda one afternoon
debating the matter a wagon was driven up
the lane and stopped at the door. Lightly out
stepped young woman in neat travenng
dress, and the driver followed her with large
trunk, under which he staggered, burly as he
was. Mrs. Cooper came from the kitchen and
exclaimed: "Why, it's Gwenny, declareW
"You dear old Aunty Ruth !" said the new
conner, hugging and kissing the farmers wife
II came to have good time for month"
"And so you shall, my dear" was the hearty
reply:
Philip took an occular inventory of the looks,
dress and manner of the newcomer 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 a boarder, aunty," said the girl
when upstairs with Mrs Cooper.
"Yes, he's Mr. Bee," said the other 1T
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 a
walking stick"
Mrs. Cooper's mistake as to Philip was natur-
al enough. When she had asked his name on
his coming he had said in his airy way,
| "Philip B., at your service" 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
| Gwenny came to the table she was introduced,
sMiss Gwenny, Mr.. Bee" AS she was the
niece he concluded her name to be Cooper, but
| as the farmer addressed her as Miss Gwenny
and the farmers wife as Gwenny, Philip chose
the more respectful of the two.
AS Philip was gallant young gentleman,
|
ner, he naturally paid her much attention.
| When a young man and woman are thrown
| together under such circumstances, it is not
unusual for Irritation to follow. 1t is gener-
| ally fOrgone conclusion.
Philip soon learned that "Gwenny" was the
dminutive of Gwenlain, and not of the more
stilted Gwendoline, which interested him.
Philips mother had been a Powell with
| Welsh blood in her veins, and bore the same
name This latter Gwenlain was mystery to
| him. For the niece of coarse farmer, fol
! Cooper, though worthy man, was the reverse
| of refined, she displayed dunquestionabl gentle
1 manners. Then she showed fair knowledge
| of any subject touched upon in conversation
What was she. teacherP She had not the
look nor the way of a school ma'am. gov
erness? Possibly. If So in good family
But her belongings were not of the second
hand kind. Philip had keen eye for female
| apparel Her lace was of the rarest her gloves
| were perfect and of the newest; her dresses
were pretty in material and well fitting, though
| quiet in tone; and though she displayed little
in the way of jewelry, the stone that sparkled
on the head of a lace pin was Enthusiastically 9
diamond. She had been well cultured, and
every word and action showed purity that
| fitted her name.
On the other hand, Philip was as much a
mystery to the young girl. He was gentle
man beyond doubt. But what was he doing
there, man of culture, refinement and asthet
ic tastes, in that farm house? He had said
nothing of the BOudinots which would have
explained it. With little affectation of Gym
icism, which did not i'll become him, the man
was as clear as water, frank as air. But why
did he loiter there with no apparent purposes
The girl did not at first deem she was the at
traction, but it came to her after five weeks
and she grew shy, and her shyness for the
last week of her stay inflicted Philip, who be
came shy, too, and lost all ease. AT length she
announced to Mrs. Cooper that she had to re
turn home, and that her father who was il
| PHILADELPHIA visiting q friend there, would