San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-06-02
A Matrimonial Boom.
By G. H. SANDIS0N.

Tighten Inc on a matter that you don't
seem to care to talk about"
"Why, mother" said Jack, entering
the room, do you regret that | am not
dead after all, then"
what a question" and for a moment
the tears seemed to be ready to spring
afre5h to the poor wOman's eyes Jack,
you know | didn't mean any such thing
as that. But it really was cruel. Here
is the letter. And when | expected to
hear all about a funeral Mile, like the
light headed creature she is, goes off to
visiting and Chattering about men | never
heard of. think | have a ri 5ht to feel
aggrieved."
But, mother dear, the girls were as
much surprised to find me alive and well
apparently as yourself. By the way, the
major is waiting to pay his respects. He
is capital fellow the major, mother and
hope you will like him. He has been
good to the girls; indeed, don't know
what they would have done without
him."
HE has indeed, mamma" said EN-.
Mai. Black is
"Emmeliner' interrupted the widow,
severely. I'm surprised to think that
you and your sister should fall so readily
into the rude manners of the people of
this place and talk about gentlemen
whom YOU cannot possibly know any
thing of more than as casual aCquaint-
anceS. myself will thank Maj Black
f.,r 70 h,r ~ g G,
Jack here ha9n't thought of such a thing"
Jack bit his lip.
Every veil, mother. Just as you
please. Only permit me to suggest that
you should remember we are not in San
Francisco, and that society in mining
camp is formed upon somewhat more
primitive lines than in cities. Don't ex-
pect too much in the way of etiquette
and social distinctions, and you'll get
along here famOusly."
Indeed, l propose to take the girls
home with me as soon as we can leave
this place." retorted the widow with
spirit. Your acquaintance may be
very kind, but it is clearly no place for
them. What would the Cadwalladers
and the FlOrcnces say if they knew that
Mile and En- We're boarding in mining
camp, the only women in the place."
MY dear mamma" said Jack, impress
sively, you will be careful, please, not
to give unnecessary pain to any one here,
for assure You they do not deserve it at
your hands, and it would i'll repay all the
real kindnrs3es they have paid to my
sisters since they came here. Besides,
they and you are the majors guests, and,
in a SENSE, the guests of the Springs.
Why, they actually celebrated the ar
rival of En- and Mile by taking a hol-
day"
The widow looked pleased. 1t was
difficult to say whether vanity or graft
tude was uppermOst, however.
Il confess the major is quite a pre-
sentab!e sort Of person" she said, pres
emily. But he is hardly the kind of
man would care to have paying atten-
tons to either of my daughters. There
is too great a disparity"
"Oh. mammal" cried Mile, placing
her hand to her mothers lips. why
do you talk of such things"
ridiculous, mammal" interposed EN-,
with a furious blush which did not es-
cape Mrs. BrOwning's watChful eye.
Jack laughed heartily.
"Why, mother" he said, the wind
doesn't set in that quarter, hope. At
any rate, you will let the major speak
for himself, and if he needs and deserves
the maternal rebuke, go ahead and let
him have it,
Don't talk nonsense, Jack, exclaimed
the widow severely. you know it's all
your own fault that this thing has hap
pened. You would come out to this ter
rible place, and knew something would
come of IT."
And it has, mother. You see, we're
all here together now, and that's certain
ly conSoling. Now, if you have no OBJ
lection, I'll just step out and see who's
around"
Outside he met Whipple and the major.
To the latter Jack handed the letter his
mother had received, and which had
caused all the trouble. 1t was a note
written in a scrawling hand and Jonas
Black regarded it long and intently.
well, dog my cats" he exclaimed.
EFF l don't believe it's Crenshaw's hand
write. I've seen it afore and it'd be jist
like the cur ter monkey with the mail
and then pay off the man as found him
out with trick like that. It's Cren-
shaw, I'll lay my oath, and eff he wuz
around here at this particular mint !
wouldn't give an ounce of dust fer his
chances, eff the boys only knew about