Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-14

the mild kind OF dissipation whbcn IN
enioved By virtue of her Office. At al
routs. ketIledrums, parties and the op
era, or wherever Lefty went. Cartel
Cooke was sure To be: and Lefty suffered
him To assume tine right OF prospective
ownership in way that drove all othe1
suitors from the field Lefty made nc
secret Of her feelings, and wore her en-.
gagement ring openly. Mrs. Burroughs
who liked Cooke, tacitly aided and
abetted. IL soon became known tina,
Bittles frowned on Cooke, and folk
were curious to learn how the adaiI
would end, as though. in such q case
with two willful young persons, it could
end in any way but one. Bittles wa
duly informed Of his open courtship. and
the lectures he wed on Lefty in con
sequence only increased his wards dis
like to himself. until it deepened 70 posi-
tive aversion.
Bittles trusted to time and the chances.
He did not believe that Lefty, when the
pinch came, would sacrifice so large q
portion Of her property for mere girlish
love, which might he destroyed at any
time by lovers quarrel; nor that Cooke
whom he had brought himself TO telievs
had mercenary motives, would care &c
take her with so much less money. Nins
thousand wear to one of Lettys expen
site habits meant almost exclusive rural
residence: and he knew THAI Lefty did
not like living in the country, except
during the time Of flowers and sunshine
and then varied by Newport and Sara
toga. Bittles waited. not without hope
He had calculated on an ally 10 hi:
sister. and, to insure her co operation
te.id her Of his hopes and fears. She
asiughed at him.
James," she said. this is the moe'
absurd thing possible. She is about hall
your age You have staid, old bachelor
habits, and Lefty, though she's a goo
girl is fond Of life. society and racket
She'd drive you mad in six months, and
put you in the grave in less than a year
IF you must make an exhibition Of your
self matrimonialiy. choose some ricI
widow Of 80 to 80. who would suit yor
better"
Hang rich widows.
Quite polite AMI complimentary, con
sidering that am i dow with a com
Portable income You had better give il
up have sounded Lefty TO the depths
and know that she loves Young Cooke
and he is--barring fortune-a capita
mate for her. would have preferred
her 10 have made richer match, but
they will have enough between them"
mo, they'll not: for will never give
my consent. I'll take her from you-loch
her up, if need be-
you are lawyer. and know better
James. You may refuse your consent
though every one will penetrate youl
motives and laugh at you; but as to thu
locking up-they do such things in play
and novels, not in rea! life"
She is under nv control until she il
81"
"Oh, yes-doubtless: that is, nominal
ly-for three months more. Then shell
marry in spite of you. If you strip hel
of all but FIVE Thousand year. you'll in
cur general rcproach and gain no salts
faction in the long run. The best yol
can do is 70 keep off the wedding for q
short time. Give in. lf you were ter
years younger might strain point tG
help you---IIot az it is.
As the Irisi, peasant girls saw, Ssh.
was as stiff as he was stout" and Bittle.
fell back on his move of the forfeiture
which he thought would deter both par,
ties for some time, and. in the mean
while. no one could tell what a chance
quarrel. q newer face or the whims Of t
woman might do.
Just then fate seemed 70 come To IL,
assistance Of the guardian lover. 1t as
suued the shape of new sutton, o.
so'iie''ine "Ae IL, aho' 70 '''e oei'ei. 81
,i,,ieS' " Was a'S' '"e''i'a''--" 1J
ooiilhs'
ire ngnt nie, 'hought n'tties'
MAJ RIM oei'ins was co,s'deraoi,'
olaef 'hah .arter Cooke, as ne shouie
nave %eh' since ne haa i"hgnt III 'ii'
sectioha' war r'd'ieh WIN oeo etuar.
anu lasted me horrors OF prison me al
ti'iifa' Org 'haiiy IN ,oini"rtaoie err
cunstances' the war had stripped HIM OF
much, and reduced INN to a plantation
on tlde"ater' large nut not prohtabie
ana some houses al RICHMOND whose
rents formed his income. The lnaJol
was OF the Old school, popular with tbs
ladies. to whom he showed respect
almost reversntial. and liked 70 come
north Tor TWO or three months-his WIN
ter'ng there. anu his summering al the
White Sulphur, consuming his surplus
means. lie was very much attracted b,
Le'fy Archer ana she 'ihed 70 cha' VIII
ma ana uf;'~ out ms ola tasiiloned
courtesy. They moved IN the same sci
anu met frequently
Garter CooLe vas a. thi. time ca,,.t
sontbward nm buc;ness and tho m. IN,
al; into b,s Mace IN .p;t. NJ h;s vee,,
and disn,ave an attentiveness that Led
people TO suspect that he had preten
s;ons tn the surprise Of Ms Rnr
rouehs this grew into an almost conf
dental intimacy Cooke seemed to bav.
heen forpotten in his absence and R;t
tles cbncklad n. Gallant ex-oF,ce,
showed himself tn be under a snrll and
EXPRESSED his admiration IN the mos,
nos;t;ra term.
II assuah YOU. INV deah madam. said
he to the widow. that Miss Abchub ia q
Young lady. that. besides her youth and
beauty. has mo- Of the cotelv mannah q,
the fuhst families of Vireiniah than an,
,o,,.,.,e .h..uL
had the good fawchune to meet vet in
society"
Lefty and the major got along ia
mously. and his adulation apparently
quite supplied the absence of Cooke
This was supplemented by the a.,ep,