San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-13

feel That IshGl be doing more good IN the
world than could in any other way. II
| you ask me II love Mr.. Spence. caudor
| compels me to say that 10 not IL you
ask me if am particularly happy at toe
| prospect Of marrying him. ! must say
| that am not. BuC il seems to me the
best chance that is likely to ofer re.
spect him thoroughly. and. as you say
the rest may follow y lite devoted to
a noble theory is better suited to my
tastes ana capacities tnan the control OF
II large fortune
You are little morbid, Virginia.
he interrupted My original impression
| is confirmed This is no matcn TOR vou
| ! warn you against the danger Of OccUm
ing addicted to fads aud isms You
Aunt Agnes his maie herself ridiculous
anu alleuated all her friends by just such
Il course 1 have not a word to say
against a thorough education. Us you
must we'll know; bur when a woman be.
gins to talk about devoting ner life to
the principles OF philosophy. Look out!
say |. 1t is not natural she needs
new bonnet, and few bulls and parties
But even supposing you marry this Socra-
tes and become as learned as he. how is
that inconsistent with taking Gaze OF
your fortuHe:"
81 thought ! toll you, father" said.
Told roe whac:'
That Aiy Space objected to my
fortune"
Objected. did he? How is he to help
himself? Besides, the money is mine I'M
til | am dead If he is So internally
| proud he needn't touch any of it until
then | fancy ne might get tired of
| waiting.
You don't understand, father. Mr.
Spence wants me 20 agree never to touch
any of it He doesn't think it right for
people to keep more than a certain
amount. just enough to provide for their
actual needs 1t is one of the principles
ne believes in 1t is part of his sys-
tenn"
"Principlesl System! Is the girl
crazy"
| y
Know" | exclaimed earnestly, deter.
mined, now that had entered on the
matter, to dispute it with vigor. BAT
are you sure that you are in the right:
| What is the use of so much money to a
| woman? You want me to make the
| most Of the fortune it has taken you all
your life 10 get together. Is it not pos
sible that in reuouncing it should be
doing that? New ideas have to en-
counter opposition. but they are not all
70 be presumed unsolnd on that account.
There may be more sense in those Of Mr..
Spence than you suppose. By setting
this example of moderation, | may be
able to give an impetus to truth that
will De of real service to mankind. Be
sides, women are different from men,
father They find more comfort and
happiness in devotion to something like
this than in the practical details of life.
| have had some experience. | have seen
society. and tiHuY the WEAKNESS of a
merely social existence As | have al
ready told you. believe | should be
more content with Mr. Spence than with
any one else need sympathy and an
interest. am morbid, perhaps; but
there is every chance of my becoming
more so unless you let me have my way
in this matter Leave your money to
some deserving charity or college: father,
and let me marry Dir. Spence"
Deserving charity or college! That
from the lips of my own daughter!
have wanted to interrupt you Il dozen
times to tell you how foolish and sense
less is the rubbish you were talking.
And now that | have heard you to the
end, am speechless. You are crazy! !
repeat it, crazy! You are fit only for a
convent or lunatic asylum had bet
ter find another heir.
He covered his face with his hands,
and could see his whole form tremble
Father. cried, IF | were only sure
that you are not mistaken!"
We sat without another word being
! spoken for many minutes At last he
lay back in his chair with the weary air
intensified which | had noticed when
told him Of Mr. Spences offer, and said
in a tone in harmony with that:
You have been brolght up, Virginia,
like all American girls. to have your own
way | have given yOu every indulgence
and liberty Your smallest wish has
been regarded In the multitude of my
business cares have merely had time to
observe you in general way. But
| supposed the serious and absorbed air
which your face has worn came from the
interest Of your studies, and that those
studies were fitting you for the WORK
had planned for you. | wish now that
you had never touched book in your
life. Better, in my opinion, to be the