Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-28

trusting his niece's entire fortune in the
very hands in which he had himself trusted
and lost the bulk of his own.
Seth had fallen IN love with Kate at first
sight-of her grandmother's will. which he
had read over for amusement in the probate
Office one day. From that document he
learned thatsshe was heiress to cool hun
dred thousand, in her own right, in ready
cash, which her uncle Walter Orville, was
appointed trustee TO keep till her marriage
or majority. The money. Seth knew, was
snug in the vault of Goshawk s. Guldridge,
and the question was how to transfer the
amount to the credit side of his own bank
book
He lost no time in declaring the state of
his feelings, which Uncle Walter seemed
to reciprocate, if Kate didn't I won't
say positively that Archie Warham had
anything to do with the GOODNESS of
Seth's reception on her part. Apparently
visits Archie's suddenly ceased and
Kate tossed her pretty head and didn't
seem to care.
What with Uncle Walters backing, his
own perseverance and Archie Variants
demoralized retreat, Seth felt that his
chances were by no means desperate. He
could afford to wait. He was not an impa-
tient lover. His own finances were easy,
and as long as Hates money was secure
there was no need of haste But a terrible
awakening came that day whel men rushed
to and fro. startling each other with the
announcement:
''Goshawk & Guldridge have failedp'
As have intinated. the blow felf on Seth
with double force. With the depletion of
his own pocket departed all hope of its re-
pletion from Hates. To withdraw, before
acceptance. a matrimonial offer, the .'con-
sheraton of which, N legal parlance. ha6,
failed, struck him as the first thing to be
done under the circumstances; anu for that
purpose Seth presented himself without de-
lay before Uncle Walter, whom he found at
his Office looking as serene as if nothing
had happened, the imperturbable old stoicl
81 suppose you've heard the news" he
began
Uncle Walter had heard it.
Seth felt hesitancy in proceeding. 1t
was rather awkward confessing that money
had anything to do with proposal in which
he had always professed his heart alone to
be concerned. He had no objection to the
truths being elegantly UNDERSTOOD but
hurting it right out was little embarrass-
ing.
But Seth never shirked duty-to him
self With much circumlocution, and by
ways that were indirect, he managed at last
to made himself understood to Uncle Wal
ter.
The old gentleman didn't seem much
taken aback There was d touch of con-
tempt in his tone as he thanked his visitor
for the very unnecessary pains he had
taken, and when he bowed Seth out the
latter felt considerably cheaper than be-
fore he entered.
Uncle Walter got home early that even
ing. If he was angry at finding Archie
Warham there he didn't show it. Kate
looked as happy as though she hadn't lost
penny, but found instead, a treasure worth
all the world.
Don't mind it, uncle" she cried. ''You
see don't, and I've heard all about it.''
"And l suppose you've heard it, too,''
said Uncle Walter, turning sharply on
Archie, as if suspecting that he too had
come to recant.
Now. don't be angry, uncle, DEAR"
coaxed Kate. I'D have been glad TO
marry Seth Dodge to please you, but
"ConfoGnd Seth Dodge" growled Uncle
Walter.
But, you see, I couldn't love him. y Kate
land II did love Archie, and
and
Uncle Walter didn't break out in a pas
sion, and that encouraged Kate to go on.
''And Archie has asked me to be his,
without any money, and-and-I've prom
ised; and he says you shall live with US and
he'll work for US both.'
He's a genuine good fellow! broke in
Uncle Walter, shaking Archie's hands.
1t was a quiet little wedding, that of
Archie and Kate. 1t came off one bright
morning while all Hobblegate was too
much agog with the recent financial shock
to think of anything else.
When Kate kissed Uncle Walter good
bye, before starting on her unpretending
wedding tour, the old gentleman slipped
folded paper into her hand. She opened it
with an exclamation of surprise. 1t was a
check on one Of the first city banks Tor
s100, 600.
You see,'' said Uncle Walter 'T'd a
lurking suspicion that all WASN'T right with
those scamps, Goshawk & Guldridge, and
so checked out your money three days be-
fore they failed"
About the same time another wedding
took place. Seth Dodge kept his losses to
himself, and without loss of time offered
MS heart and hand to Miss Elvira Fen
goose. She accepted both at sight Miss
1ivira was maiden of forty-odd autumns,
md not to be called handsome-except on
-he principle that handsome is that hand
some has. Seth knew her to be the pos
SCISSOR of a goodly batch of bonds, from
which she derived a handsome income by
,utting off the coupons.
The morning after the wedding, Seth
of course-that circum-
stances over which he had no control had
eft him little short of cash at present; in
act, and not to put too fine point upon it,
leucedly hard up.
Elvira stopped his mouth with kisses,
'd9ing in between them.
Never mind, hubby. dear Why, that
ascally Goshawk & Guldridge ran off with
IL of my bonds; but it does not worry me
bit, now that have got you, you know"
l am afraid it wouldn't be nice to PRINT
What Seth said next