San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-01-29
whats up now?'

=
that I have always been taxed beyond
reason.
81 think that there are few of us who
would not find fault with almost any
rate of taxation. Well, what can I do
for your"
First, forget what have said if you
cam" replied Tom, with sudden
change of tone. "a man must grumble
about something, suppose, or he would
not be human. 1t might as well be taxes
as anything else. presume I shall be
taxed nearly Sc, 900 this year, shall l
not?"
ct may get it reduced $500 or $500
by proving that your financial condition
does not warrant so large rate of tax
ation."
"That would really be proclaiming
that I am hard up. No, don't do that.
If must sink, prefer to sink with fly
ing colors."
"Who is talking of sinking?"
ct am. I tell you, Parkhurst, have
got myself in a tight place"
"How so?'
Suppose I am obliged to fight
breach of promise case?"
"You can't afford it this year, my
boy. 1t would mean financial ruin
81 am afraid shall have to do it,
ruin or no ruin. very foolishly pro-
posed to Ridgway's cousin and was ac-
cepted"-
"Do you refer to Miss Margaret
Blake?"
"Yes. Do you know her?''
Every well. Tom, you surprise me.
Why did yoa do that?'
1T had not seen her.
"I should think notp' This was said
with such energy that Tom was sure the
lawyer had no higher opinion of the
personal appearance of the young lady
in question than he himself had formed.
Sander has always seemed to be a
friend whom one could trust" he said
apologetically. "We have told each 9th
er everything for the last five years. he
saw that / was worried about that
beastly tax and suggested this plan as a
way out of the difficulty. He represent
ed Miss Blake as beautiful, graceful
everything, in fact, that man could
ask for except that she might be little
too high tempered"
"Ridgway always worshiped his
cousin. Still, I must say that you have
shown a surprising lack of common
sense. Had you thought Of buying a
horse Of Ridgway you would have in
sisted ON seeing it first. "
81 didn' : have much time, you know. "
"Oh, we'll, 1 guess it is not as bad as
it might be. Miss Blake is quite music
al and she has very pleasant manners,
I believe; at least they seemed pleasant
in the country. can hardly think of
her as a city girl / have an idea that
she will appear very differently from
the girls whom you have usually danced
attendance upon.
81 am sure of it," groaned Tom.
"Parkhurst, I'm thinking of breaking
the engagement.
"Have you counted the COST"
81 presume it will pinch me for
year or two"
"Pinch you'll Man alive, it will ruin
your prospects for life. Not only will
there be heavy fine for the broken en-
gagement, but the breach of promise
suit
perhaps Miss Blake will not sue"-
Don't fiatter yourself. She will !
know her better than you do. She wi
like nothing better. 1t will give her
Just the advertisement she wants before
becoming a public singer.
"Does she mean to study for the
stage?"
$50 / am told"
Worse and worse " Tom groaned
more dismally than before. He looked
so wretched that the lawyers heart be-
came almost sympathetic. There was
silence between the two men for several
minutes. Then Parkhurst said seriously:
81 don't believe should break that
engagement if were you, Tom. "
"How can I go on? l have virtually
promised to appear with her in society,
and If / should break even that part OF
the contract
"She has you in her power and no
mistake. II you lose everything, You
will be in q more unhappy condition
than you will should you play the de-
voted lover to Daisy. You may be
chaffed for your odd preference, but if
you carry yourself well it will only be