The Van Buren press., 1898-10-22

ChlCli but Tue oAlg lSdiiH Clib iblS
match at the place.
Cousin Belle decided that something
must be done. Her coveted prize was
slipping from her grasp, so at the first
opportunity she RECALLED Jack with the
history of the Van Tassel family, and
closed her recital of their cireum-
stances in these words:
Nice people enough, you know; old
Dutch and all that; but there's skele-
ton in the family. they say, some
where, cousin or somebody did some
thng--I don't know exactly what OF
vhen-disgraceful; and then her
mother was only a poor music teacher
who played al parties, and later, when
she got ON bit, sang in some really
nice concerts. That's how Mr.. Van
Tassel met her. She played at his
mothers parties. You see Mrs. Van
Tassel wanted to help the girl, and
that's what she got for doing it. John
| Van Tassel was young and he fell in
| love with the handsome music teacher
| She died when Miss Van Tassel was
Il
sci, they say, died of grief at her loss;
| but that, you know, is all bosh-men
are not made that way. The aunt
! adopted her, and, with her limited
means, she educated her and tried TO
! push her; but, you see, she's failed
She's caught no flies in her web, and
now she's 30, she isn't likely to, they
say"
Jack listened with an amused smile
for this little cousin of his was yet
| young in the art of diplomacy, and
her malice was very perceptible.
"You would not advise me to pro
pose to her, then?" he queried. you
know I've been seriously thinking late
| ly of settling down-of marrying, in
fact-and | thought that probably a
girl of 30 would be more suitable for
man of 40 tired of the little whirl-
| pools of society, than girl of 20. Miss
Van Tassel is the most attractive cir
of 30 | ever saw
You surely would not think of herV
cried Belle, with genuine horror
"Why, they keep only one girl, and
when she entertains at luneheon-a
cheap sort of entertaining. by the way
she prepares most of the dishes her
self, and then appears, all fused up
afterward, as though she hadn't dont
thing, and as if they had 40 servants
And. do you know? they can't afforc
to have even their gowns made. She
makes everything they wear, and they
live away over west-two hundred ant
something. My! if they were not Var
Tassels they'd be nowhere in society
-nobodies. As it is, they are JUS
| tolerated"
| Just as we are tolerated because ol
our money, earned a hundred year.
ago, by our grandfather--an honest
farmer--by his investment in land il
Harlem. The property went up, ant
SO did the family, We are nabobs, not
because we are Rurhvens, but because
we have money. Society, as it is tech
nically known, worships money anC
dry goods. Give me the girl who, like
Miss Van Tassel knows how to make
! the home; she's a good possession fol
any man. A fig for society! Not one
word you have said but has raised
Miss Van Tassel in my regard, as
it would with anybody, excepting the
conceited snobs and do-nothings, who
were perhaps nobodies 20 or 30 years
ago. Really fine families do not draw
the line at the things you have men
toned. / am all the more decided tc
propose to Miss Van Tassel. She may
refuse me. ! hope not, for | thinl
money and family a good combin
alton, myself. You should approve
cousin mine, for it's quite the thing
in society to join in wedlock family
and hard cash"
Cousin Belle bit her lip, as was usua
with her when vexed, but only said:
Jack, you're incorrigible. l dom
believe you mean a word you say!"
Sailing, driving, dancing, walking
these were the daily occupations o
"the pair" as they were now called
by all the boarders at the hotel. who
looked on with eager interest to SET
how the matter would end.
Cousin Belle became desperate, anC
held many conversations with hel
aunt-Jack's mother-in which Miss
Van Tassel was called that designing
creature" "the passe girl" and Other
disparaging things. The aunt listened
and at first said little. Later, how
ever, she expressed her convictions
quite freely.
my dear Belle" she said, at is real
| ly quite kind of you to take such ar
interest in Jacks welfare, and to war;
me in this way, but | have given the
matter much thought and have come
/ to the conclusion that Jack cannot dc
better than to marry Miss Van Tassel
who is certainly charming girl. She
| is devoted to her aunt, who assures
me she is a great comfort to her. She
has many domestic virtues which will
make for peace and happiness in the
home over which she will preside.
can wish no better fortune for Jack
than such a wife. Marriage is a lot
terry, but | am quite willing that he
should take the risks in this case. II
promises well, at any rate, and shall
advise Jack to marry her as soon as
she will have him"
"But. auntie, she is so poor and sc
old"
"She certainly is not old in this
comparison. Her age is suitable to
Jacks. As to her poverty, Jack has
an abundance for both. Her poverty
will end when she becomes his WIFE
Before the summer was over the en-
gagement was announced, and three
| months later Miss Van Tassel was