The Opelousas courier., 1898-06-18

his forehea | and glared at his nepl
ew.
"doing to marry Lucia Frothine
,, 4 NAM he cityl, after gasping awhile
4 IN sheer .dismay. You idiot!' .
i Thanks" a the cool reply. $.
know you do not admire the lady,
but where there is a strong mutua
! love"
Strong mutual fddlestickv' inter.
rupted Uncle Colema., contemptuous.
ly. You may love her; she is pretty
and fascinating, but what size loves is
your bank account, my boy. 1 knew
1t would be SO when your Aunt Jennie
lett you a cool hundred thousand. But
boys will be boys. Only, for good
ness sake, wait a year OF two before
you saddle yourself with a wife"
II am u, sir" with an immense
air of dignity.
"And [ an Ga! Now, Frank. do
hear reason. Lucia rockingham is a
fascinating woman, touching the thir-
ties, If not already over the line
finished firt and as m~ercenary as she
IS pretty. [ know her, and 1 tell you
her affection is centred upon your
Aunt Jeanie's legacy and the half mil
lion IN perspective at my bankers"
"Uncle Coleman" cried his neph-
CIV, holly. II never thought of it, much
less spoke of it."
II don't suppose you ever did.
Having always had an independent in
come, I don't think you ever counted
on a dead mans shoes. But Miss
rockingham was educated in the hard
school of genteel poverty, and a rich
husband is the prize for which she
has studied and toiled, for-well, say
ten years. She was in society before
you were done playing with tops
and marbles"
"Uncle Coleman, you are speaking
Of my betrothed wife, remember"
"Hem!'
"Years are of nc consequence where
there is true love-"
"Hem!"
"And I love Lucia as she loves
me-"
"Not a bit Of it,"
Tomorrow she goes to Saratoea,s
and If you can spare me I will go,
too"
"And the business in Hartford? T
should advise you to attend to all
matters belonging to your aunt's es-
tate as soon as possible, Frank"
ut may keep me in Hartford a
month";" said Frank, disconsolately.
Coleman Burke looked with a pity
ing affection at his young relative
such aboy yet in many matters, though
he had reached "man's estate"
ga month that may settle your
whole fortune" he said. "Remember
do not fall heir to a hundred
thousand dollars more than once in a
,
II suppose I must CO." !
SIT will be best. Besides" added :
Uncle Coleman, dryly, lit will be a +
good test of your lady loves con- {
stancyi" {
II am not afraid of her forgetting :
said Frank, loftily.
"Yon are actually engaged?" t
Certainly! I bought a diamond ;
ing at -s yesterday and put it t
her taper finger last evening"
Hem! Well, the fool-killer hasn't Y
been here lately, that's certain. There,
off and let me finish my paper in a
'eace. You will go to Hartford?" ii
eyes"
But after his nephew left him, Cole :
nan Burke let his paper lie idly upon
lis lap, while he fell into a fit of mus "
ng, often interrupted by impatient
jaculations. He was a man, as he
lad said, past 60, and he had been a h
hildless widower for 80 years, while n
little graves beside that Of his
life recorded the heart history Of his a
fe.
When he had lived lonely and a sim CT
ere for many long years, his
and wife died, leaving Frank, IS
curly-headed boy, to the care Of his Il
'ncle Coleman. All the long-sealed q
of love in the desolated oil
cart opened to pour out their affec- ce
upon the child. He was truly &c
lie very sunlight of the old mans ex- 81
tence, and though his manner had di
cen cynical, his heart lad been sorely he
rung by the announcement of his en- ye
.gement, but not from any paltry
or mercenary motive. Had tn
rank loved a true, tender woman, III
ere she a beggar, his uncle would
I'VE given her a father'slove and vel an
But by the light of his own to
lief married happiness he read the Or
isery in store for his nephew if he to
Lucia rockingham. a firt, ex- ap
avagant and selfish. How to save Ia
m was costing the old man torturing
Active opposition would
IIy strengthen what was now but a tel
,yish infatuation, and yet saved he on
1st be. Suddenly a light broke over aft
,Ieman Burke's face, and he rose go
I'm his chair and went to a long mir
r in the room. The reflection was
t calculated to waken vanity, yet the
l man smiled, well pleased. ha
Eff I can only carry it out, it will be sal
oof positive" he thought. gr'
Short, fat, nearly bald, with spec ali
lies and a cane, Coleman Burke was ha
rtainly q strong contrast to the tall, q t
ndsome fellow who had won Lucia
his promised bride, yet he said de
,ud: gu
atI'll cut him outf' TO
4 week later all the fashionables at IN
!, G. hotel, Saratoga, knew tho
Coleman Burke was intending to yo'