Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-06-17
COUSIN MORRIS.

TO awaken at q second-rate Lon
don hotel with q splitting headache,
knowing you have come to the end of
your resources through folly and ex-
ltrayagance, is not a pleasant reflection.
And Morris Seymour sighed, but
could blame none but himself.
| He was On American, we'll educated,
% years Of age, asturdy, good-looking
young man, whose chief fault was too
much generosity, which his London
acquaintances took every advantage
OF as long rs his money lasted. After
. light breakfast Morris proceeded to
. newspaper Office.
One OF the clerks with whom he
was slightly acquainted) advised try
ing advertising. This suggestion was
not only acceptable, butput to the test,
and IL did not take Morris long to
write out the following;
! 'Situation Wanted - By capable
newspaper clerk, whose many qualifi-
cations include honesty OF purpose and
strict attention to business where en-
ployer's interests are concerned.
Apply -"
The clerk affixed the number T $50.
y Punctually at noon the next day
Morris presented his ticket at the
newspaper Office, receiving one answer
Judge OF his astonishment when he
read the following:
"XYZ: Meet me tonight at 8
o'clock at the entrance to st. Gather
ines docks. Fail Mt your peril. This
is to our mutual advantage"
Examining the envelope he discov-
cred that II was addressed ''T $780,"
but the figure 8 looked more like an 8.
So IL was a mistake; he had been
given some one else's letter. Out Of
mere curiosity he made q copy and,
procuring an envelope, correctly re-
addressed it, putting it in the basket
on the counter.
Looking through the personal col
nmns Of the paper, he came across the
following:
x.Y.Z.-where can soc your Answer
at once to T 32o
So here was the solution. Morris
had been 80 preoccupied reading this
communication that he had not no.
ticed young lady standing by the
counter, who was visibly surprised
when she noticed the envelope he had
placed in the basket; she then pro-
duced ticket and this same letter
was safely placed in her pocket, while
now, standing unobserved in an is
olated part OF the Office, she was watch
ing him in peculiar and expressive
manner.
He was too much disappointed to
notice anyone and felt like giving way
TO despair, 40 tried to walk off his de-
preston and must have gone con-
siderable distance, for, looking around,
he found himself in the vicinity Of
Russell square. While meditating
whether to return, young lady who
was passing gave q faint cry and half
sunk to the footpath, evidently over
taken by illness. Morris fastened to
her assistance.
''Would you help me homer she
said, in q weak voice, indicating one OF
the largest houses.
"Certaiuly," and, taking hold of her
arm, he half carried, half led her
across the square to the palatial man
sion indicated, giving vigorous pull
TO the bell. The door was immediate
ly opened by footman, who called to
trim maid, requesting Morris to
wait few moments, ushering him
into small apartment The room
was magnificently furnished, there
being an abundance Of ola china, vol.
liable curios and beautiful oil paint
ings.
He was not left long in suspense.
An old gentlemen entered quietly, care
fully closing the door. He was trem-
bling with excitement and, holding
up warning finger, exclaimed:
"Morris, why have you caused me
all this trouble?' I'm perfectly inno-
cent. A few more weeks Of this worry
will kill me. No explanation now
When / die you will not be forgotten.
/ never thought Ebenezer's only son
would have threatened me.
.Two questions only for the pres
emit: When did you leave New York;
And what steamer did you come by?"
To say that he was astonished at
being called by his Christian name
would be poor way of describing his
feelings, but his reply was straightfor-
ward.
.Ileft New York, sir, three weeks
aoo today en- board the B; but