Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-13

marry Lucia Frothingham!'
''Eh? What?"
Uncle Coleman put down his news
paper, pushed his spectacles up on
his forehead and gared at his neph-
CIV.
"Going to marry Lucia Frothing-
ham?" he cried, after gasping awhile
in sheer dismay. "YOu idiotp'
"Thanks," was the cool reply. 81
know you do not admire the lady,
''but where there is strong mutual
love-"
'Strong mutual fiddlestick!" inter
rupted Uncle Coleman, contemptuous-
ly. "You may love her; she is pretty
and fascinating, but what she loves is
your bank account, my boy. I knew
1t would be SO when your Aunt Jennie
left you q cool hundred thousand. But
boys will be boys. Only, for good
ness sake, wait year or two before
you saddle yourself with wife,"
II am 81, SIR" with an immense
air Of dignity.
"And an Ga! Now, Frank, do
hear reason. Lucia rockingham is
fascinating woman, touching the thir-
ties, If not already over the line "a
finished firt aud as mercenary as she
Is pretty. L know her, and tell you
her affection is centred upon your
Aunt Jennie's legacy and the half mil
lion in perspective at my bankers.
"Uncle Coleman" cried his neph-
ew, holly. 81 never thought of it, much
less spoke of it,"
~ don't suppose you ever did.
Having always had an Independent in
come, 1 don't think you ever counted
on dead mans shoes. But Miss
rockingham was educated in the hard
school OF genteel poverty, and 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"
"Hemn
"Years are Of no consequence where
there is true love-"
"HemW
"And I love Lucia as she loves
me-"
"Not bit Of IT,"
Tomorrow she goes to Saratoga,
and If you can spare me will go,
too"
Sand the business in Hartford? 1
should advise you to attend to all
matters belonging to your aunt's es-
tate as soon rs possible, Frank"
cit may keep me in Hartford a
month";" said Frank, disconsolately.
Coleman Burke looked with pity
ing affection at his young relative
such q boy yet in many matters. though
he had reached "man's estate"
"a month that may settle your
whole fortune" he said. Remember
men do not fall heir to hundred
thousand dollars more than once in q
lifetime"
~ suppose + must CO."
ut will be best. Besides" added
Uncle Coleman, dryly, "it will be a
good test OF your lady loves con-
stancy!"
III am not afraid of her forgetting
me-" said Frank, loftily.
''You are actually engaged?'
Certainly! bought diamond
ring at Is yesterday and put it
on her taper finger last evening""
Hem! Well, the fool-killer hasn't
been here lately, that's certain. There,
be off and let me finish my paper in
peace. You will 60 to Hartford?"
"Yes."
But after his nephew left him, Cole
man Burke let his paper lie idly upon
his lap, while he fell into fit Of mus
ing, often interrupted by inpatient
calculations. He was man, us he
had said, past 60, and he had been a
childless widower for 80 years, while
four little graves beside that of his
wife recorded the heart history Of his
life.
When he had lived lonely and sim
cere mourner for many long years, his
brother and wife died, leaving Frank,
. curly-headed boy, to the care of his
Uncle Coleman. All the long sealed
fountains OF love in the desolated
heart opened to pour out their aflec-
tion upon the child. He was truly
che very sunlight of the old mans ex-
istence, and though his manner had
been cynical, his heart had been sorely
wrhng by the announcement OF his en-
gagement. but not from any paltry
jealousy or mercenary motive. Had
Frank loved true, tender woman,
were she beggar, his uncle would
have given her father love aud well
come. But by the light of his own
brief married happiness he read the