Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-03
MISS sILVER'S LOVER,

Paterfamillas wanted bis only son, Tom
| Elton, to marry fortune, and he did not
caro- whether 1t cnIne In tho hands of n de
mon or an angel. Miss Aurora Silver had
fortune Of $500, 900, Mt the least calcula-
ton, anu possibly few thousands over,
and best Of all-or worst Just as you
choose-she had her ego upon Tom.
Now Fannie Cliff was q bcnuty, and
| Toms father rayed like mailman when
no brought Fnnnie's name before him
and threatened him with good thrashing
and Is bcggar's portion.
| "You are 90 years old. sir, without any
legitimate profession, or any definite iden
| Of the object Of your existence My money
Is no surer than that Of thousands Of my
fellow merchants, who arc falling every
day, and If you nro waiting for 1t you are
building your expectations ON very poor
foundation. You must do something
Miss Silver Is to DO had for tho asking, and
II you bring that pauper Cliff girls nnmo
up nBain I'll turn you out Of tho house."
Tom listened and went to see Fannie
But finally ambition seized him. The
| Clif family were obliged to economlze.
| Tho mother and eldest daughters worked
In tho kitchen, and did their own sowing,
and Mr.. Cliff set out the ash barrel and
carried his own coal. 1t WINS not nice to
think about, even though no loved Fannie,
] for Mt homo thero were two or three girls
| In the kitchen, and a man to attend to
the coal and ashes
Miss Silver gavo bull and Tom was
there. There woro tho first people in the
city, women wearing fortunes on nccks
| and arms and chatting with millonnircs.
There were gold and silver dishes sparkling
In tho soft light, md holding forth raro
tropical fruits md mellow wines
Ho did call up his father words and
Fannio's poverty, and Miss Silvcr's faco
looked quito brilliant.
The plain little paror mt Mr.. Cliff s and
this gorgeous snlon caIno up stlo by side,
and in his disgust he squeezed his partner
| SO tightly, that sho believed him trapped,
I after all.
Somothing-thoe evil ono, Tom aftcrwar,l
said-put it into his head to pop tho qucs.
tion. His father, the splendid house. ISIS
Aurorn's diamonds and the champagne nll
got into muddle, ind to get out Of it he
proposed, and lle was accepted.
| '"Tom, dear, don't he su-so'-
So what, dearest? Oh, confound the
plnntl There ID plenty moro where that
rame from
Yes, but don't bc rude"
who says I'm rudcY If anybody says
60, hos a-well, just let him provo IT.
| Miss Aurorn's nice ideas werc little
shocked, and even Tom found himself in a
tight place, and SO, swearing eternal con-
stancy, he bado hor good night and went
| home.
Tho next morning no awoko with n
headache, and n confused recollection of
the previous nights proceedings, but tho
| arrival of q servant with fond notu from
| Miss Silver brought him to his senses, unt:
he sat up in bed and flung his boots ut tho
offending bearer Then no burst forth,
and his loud talk brought his father
Tom, what are you doing9"
Praying, SIR
well rnnke loss noise about It, Allow
mo to congratulate you. You nro n sonsi-
bic fellow, and I'll put 5000 to your
credit this day"
What's tho mnttcrp"
II received n note from Miss Aurora
this morning, and she nodcstly informs
mo that you have proposed and been nc.
ceptcd. A half million, my boy, is not
caught every day"
Tom rolled over and Rroancd.
Fannie, you sweet, injured dnrling!'
Miss Silver, in gorgeous morning
| wrapper and natty lace cup, sat entcrtnin-
Ing III very languid and miserable sea-
Sick sort OF manner gentleman favorite,
Hal Dnsher, and frowning fcrociously.
MIR. Dasher, you shock mel''
| mot half Ms much, madam, MS you
shock mo. 1t is breaking my heart"
| But, Hal, l cannot think my Tom tho
villain you represent him"
who said he was villainf"
| "But you said he was spcndthrift and
drove fast horses md went to all the races
and was too fond Of girls and drank q
| great deal too much wine, and I'd like to
know what no is II he isn't villainY"
well, he Is handsome-or he would be
II 1t wasn't for his false teeth
False teeth! He has not got falsp teeth.
Why, he Is not moro than 25.''
1T was an accident"
An accidcntP Plenso toll mo about IT,. -
at happened down in Plug Raoketts
place.
! "Ohr
He md ono of tho follows got into q
| muss, and Tom struck him. So the other
| squared off and hit him and knocked out
every tooth. How's thats"
"Oh, Harry Dnsher, it makes me faint
| What an escape I've had Oh, If I had
thrown myself away on such u wretch
Why, he would break my heart with neg
leot. Tho mercennry brutel I'll write
and discard him ut once"
| That night Mr.. Elton read and rercad n
little missive and grew moro frantic with
each perusal:
| hin. ELroN-I consider the engagement DO.
tween myself and your son ut an end. In SO
suddenly accepting his offer was hasty, for !
| did not understand him. I decline uniting my
| good family with whose name aud con
nections are SO little known. Yours,
| AURORA SILVER.
| GOOD family! Name and connections
wish Tom was here. Confound him, I'll
disinherit him IL he dares to over look at
that old maid. HIM, I'll be hanged If my
son shall marry soap boilers daughter II
she's worthy $40,O00,00O! I'd rathor he' d
marry Cliffs daughter. Yes, and by Mars,
no shall marry her. and right In tho face
and Dyes Of that towhcaded old maid. The
Cliffs AFRO OF better stock any day
1t was ended In n tiptop wedding In the
face and Dyes of Miss Silver, and Hal
Dasher was FIRST grooInsman.-NewY York
News.
| Secretary Longs "Royas Faculty"
Upon the election Of John D. Long, now
secretary OF the navy, as governor of
Massachusetts, in 1880, he Invited Colonel
Il. W. Hlgginson to act upon his staff, and