The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1901-07-04
sonably object to that.


cere in saying that he had never paid
attention to his genealogy. His father
was in business in New York--a bust
ness that had something to do with
hides and he was wealthy for the pc
Rod. When he had asked any ques-
lions about the tree, Coomer senior had
returned answers that were of a gen.
eral rather than special character.
Most of his information he had derived
from his mother, who was then bril-
liant figure in New York society. She
died, however, when Coomer was about
IL years old. For these easons Coon
er was hazy on the subject of his an
cestry, for all his varied stock of gen.
eral knowledge. Some Of theseR days,
he said, he was going to see what the
ancestral domain at Salem looked like,
but he put off doing SO from time to
time and contented himself with what
additional scraps of information he
could pick up in Chicago. At least he
got all that he needed in one lot.
Mrs. Coomer had been down in the
basement rummaging, and she made a
discovery. 1t was an old hair trunk of
a type and pattern now quite extinct,
and her idea was tosbfing it up and set
it in the hall as an antique, which it
undoubtedly was. She called Coomer
down to look at II, and he recognized it
instantly. 1T belonged to the old gen.
tleman," he said. 81 thought Brother
William got that. Strange that l
shouldn't have noticed it before! Have
you opened it"
EYES," replied his wife. ''but there is
nothing in it but lot of old books. not
old enough to be valuable. They are
mostly books on divinity"
"Well, let's empty them out" said
Coomer, and he turned the old trunk
upside down and spilled it's contents
on the floor. They were, as Mrs.
Coomer had said. old books Of divinity,
all but one. and that one was canvas
and leather bound, like ledger. Coo
smer picked tup and duttered over the
leaves.
"Hellor' he exclaimed. There's a
weakness l never suspected of him.
He started to keep diary. Yes. start
ed is the word. Here's the first date
Jan. l, 1860 How long did he keep
1t up? Ha! Did pretty well too.
April II is the last entry: Everything
going on in the same old way. Moth
ing OF Importance happened.
"Let me look" said Mrs. Coomer
eagerly.
'Nay, nay" answered Coomer.
'aThere may be something here that
only sons eye should scan."
He went over by the window with
the book and. seating himself In q
chair. began to skim through the book
1t was written In brief, concise style
But for all that the writer had evident
ly started In with the intention Of set
ting everything down without reserva.
ton and with the frankness of q
Pepys. Several times Coomer had to
close the diary on his thumb and aban.
don himself to mirth, but at last be
came to an entry that made him turn
pale and utter an exclamation that
brought his wife to his side. 1t was as
follows:
FEB. 8.-Bleeker positively refuses
to consider the purchase OF the shipload
from Argentina, and am likely to lose
money on it. think that l will gel
even with Mr.. Blocker. Araminta is
still worrying because the Bybees have
painted their crest on their stanhope.
told her there wasn't any crest too good
for her to have If she wanted it, but
she only told me not to make bigger
fool of myself than could help. Went
round to Levy Moss in aft and bought
an assortment of old truck-pictures
miniatures. etc. think bargain. fol-
some Of them didn't cost more than the
canvas they were painted on, so the
paint and the frame Is net profit. am
going to tell Nine. Minty to use them
for ancestors, and think she has got
the courage to do it. Moss has got
more old junk around. Among other
things bought old musket and sword
for a dollar and a half. will &c
around and see Garter King tomorrow
and have him look up few crests and
pedigrees. If he charges too much,
win claim close relationship with the
COOmbers of Hudson street, who art
always Dragging about their old family
mansion at Salem. Think that will be
the best plan. anyway Hope Nine
Minty will be satisfied, but when she
married me she said that she didn'1
care II didn't know who my grand
father was"
That finished the entry. Coomel
looked at his wife, and she looked al
him, but neither spoke. Instead Coome
took her by the hand and. tucking thu
fatal record beneath his arm, led bel
from the basement. Her arm was
about his waist, and they looked like
people whom affection had brongh
very close together Chicago Record.