The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-02-28
silent CONTEMPT It merits.

from DoastiulneSS - but at the same
time nobody ever enjoyed any degree
of intimacy with him without learning
all about Digby Creighton Coomer, the
reputed owner of the rapier who was
one of the leaders Of fashion in old
New York; of Mistress Betty Coomer,
his daughter, who was the toast of her
day; of the intermarriages with the
Drivingstons and the Van Bruntslears
and other aristocratic families and all
the rest of 1t. But nobody could rea.
sonably object to that
Coomer WAS. however, perfectly sin
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 weret
eral rather than a specm -.
Most of his information he had derived
from his mother, who was then a bril-
liant figure in New York society. She
died, however. when Coomer WAS about
II years old. For these reasons COON
er was hay on the subject of his an
cestry, for all his varied stock of gen
eral knowledge. Some of these 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
discovery. 1t was an old hair trunk of
type and pattern now quite extinct,
and her idea was to bring it up and set
1t in the hall as an antique, which 1t
undoubtedly was. She called Coomer
down to look at it, and he recognized 1t
instantly. ut belonged to the old gen.
tleman," he said. 81 thought Brother
William got that Strange that l
shouldn't have noticed it beforei Have
you opened itY
yes" replied his wife, but there is
nothing in 1t 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 its 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 a ledger Coo
mer picked 1t up and fluttered over the
leaves.
"Hellor' he exclaimed. There's a
weakness | never suspected of him.
He started to keep a 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.
There may be something here that
only sons eye should scan"
He went over by the window with
the book and, seating himself in a
chair, began to skim through the book.
1t was written in a brief, concise style.
But for all that the writer had evident
ly started in with the intention of set.
ting everything down without reserya-
ton and with the frankness of
Pepys. Several times Coomer had to
close the diary on his thumb and aban-
,fytl, -.
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 1t. think that | will get
even with Mr.. Blocker. Araminta Is
still worrying because the Bybees have
painted their crest on their stanhoDe |
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 a bargain for
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 go
around and see Garter King tomorrow
and have him look up few crests and
pedigrees. If he charges too much,
will claim close relationship with the
Coombers of Hudson street who are
always Dragging about their old family
mansion at Salem. Think that will be
the best plan, anyway. Hope Nine
Mnty will be satisfied. but when she
married me she said that she didn't
care If | didn't know who my grand
father WAS"
That finished the entry. Coomer
looked at his wife, and she looked at
him, but neither spoke. Instead Coomer
took her by the hand and. tucking the
fatal record beneath his arm. led her
from the basement Her arm was
about his waist, and they looked like
people whom affliction had brought
very close together.-Chicago Record.
Association OF Ideas.
The 3-year-old son of a fiat dweller,
who had heard his father complain oc-
casionally because the tanitor was