The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-03-02
THE TWO THOMASES.

have to marry to keep the property un,
 divided in the family. No, sir! (not q sir was hearing the case; it was sim
 ply Miss Bertha's manner of speech)
 No, sir, I'll wash frstl'
 But as proof that she did not mean tc
 embrace such an extreme measure she applied for a place as goVerness to two
 motherless children-sweet dears-offset
 by a lat, elderly father with bald
 head
 Aunt Betsy Trout was furious when
 she heard it. You have disgraced the
 family name" she wrote, and hence-
 forth are a stranger to me- Not one
 cent of my money shall ever descend to
 you or yours'
 Miss Bertha sighed little and cried
 a little now that it was all over; and
 then washed her face of all emotion,
 dusted little powder over, and went
 to live in the household of the fat old
 gentleman.
 You are very young" said the old
 gentleman with a critical frown.
 Nineteen" said Miss Bertha prompt ly but l speak three languages. be-
 side teaching music and drawing. Why should I be old, sir?'
 At the end of the first week the old
 gentleman congratulated himself upon
 his shrewdness in securing the services
 if high-prced teacher at five dollars per week. At the end of the first month he deliberately doubled her wages. At the end of three he thought much of his lonely condition, and began to fancy the governess resembled his former helpmate, who an estimable woman, had weighed nearly two hundred pounds and had red hair. And just here the fat old gentleman's son came home.
 Just In the nick of time" reflected that worthy astutely, Ito save the old gent from making a fool of himself and marrying a penniless governeSs Not if l, Thomas Moneybhgs, Jr., knows it!" At the end of the first week Thomas. Jr,, was devoting his whole time to eX- amining applicants to his advertisement for lady to assume whole charge and education of two children between the ages of, etc, etc" At the end of month he had withdrawn his advertise ment and was beginning 10 take an in- terest in the younger childrens educa- ton. At the end of three he was mad
 y jealous of Thomas Moneybags. Sr., and inwardly determined to put him in an insane asylum if he persisted in his mad course.
 q should be eternally obliged to you," said Tom to his chum. 'if you would come up evenings and play checkers with the old gentleman. Between you and me, he's disgustingly in love with the governess, don't you know
 So Thomas Moneybags, ST, and the chum played checkers evenings, the old gentleman displaying an absent-mind- edness that more than often cost him two kings at jump, while Thomas Jr. conversed on educational topics with the governess
 So these twin courses of true love logged along over uneven beds and rocky bottoms until something hap pened that converted them into a roar ing and united waterfall.
 A boy with a stubby nose and bleached hair delivered at the door a bunch of American Beauty roses for the governess, without word or sign from the donor And, thereafter, every the same boy stood on the step at the same hour and pulled the bell to deliver a fresh bunch to the same young ladv.
 Great Scott!" declared the younger | Thomas, at length, With American { Beauties at four dollars per dozen, too! < There's no limit to the old idiots fool . And he proceeded to take his . parent to task.
 'I beg to remind you, sir he began, that two dollars day, while not much in itself is seven hundred and thirty dollars a year--a neat little sum For fowers-and seventy-three hundred dollars per ten years, without interest. have been raised to some modest eX- pectation of future inheritance, sir, and hate to see money wasted on wo- nan who doesn't care rap for you; no, sir, not a rap!"
 Young man." shouted the older "your impudence cannot for a moment blind me to the true state of af- airs! I have stood your college scrapes md your yachting extravagances, but his, sir, cannot and will not tolerate. I'll cut you off without cent, sir without one red cent!"
 And when all the smoke of the battle lad cleared away the two Thomases onfronted each other with blank looks lnd remarked in mournful concert, There must be another!"
 Lets go and confront her with her said the younger Thomas, and ogether they repaired to the drawing oom. where the governess was bend ng her pretty head over a newly ar ived bunch of roses
 We have reason to suspect" com l nenced MT. Tom. that you are giving | encouragement to an un- nown admirer, miserable under anded fellow'
 I'm sure I'm very sorry" protested Hiss Bertha q haven't the slightest lea who he is, but I can't help liking oses, you know" ,s Don't know who he isl" echoed MT. om, incredulously. "Never thought to six the boy, I suppose?"
 Why, it's the florists boy" protest d Miss Bertha, meekly. NO, I never sked the florist"
 T saw them go," said the chum, alking in, "and stepped in to tell you nat intend to marry you in the very ice of them