Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-08-14

DO, nOW3 sDtulS COAflllCNdr bilaO OhClC
Bunce was as inflexible as the iron in
which he dealt, in his resolve to make no
further inquiry into the matter, / deter
mined to make it myself for both their
sakes. / was not very hopeful as to the
result of the investigation, but still
thought their might be some mitigating
circumstances for the fact as it stood
| looked blacker, it seemed to me, than it
ought to do, from what / knew of the
young fellow He was not the sort of
lad to leave his duties (he was clerk in a
government ofice) for scene which he
knew was especially distasteful TO his
| uncle and guardian, and there risk upon
single event a sum that was equal to
| third of his whole income. Uncle Bunce
and I, it was true, periled a great deal
more than that proportion of oar property
| in Corporations" in iron, but that was all
! in the way of business, and it was upon
| business habits that the old gentleman
prided himself, and for which he looked,
| first of all. in others. That Charley
should have shirked his work at the Sword
and Gun Office for days pleasure was a
sin of itself almost incapable in his
uncle's ewes but that he should have
| spent that day on racecourse, and there
| betted fifty pounds,--the more | looked at
the whole matter, in fact, the worse it ap-
peared for my young friend and client,
and the less did wonder at the lines upon
Uncle Bunce's forehead as he sat in his
cucumber -frame,-but by no meansas cool
as a cucumber,-and snapped the clerks
up so sharp that they trembled to approach
his den.
When he left the Office for the day, as he
was accustomed te do an hour or so be-
fore me, his Junior, / did venture to re-
mark: "Come, Bunce, you viii al least
not be in hurry about this matter OF
poor Charley; perhaps may have to tell
YOU something about it to morrow which
may cause you to think differently OF
| him" :.
| "You mean well, Coe, and thank you, D
said he, gravely. +" But | shall see my
lawyer tonight. and give him such in
structions as will, at all events, prevent
my property falling, after my decease,
| into the hands of the betting-ring."
| Stern had often seen Nicholas Bunce,
but bitter never. / was glad to see him
bitter, for it was proof he had been
wounded sore, and unless he had dearly
loved the lad, Charleys conduct would
not have had the power SO to wound him.
| Now, where there has once been Love,
there is always room for Reconciliation ;
and as soon as Uncle Bunce was round
| the corner, | took hanson to the Sword
and Gun Office.
1t had been arranged long ago that, on
| the next evening, my partner and should
| dine together at the formers house; and
we did SO. At one time, Charley had been
asked, but that was all over now, OF
course Uncle Bunce had not come to the
| city that day, and itwas evident, by his
wearied and melancholy manner, that he
| had been occupied in something distressing
and disagreeable; indeed, | have no doubt
| that he had been remaking his will. 1
was not one whit afraid of the old gentle
man, but was resolved to put good face
upon the matter. "Your good health,
Nicholas" said I, as he pushed the claret
to me after dinner, "and Charley's good
health" glG
Uncle Bunce started as if he had been
stung.
| of do not wish to have that yorng
mans name mentioned in my hearing"
| observed he. .e bee
! "After tonight you shall not hear it,
| unless YOU please" said I "b but [ must
have nv say for this once. | told you
| I should do so yesterday, and
promised him the same last night. Then
| / shall have discharged my conscience !;
| and if you choose to let your nephew go
to the dogs, it will be through no omission
| of mine. have neither extenuation nor
apology to make for him
| "I should think not" interposed Uncle
Bunce.
"Your thought is founded, however,
upon wrong premises Nicholas. have
neither to make for him, simply because
he needs none" -
aNeeds none!" echoed the old man, and
although his tone was meant to be con-
temptuous, thought / detected in it an
accent Of hope.
az mean what assert, old friend" re-
piled I, quietly. "The lad has behaved,
| will not say sas any other young man
would have behaved in the like circum-
stances for that phrase is often used to
excuse an indiscretion, but | will say thss,
and then have done with it: He has be-
| hayed as a true gentleman, and Especially
as good man Of business, in the wholemat-
ter" held up the wineglass between my
eve and the light, and smacked my lips
like one who, having relieved his mind,
may now afford to enjoy himself
/ Uncle Bunce seemed to gasp for air.
i"What the deuce why, you're making
a fool of me-" exclaimed he savagely.
"Do you mean to tell me he did not go
down to the Derby ?" aja
4 "Of course he did. The government
sent him"
| "The- government = sent-him?" re-
peated my respected partner like one in a
dream.
| "Just So" said I. "but don't let me
trouble you with the particulars OF
a subject which l see is distaste-
full to you, and about which
you have quite made up your mind.
have now performed my duty in the mat.
ter, and there's an end of it, This is good
wine. If it's no secret, may [ ask what
did you give for it dozen?"
"Fifty pounds. Fifty pounds to ten
against Palmyra" muttered the old man
Then: "It's all lie, Coe," cried he sud
denly. "How dare you talk to me about
the government sending"
"Mr. Bunce," interrupted firmly, 81
will not endure such language. You may
be as brutal and unjust as you please tc
your own flesh and blood, but you shall
not bully me. I am not in the habit o.
telling lies. The fact is this (if you really
wish to hear the fact, and not merely te
flatter your own preconceived opinions)
Charley Thornton could not have avoid
ed But stop; first answer me one thing
If Messrs. Bar and Bullion had Offered
you holiday on the Derby day, wher
you were clerk in their office, upon The
condition that you would go and see the
Race, would you have accepted it, OF
would you net?"
"Well, suppose should" said Uncle