Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-01-22
were quite right to give the man shilling

OfLIUuOA pOllIlOol CSOAOAly. JOu ' oANoA
eyes said John, Gas the Vandals flew
in the face of Rome, and destroyed what had
become falsehood and a nuisance"
tsPoor John p said Mr.. Collett. "We
shall never make anything Of him Peter.
Really we'd better talk about something else
John tell us about the last new novel;"
They conyersed on various topics, unit
the arrival of the invalid's early bedtime
parted the uncle and nephews for the night.
Mary Sutton seized an opportunity the
next morning after breakfast, to speak with
John Meade alone.
John said she, edo you not think Of
your own interest--.of our interest. What
occasion for you to be SO violent last night,
and contradict Mr.. Collett SO schockingly
[ saw Peter Finch laughing to himself. John
you must be more careful, or we shall never
be married"
"Well Mary I Il do my BEST" said John
ut was that COMPOUNDED Peter, with his
chain of iron maxims, that made me fly out.
Pm not an iceberg Mary"
s'Thank heaven you're not, said Mary, but
an iceberg foats--- think of that, John. Re-
member, every time you offend Mr.. Collect.
you please Mr.. Finch ,.o,fs.
$50 I do" said John. eyes I'll remem-
Der that" ea .t.as.a rsa,t-
eff you would only try to be little mean
and hard hearted, said Mary, ''just little
to begin with. You would only stoop to con-
quer."
"May gain my deserts, then" said
John. care you not to be my loving wife
Mary? Are you not to sit at needle work
in my studio, whilst paint my great histo-
real picture How can this come to pass
if Mr.. Collett will do nothing for us?"
ssAh, how, indeed? ?" said Mary. "But
here's our friend, Peter Finch, coming in
the gate from his walk. I leave you togeth-
err" And SO saying, she withdrew.
'sWhat, Meade !" said Peter, as he enter
ed skulking indoors Of a fine morning like
this; Pve been through all the village, Not
an ugly place, but wants looking after sadly.
Roads shamefully muddy; pigs allowed to
walk on the footpath p
Dreadful !" exclaimed John
II say, you came out pretty strong last
night" said Peter "Quite defed the old
man But like your spirit.
II have no doubt you do" thought John.
'sOh, when 1 was youth, I thought a
little that way myself" said Peter. 'sBut
the world-the world, my dear sir, soon cures
us of all romantic notions. I regret, of
course, to see people miserable, but what's
the use of regretting? It's no part of the
business of the superior class to interfere
with the laws ofsupply and demand. Poor
people must be miserable. What can't be
cured must be endured, ~ 80 y
"Exactly So" said John.
Mr.. Collett, this day, was too i'll to leave
his bed. About noon he requested to see
them in his bedroom They found him
propped up on the pillows, very weak, but in
as good spirits as usual.
"Well, boys" said he, 'here I am, you
see, brought to anchor at last. The doctor
will be here soon, I suppose, to shake his
head and write receipts. All Aumhgg, my
boys. Patients can do as well for them
selves, believe, as doctors can do for them ;
they're all in the dark together--the only
difference is the patients grope in the Eng
lish and the doctors in the Latin
"You are too skeptical," said John Mead.
.sPooh p said Mr. Collect; ''letus change
the subject. l want your services, Peter
and John, on matter that concerns your
interests. I'm going to make my will to-
day, and don't know how to act about your
cousin, Emma Briggs, Emma has diagraoed
us by marrying an oil man"
can oil man" exclaimed John.
ga vulgar, shocking oil man p said Mr..
Collect; ga wretch who not only sold oil,
but soap, candles, turpentine, black lead and
brooms, It was q dreadful blow to the fam
ily Her poor grandfather never got over
it, Well, Briggs, the oil man died last
week, and his widow has written to me ask
ing for assistance. Now I have thought of
leaving her hundred year In my will
What do you think of it? I'm afraid she
don't deserve it. What right had she to
marry against the advice Of her friends !?
What have to do with her misfortunes 2"
'.SMy mind is quite made up" said Peter
Finch ono notice ought to be taken Of her.
She made an obstinate and unworthy match
now let her abide the consequences.
:sNow for your opinion, john" said Mr..
Collett. t..# 3d.
"Upon my word, I think I must say the
same, said John Meade, bracing himself up
boldly for the part Of the worldly man. =
"''What right had she to marry +? as you OBJ
served with great justice, sir. Let her
abide the Consequences you very prop
erly remarked said Meade. ''Can she
carry on the old mans business? 1 dare
say it will support her we'll. ae..,.
"Why, no." said Mr.. Collett. briggs
died bankrupt, and his widow and children
are destitute" ,., +;
'.That does not alter the question" said
Peter Finch. s,Let Briggs family do some
thing for her." a.
ssTo be sure ?" said Mr. Collett. briggs
family are the people to do something for
her She mustn't expect anything from us
must she, John o.
destitute, is she z" said John. "With
children, too, Why. that is another case,
sir. You surely ought to notice her-to as
sisb her. Confound it, I'm for letting her
have the hundred year,
"Oh, John John what breakdown p
said Mr.. Collett. $50 you were trying to
follow Peter Finch through Stony Arabia,
and turned back at the second step. John
John! keep to your Arabia Felix, and leave
Steiner ways to very different men. Good
bye, both Of you, I have no voice to talk
any more, I'll think over all you have said"
He pressed their hands, and they left the
room. The old man was too weak to speak
next day, and in three days afterwards he
calmly breathed his last.
AS soon as the funeral was over, the will
was read by the confidential man of business
who had always attended to Mr., Collett's
affairs. The group that sat around him
preserved a decorous appearance Of disinter.
estedness, and the usual preamble to the
will having been listened to with breathless