The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-16
THE UNOLEs LEGACY.
BY WILLIAM CoMsTocK.

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green spectacles, irreverent persons
were accustomed to designate him by
the name of ''Green Peas" Notwith-
standing the fact that he had some
whimsical notions, he was a very WELL
disposed man, and, in SO far as his
rather limited means permitted, he was
generous to the poor.
But he had one nephew, a bright
enough little lad, who was prone to mis-
chief. Being of a very lively and active
disposition, little Arthur liked to play
tricks upon testy persons, and upon his
Uncle Pease in particular.
AS he grew older Arthur grew wiser,
and by the time he had reached his six
teenth year he was remarked for his
manly behavior and his intelligence.
But Arthur's reformation came too late
to prevent catastrophe to his uncle
which he deplored to the end of his life.
He had been delighted, on a certain &C.
casion. to see his uncle jump and hear
him storm on account of sharp darn
ing-needle that the lad had slyly thrust
into his leg.
The accident had serious conse-
euences. The wound was difficult to
heal, and, finally the uncle was obliged
to have his leg amputated-
1t may well be believed that after
that, Arthur played no more tricks on
anybody. and that the uncle could never
again endure the presence of his nephew.
Arthur was about fifteen years of age
when Green Peas" removed to the
city, and, entering upon a new business,
which proved very successful, was, in q
few years, acknowledged by all to be
rich man.
IS s.,
tune, but with the same indifference
that the other villagers heard of it, as
he regarded it. as a matter of course,
that the wealth of ''Green Peas" would
never do him any good.
Although Arthur was. at this time, an
orphan, he never dreamed that his uncle
would so far forget the loss of leg as
to line the pockets of the youth who
had caused its loss.
Yet, sometimes Arthur regret for his
uncle'S calamity was not wholly of a
disinterested nature; especially when, on
pleasant afternoon in May, he stood
upon little knoll in the outskirts of
the village, and looking across the creek,
which flowed by its foot, he watched
clump of trees on the rising ground be-
yond and got glimpse of snow-white
dress partly hidden by the early spring
verdure as it fitted by the open windows
of neat, pink-colored cottage which
was shaded by the foliage.
There indeed, dwelt Lucinda W,
a very pretty girl, who had recently
fallen heir to one thousand dollars. So
much the worse for Arthur, who had
previously evinced fancy for Lucinda,
while his attentions to the young lady
had not been so marked as to give him |
a claim to urge his suit now without, as |
he imagined, rendering him liable to the |
suspicion of loving the thousand dollars |
more than he loved their owner.
But such suspicion would have been |
very unjust to Arthur. who really loved |
Lucinda with his whole heart, and his |
passion was fully returned by the young |
lady, although she was woman enough |
to veil that secret closely until the youth |
should declare his love to her.
And now it was that Lucinda had |
some misgivings about the young mans
since he seemed to have been |
less assiduous of late than he had form
erly been. The true reason never &C.
CURED to her. She had always heard |
that men had no objection to come into |
the possession of money, even if it was
found to be in the hands of the woman
they took for better or for worse.
While Arthur thus hesitated, and Luz
cinda thus doubted, the tidings were
brought to the village that the uncle,
tsGreen Peas" was attacked with the
dropsy and could live but few weeks
longer, and it was privately commune
Gated to Arthur that his uncle would
leave him a handsome legacy; and, final
ly, the lawyer who had drawn up the
unc1e's viii made known this fact not
only to Arthur, but to the whole village /
also.
Arthur felt no more scruples about
urging his suit to Lucinda; but while he
was cogitating In his mind how he could
best open his mind to her he received a
visit from the village schoolmaster.-
The youth was not surprised at that,
for, ever since his good fortune had be-
who had previously passed him without
deigning TO honor him with nod, had
suddenly discovered that he was O lad
of excellent promise and had shown q
TO cultivate his acquaint-
ance.
Therefore, although the schoolmaster
was a very proud and important young
gentleman, whose father was 8 minis
Ter, Arthur regarded his visit as no more
than what might have been naturally
The sehoolmaster, however, did not
SO far forget his own dignity as to hide
the fact from Arthur that he had called
for the purpose of offering him little
good advice.