The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-16
THE PRESS.
MONDAY MORNING. JULY 1e.
Mr.. Toogood's I. 0. U.

shOckeu by the uDedlfying demeaner of his
father during his LIST illness. Though per-
fectly conscious that his end was approach
log, the old man obstinately refused to listen
to the well-intentioned admonitions and
mlnistrations of his parson son, and was
worldly selfish and cynical to the day of his
death. Knowing that his parents career
bad not been exemplary from any point of
view, Rev. Francis was naturally more than
disappointed at not being able to arouse in
him the slightest longing for spiritual conso-
lation. Once only did old Mr.. Toogood give
any indication of softened feelings, and his
method of testifying repentance, was so
strange that Rev. Francis hardly realized at
the time the hopeful sign. The old man had
been doing one afternoon, when he sud
denly looked up and said: Do you iecolect
your Uncle James starting for India about
10 years ago?"
"Yes. You mean just before he died."
returned Rev. Francis.
did you ever hear that, shortly before
he left, he came in for a considerable legacy
nearly e5000?' said the old man, fixing
his keen eyes on his son. "Your uncle kept
ii quiet, for he had creditors who might
have bounced upon it. As precaution, be
handed over the money to me to invest in
my own name for his benefit"
''Well, what happened?' Inquired Rev.
Francis, with an uncomfortable forebodlng
''Your uncle died on the voyage out, as you
know. Nobody suspected / had the money,
and it has remained in my hands ever
SINCE" said tie old man, with cunning
look. s'The few persons who knew of his
luck believed that he squandered the money
or paid it away to his creditors. Your uncle
wasn't prudent man, but he meant to save
the money for his boy, and that was why he
handed it to me.'
sand you have never paid itp' exclaimed
Rev. Francis, with a ges,uie of indignation
which he could not repress.
s'Never. / know y, j take a delight in
doing yirtroas actions, and I've left this one
for you. Principal aud into together
compound interest, you know--will come to
considerable sum-" returned his father,
with cynical expression.
Every farthing shall be repaid-eyery
farthing," cried the Rev. Francis, vehement
ty: sat least" he added, "if it is in my pow
err,
swell, you will see how you find yourself
when Pm gone," sneered the old man, who
could reyer give his son credit for sincerity.
ANYHOW, it's your affair now. In the Sc
cret drawer of that bureau you will find an
/. o. U. of mine to your uncle for the
amount. placed it there so you can come
across it by accident, if ever suits your coli
veniencen
Having relieved his mind in this eccentric
fashion, Old Mr.. Toogood abruptly changed
the conversation, nor did he ever refer to
the subject again. He apparently consider
ed he had washed his hands of it by shifting
The responsibility on to his son. When Rev.
Fr-ncis, upon recovering little from the
shock of this disagreable disclosure, attempt
cd to work upon the impulse which had
prompted his father to make the confession,
his efforts were entirely unsuccessful. The
oil man died shortly afterward, having at
least had the grace to leave his son every
thing he possessed.
A series of unpleasant surprises awaited
Rev. Francis in the course of winding up his
fathers affairs. In the first place, though
reputed to be rich, the old gentleman had
left less than 100000. The debts amount
ed to considerable sum, and there were
various claims of a disagreeabl character
which had to be compromised. Ii he had
suffered the estate to be administered by the
court OF chancery, he would probably have
been a considerable gamer, and at all events
would have been spared trouble and anxiety
But though he had little cause to revere the
old mans memory, Rev. Francis shrank
from exposing to the public, or even 10 law
office officials, certain passages of his ia
theirs career, upon which some of the
pay or compromise impudent demands in
order to avoid scandal. The upshot was
that the balance which ultimately remained
for his own benefit amounted to something
short ofe7000.
This was cruel disappointment to Rev.
Francis, who had a large family and a very
slender income. He had received little or
no assistance from his father in his lifetime,
and had subsisted miserably- enough on--1re
=
ssnseaa-.'dtses11s sessss-'' asEE SHttle iron
church in poor suburb, slch he had
undertaken the pastorate. He had grown
very weary of pressing needs and the per-
petual struggle to make both ends meet,
though he was buoyed up by the prospect
of inheriting considerable fortune. When,
therefore, his father died, leaving a will in
his favor, it seemed as though he would
now be able to bring up his family in ease
and comfort. Little by little, however, he
had seen his inheritance diminish and dwin-
die until it was represented by compare
lively trifiing sum. And even this wreck Of
his fortune did not really belong to him, for
be was bitterly conscious he had yet to ac-
count for the 5000 and interest which his
father had misappropriated.
His duty in the matter was perfectly obvi-
GUS, for his uncle had left an only son, who
was entitled to the money, and should have
received 1t long ago. Had he been called
upon to advise any one else, Rev. Francis
would have pointed out the right course
without hesitation, and would have felt sur
prised at being appealed to- But in his own
case, he easily persuaded himself that there
were special circumstances which, at least
seemed to justify delay. In the first place,
his wife would fret herself to death, for her
health had already suffered from the dis
appointment, and she had not fesitated to
inn If erth inn tor 6o
demands of certain of his fathers creditors.
Moreover, nobody had any idea of his
cousins claim upon him-least of all the
yodng man himself. Lastly, Marmaduke
Toogood was not in want Of money. In
fact, he was wealthy man, having been
adopted when child by an old lady, who
lett MIN an estate; 50 that he could yery
well.afford to wait for this drop in the
ocean, which, for that matter, he would not
miss if he never received it, These insid-
1ods reflections the reverend gentleman
thrust from him with guilty glow of
shame, but he finally resolved not to pay
over the 950C0 until he was better able to
dispense with the income it yielded. He
would keep careful account, and religious
ly repay his cousin every farthing of princi-
pal and interest as sool as he could afford
to do so. Meanwhile, he firmly resolved to
leave the capital intact.
!. Rev. Francis was dimly aware that he
was making miserable compromise with
his conscience, and that the chances were,
If he did not pay over the money at once,
that he would never do 80. The truth was,
however, that he had not the heart to de-
prive bis wife and family of the little ad-
ditional comforts which the income from
his cousins money would supply. Small
as the annual amount was, it made all the
difference between biting poverty and com
paratiye comfort, and he had long ago real
lied how impossible it was to live decentIy
on the stipend of his miserable benefce.
The old oak chest containing the 7. o. u.
was one OF the few articles of furniture be-
longing TO his father which he kept. The
old man s honsekeeper had claimed it all,
and Rev. Frarcis had not yentured to dis
pute her alleged right-much to his wifes
disgust. The cabinet was grudgingy given
up to him at his urgent request, and he
placed it in his study. He had previously
discovered, not with out difficulty, the
secret drawer his father had referred to, and
had examined the l. o. U. He put it care
fully away again, and derived an odd sort OF
consolation from having left it where il had
originally lain. He kept the cabinet locked,
ard the jealousy with which he guarded it
might have excited suspicion but for the
fact that 1t was massive and handsome
piece Of furniture, of which any one might
have been justly proud.
Raw Francis Tnnoood xuas mail, ,aa,