The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-02
A DEAD MANS SHOES.

since she had come into the family, ana even
before chat time, Mrs EYersley had been
pinched in one way or another; so, after
all, it was much of piece, as she said. Ever
since she had come into the family, too, they
had been signing to think Uncle Trevor had
so much money, and the family had none,
1t was true Uncle Trevor had earned his
money, and the family had never lifted
finger to earn penny; but what odds should
that make, they reasoned, where there is
proper family feeling? 1t is true that Uncle
Trevor, early in youth, had gone out and
and asked for place behind counter, had
not scorned to weigh and measure and
tie up and fetch and carry, and
had advanced from step to step, hard
work and constant work, first with
hand and then with head, until the present
day; and it is equally true that the family
had sat still in their dignity, gone without
when they didn't have enough kept an emf
nently genteel front to the world becoming
poorer every day with the increasing uses for
money, and ionged for Uncle Trevor's money,
to which, it was understood, they would
some day be heirs but of which, at the pres
ent time, they received barely so much as the
dust of its coinage.
Did Mrs Eversley wish for Uncle Trevors
death? How could you ask such thing?
Where had she shown anything that should
lead to such supposition2 That she wished
for some OF Uncle Trevors money was quite
another thing. They were poor; it was no
disgrace to be poor; but they had always held
their heads up; and to be well-born and we'll
bred placed one on an equality with all the
money in the world. Certainly, Trevor could
have better education if there was any re-
ciprocity in Uncle Trevors mind; he could
go to Germany and pursue his studies,
and make himself a name, instead OF
Gawdling in a counting-room over set of
books that he didn't know how to keep.
Why didn't he learn how to keep them?
Well what folly it would be to spend the
best years of his life learning something he
would have no use for Uncle Trevor
had given them positively to understand
that when he was done with his money they
were to have it, or the use of it. Probably
the other Eversleys would come in for
something; but Trevors name, OF course
maze mis- fortune certain. 1t was Just as
much of course that no fragrant difference
would be made between him and Teresa and
Laura poor girls! Well it could not be
very long now, at all events, and one must
have patience and shuttle the cards. If she
did not wish for her brother-in-law's death.
that was certainly all that could be expected
of her. if she would not be sorry when it
occurred, that would be his fault, he could
have been generous and considerate enough
to make her sorry. And so Mrs. Eversleys
little mind ran on.
Poor Uncle Trevor! Immersed in his wide
operations and enterprises, he hardly thought
of the wants and whmS of other people; he
had none of his own, living simply, wearing
old clothes, forgetting theaters, always walk
ing, never driving, and finding all the pleas
ure he wanted in the successful issue of his
schemes. Had he once suspected the state
of mind in his dead brothers family |
don't know whether he would have stopped
and made them all rich in his lifetime, or
would have cut them all off with shilling.
81 don't know, mamma" said Teresa
Mrs. Eversley's step-daughter, who was &C.
customed to slight habits of rebellion at any
rate in thought-"about the wisdom of our
way of life. Here we are, all of u.s. with ex-
pensive and luxurious tastes, constantly feel
ing deprivation, and constantly mortified
among people, waiting for Uncle Trevors
money. and uncle in capital health"
II don't know any other way of life we
can pursue" said Mrs. Eversley, with her
languid elegance 81 don't suppose even you
would want me to take boarders."
Teresa always had vulgar cast to her
mind" said Trevor. "She really thinks it Is
as dignfied to work as to live at your ease"
And he bit off the end of his cigar before
sauntering out on his afternoon walk.
poor boyl' said his mother And he
would so well become fortune"
"Well," said Teresa, "Trevor may call me
vulgar, and you may cover me with re-
proacEes, mamma, but have weighed the
matter and am going to hang on our ex-
pectations no longer. | have spoken to
Uncle Trevor. and he will lend me his NAME
and shall take the rooms and open an es-
tablishment like Madame Paletot's."
''Teresa'
"Of course shall lose caste; but caste is
not everything in this world, as you'll agree,
mamma, when the dollars come rolling in
and our bank account goes rolling up"
And for answer Mrs. Eversley tainted
THAT l should live to see a child OF your
father'sl'' she sobbed, incoherently, when she
came out of the fit. "And what will Harold
Van Duysen say2" and went off in a series of
kicking Mysteries.
81 cannot turn you your fathers own
child, out of my house and home" said Mrs
Eversley the next day, when Teresa had I'M
folded her plans more in detail
mo. you cannot" said Teresa, quietly
Because, as the law stands. and poor papa's
will l have just as much right in it as you
have. And l don't believe you wish to do
So
"But can tell you what think of per-
son who goes deliberately to work to spoil
her sisters prospects" said Mrs. Eversey
now with more temper than tears, as she put
her little gray curls out of her eyes, ''Do
you suppose that Harold Van Duysen will
ever think of offering his hand to Laura
now?"
81 don't know that he ever did think of
it." said Teresa, with color swimming up
the olive of her cheek.
This" said her mother, with solemn dig
nifty. "has settled the matter now. He will
never choose his wife among trades people
Oh!"-with a shudder, and burying her face
in her fancywork, which elegant fiction she
usually kept beside her-"rm thankful you
are not child of ninel always knew that
p in your mothers name would bear its
fruits. Thompson with pr"
"If any letter in my mothers maiden
name" said the stepdaughter with laugh,
"has cabslistic power enough to make me
it is a spell much needed in this family"
And Teresa went about her business with
light heart feeling that the worst was over in