Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-15
four and a very big balance at my

at their uncle's quiet little house at
Chelsea, and as we sat at dinner I
could not help thinking how kindly
fortune was behaving to the young
men, to place them ia the way of such
expectations; and before left it was
plain enough to me which was uncle's
favorite.
This was Philip, afrank-faced young
fellow of two or three and twenty.
very gentlemaney in his ways, and de-
cidedly good looking, while he was
full of anecdotes and, without seem
ing to be toadying, full of attention
to the old man, to whom dogmatic
he listened with the greatest defer
ence.
For old JOAN had grown terribly
dogmatic. He had had the manage
ment of hundreds of poor byots for SO
many years that he felt quite a king
in his way, and would bully and snub
every one when his liver was a little
worse than usual--every one, that is,
except me, for whenever he was out
of temper, he never would speak to
me, but nod and shake his head, and
smoke his chillum till he felt more at
ease.
Samuel was the opposite to his
brother, being short, thick-set, plain
| fellow, with only one good feature
or ought that to be two?-in his
face, and that his eyes, which were,
for a man, beautiful, and, best OF all
in their steady, honest look, which
never seemed to blanch or have any
thing to fear.
Time went on, and, at John Hen
drIck's wish. I took Philip as articled
clerk.
''Let him be lawyer" said my old
friend; and a barrister, but lawyer,
q family solicitor, who knows the
value of property and how to manage
it, form confidence, Dick, do you
hear?"
nodded.
"You may charge for it if you like
I mean TO make that boy my heir,
but don't tell him."
81 don't tell what my clients say to
ne," / said.
"No, you dry, old wooden box"
he said, chuckling; II never met
with such a snuffy, reticent old hum-
bug as you've grown"
well, if I had not you wouldn't
have made me your solicitor" said,
grimly.
perhaps not, Dick; perhaps not,
old fellow; but we should have been
friends all the same; but don't give
Phil the slightest hint of what III
tend to do for him. Let him work
and get to be a clever, shrewd man of
business. [ hate an empty dandy.
Let him learn the worth Of money
He's exactly like poor Jenny"
"And how about Sam" I said In
my grutf, repellant way.
''Let him stop where he is, and sell
tea and tea dust, and make his money
out of the chests" he said, in a hard,
harsh manner that did not like.
'But you'll leave him as much as
you leave his brother?" I said.
THAT I won't, Dick. He's my sis
ter's boy, but Idon't like him. He's
his father over again-the father who
behaved badly to poor Jenny, and
broke her heart. He was gambler,
and thought only of himself. Poor
girl, she made a sad mistake; but let
that rest"
We'll, I don't know" said, "but
[ think you are misjudging Sam. |
believe him to be a very frank hon
est fellow"
"Boshl Don't tell me, sir. lean
read character. I haven't lived to IS
for nothing, sir. The fellow never
shows me bit of Difference. He's
rough and independent, and DULLES
his brother just as that scoundrel,
his father, did my poor sister Jenny.
[ DON'T like him, Dick. [ don't like
him"
Now I too, had studied characters
a little, and I knew enough of John
Hendricks to see I,could be doing nc
good by fighting on Samuel's behalf;
but made it my business few days
later to ask HIM to call upon me, and
during the interview the opinion was
strengthened.
"No, Mr.. Brown" be said warmly,
II can't do it. I don't say but what
if my uncle left me some money I
would be glad of it, for 1 am think
ing of getting married, sir. But my
uncle does not like me; he has taken q
prejudice against me because he says
/ am exactly like my dead father, and
I can't help that of course"
But you might try to humer him
a little and let him see that you don't
deserve his-I am sure - wrong
opinion"
Thank ycu for that, Mr.. Brown"
he exclaimed, and his eyes looked soft
and sub6ued; ''but I could not do it,
sir. I never would toady to anyone
for the sake of the money that might
come, and if I were to 60 there trying
to please my uncle, ne would only
despise me for it. Ny poor mother
taught me and I have never forgotten
her teachings"
1 found before long that John Hen
bricks was thoroughly in earnest, for
he sent for me one day to take instruc-
tons to make his will, but I could not
help laying down my pen when l
found he intended to leave the whole
of his property, save some trif1ing leg
acies to servants and others, to his
uo11poar, ponhow Philir, Hem slew