Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-02
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


the remainder of his DAYS in spot which
seemed as if made to agree with his quiet
tastes, especially as he thought that the land
might be had cheap. The price proved so
low as to offer an irresisitable bait, and in
the long run he became the purchaser of the
little farm, and having given orders for the
immediate demolition of the low straw
thatched farm house, proceeded next to the
erection of Clump Cottage on its site.
Hither Mr.. Kenneth transferred his belong
ings, which included rare and choice col
lection OF old books, and here he settled
| down to the enjoyment of his ElzeVirs and
the pursuit of horticulture, of which he was
passionately fond.
Now, at last, he was happy. There was,
however, one "hy in the pot of ointment"
His only surviving relative, Fred Cameron,
the son of his widowed sister, who had been
| born under his roof and brought up by his
uncle after the death of his mother, refused,
when the time came for a decision, to follow
his uncle's profession. This was heavy
blow to the old man. who had continued to
! follow his avocations beyond the time that
pleasure or interest dictated, solely with the
view of his nephew succeeding him in one
of the most lucrative connections in the
city, including the rich perquisite of legal
adviser to the Universal.
For ten years of his life Mr.. Kenneth
Fraser had simply been acting as warm
| ing-pan for his nephew. 1t annoyed him TO
think of his wasted years, and he was still
more exasperated that Fred should throw
aside such golden opportunity. But he
was still more provoked at Fred's own
choice of a calling. For Fred had chosen
to be an artist, and, although Mr.. Fraser
was much too highly cultured not to hold
art as a product in the highest estimation,
he held the producers in sovereign con-
tempt. He was himself a man of the great
est regularity in his habits, and of a correct,
if not stately, department; and the Bohe-
mianism affected by most art students
offended his sense of the fitness of things.
1t was not unnatural, perhaps, that when
be condescended to employ terms of severe
opprobrium in his structures on the 'paint-
ing tribe" that his nephew should FIRE up
and retort angrily with some not very we'll
chosen remarks on the noble profession of
the law, in which allusions to pettyfogging
attorneys found too conspicuous place.
This was an insult which Mr.. Kenneth
Fraser was the last man to brook. His
Scotch blood tingled in his veins under the
| gibe, and bitter quarrel ensued, which
ended in young Cameron quitting his uncle's
roof the same night, with threat of disin-
heritance ringing in his ears. A small leg
acy bequeathed to him by his mother was
sufficient for his wants while pursuing his
art studies.
But long before the young artist had
painted his first picture Clump Cottage was
built and occupied. Whether Mr. Ken
meth Fraser found his life little more dull
than he had bargained for, or whether his
heart began to yearn over the only living
representative of his race is not known,
| since he never dropped any hint on the sub
I iect. Certain it is, that before the reclrse
had completed his first years residence in
his new home, Fred received and accepted a
/ pressing invitation to visit his uncle. From
that time his visits were frequent, and Mr.
Fraser began to take a keen interest in
Fred's pursuits, even to the extent of be-
coming purchaser for extravagant sums of
the earliest of Cameron's crude and imma-
ture work. Fred protested that it was sheer
robbery to take his uncle's money for such
daubs, but Mr.. Fraser, who was no mean
judge, saw clearly enough that the lad had
talent, if, indeed, the stronger term genius
might not be employed. and Fred was COM
PEELED to take his uncle's checks.
Alas, it was fated that the good under
standing which had grown up between
them should receive another check with re-
suits tragical and fatal to Mr.. Fraser On
the occasion of one of Cameron's visits to
Clump Cottage, when uncle and nephew
were dining tete-a-tete, the same evening of
Fred's arrival, the latter suddenly blurted
| out:
''Uncle, am going to be married"
Money! presume" Mr.. Fraser replied
laconically, slightly arehing his eyebrows,
while droll smile lurked round the cor
ner of his mouth.
"Well no, there is no money in the case, "
Fred said "What made you suppose I
should look after the dollars?"
Is Because l never knew a young painter
chap make living out of art until after
| many weary years of work and waiting;
and you affect high art believe, which
is only another word for the art which
keeps a man low down in the world, and
gives him plenty of time to enjoy the
luxury of empty pockets.
''Tou are wrong, on both points. Uncle, 4"
! Fred cried, gaily. 81 am getting on ia
mously. Ny pictures sell well, and Mary
Harmer will have little more than the
clothes she stands in"
"That she certainly will not, if she be the
daughter of John Harmer, who is clerk to
Bracegirdle and Hamlyn,' Nj. Fraser said
impressigelv. Fred, who was not slow to
interpret his uncle's moods, felt as if he was
| plotting his bark through strange currents
whose shadows were unknown to him. 1t
was plain enough to be seen that Mr.. Har-
mer was not in very good odor at Clump
Cottage, though why that was SO, Fred was
at loss to conceive. But now that he had
broken the ice he was bent on having the
matter out. So he continued after pause:
81 was not aware that you knew Mr.. Har-
mer''
THAT 1 can quite believe" the LAWYER
replied, grimly. John Harmer would not
be very likely to mention Kenneth Fraser's
name to Kenneth Fraser's nephew. Do you
happen to have made any inquiry into John
Harmer's antecedents 1t would be a nat
ural course to take before deciding to ally
yourself with his family"
"Well, no; I cannot say that I haye;"
/ said Fred, beginning to grow a little nettled
by his uncle's sarcasm, which was more
evident in his caustic tone than in his
language. 81 believe he has been un-
fortunate"
: 'Unfortunate ehl gad?" Mr.. Fraser said
with q chuckle. unfortunate you call it?
When man has been posted a defaulter to
the tune of ESQ, GOO, and owes it to my mercy
that he did not stand behind a criminal
dock, you say he has been unfortunate? I
think he has been deucedly lucky to escape
! transportation, and that / am the unfortu-
nate. Such is, at least, my opinion, Master
Freddy. And now pass the claret."
''Is this really true, uncle?'' asked Fred
in maze as he passed the wine.
SIS what true? Since when have L begun
to tell what is moi. true? You can have the
facts if you wish; they are in very small
compass.
John Harmer was once my friend. I
trusted him, helped him on; lent him money
at his need. How did he pay me back?
Listen. He came to me one day, saying that
he was in urgent need of $4,000. Within a
week he declared should have thefmoney