Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-09-06

had just discovered on it n cloud
mark which presented startling
likeness to n grotesque face-yes-
the face, moreover, before me tha6
instant, comforted by malicious,
laughter-why laughter, who could
say?
When say that the elderly gentle
man for whom the cane was bought
was my uncle, the uncle by marriage
of the girl | wished TO marry, and
that n long promised inheritance
from him was the only prospect
had in view beyond my profession,
the conclusion that my little offering
was prompted purely by selfinterest
might be a natural conclusion to
draw, but it would not be a true one,
l had been fond of the good old fell
low from the time when | was u
halfstarved youngster at a we'll
known boarding school for would-he
naval cadets, and he tipped me
many n halfcrown. am sometimes
inclined to think that half-crowns
positively are not what they were in
those days, and when | am told that
silver is too cheap just now am sure
that it is a fact.
| had the cane mounted in solid
silver gilt, and looked it over proud
ly when it came home.
i packed it carefully and sent it off
to my dear uncle. An answer would
come, was sure, by return post, and
| was fully convinced that the cane
would have given much pleasure.
Picture my dismay and sorrow,
then, when on the very next day
came telegram from a doctor we'll
known to me announcing the sudden
death of the apparently hale old gem
tlemanl He had been as | knew aft
erward. delighted with my present,
had handled it with hearty appre-
citation, and was actually writing his
acknowledgement to me when he had
fallen with his heud on the desk, a
dead man.
put away the half-written letter
as last memento of valuable
friend. and attended the funeral as
chief mourner.
His lawyer, who was an old nc
quaintance of mine, met me with a
very long face. Il must tell you, he
said, that your uncle had very
common fancy of putting off making
his will, and had only done so ON the
day of his death. Even then he
| would not sign it at once on the pre-
/ text that the witnesses he meant to
have were not at hand. | was to
| come at 8 o. clock that evening. |
\ did so and it was too late. 1t was in
your favor as ne had always prom
isedit should be.
l was considerably taken ahack.
THAT means" | said, "thatal the
/ property will be equally divided be
tween his fifteen nephews and nieces.
NO" he answered gloomily sit
goes in two portions. to his only sur.
yiying brother and sister, the two
who behaved so badly to him"
| sat down rather abruptly
''There, then, is an end of it all, /"
said, as | thought Of Marion.
THE Malacca cane the only belong
/ ing of my good uncle, that fell to m J
share-nobody wantedit.
Some time afterward, while / was
( still waiting for an appointment
which was a coy in answer to my
wooing as such matters usually are
q friend looked in with evidence 81
some other object in view than mere
~ to smoke n pipe with me and t
complain of the service.
II say, old chap" he began, "yor
remember showing that queer stici
of yours to old Hadley the other day
and what a fancy he took to IT,
Well, he's going to be married-fun
ny affair-said it was time he haC
some one TO write to when lie wai
away, and to keep snug home foI
him when he came back, so went about
with list OF suitable womeI
in his pocket, and has struck the bar
gain at last with widow-rather
good sort. Now / intend maxim,
: him a wedding present 50 want yol
! to let me have that cane"
Well, | sold him the stick that is
J | changed it tor some cigars of
: brand fancied, and my friend carrie,
it OFF. ] looked out for Hadley'
, wedding, but very shortly after, t,
, my regret, came upon a notice of hi
/ death instead.
1T seemed that upon the very da
my friend had himselfcalled and pre-
/ sented the Malacca cane, he had bee
} seized with sort of fit, from whic
e he died after lingering n few days.
Y My friend returned the cane to me
e at seems rather an unlucky sort 7
5 gift, /" he remarked. / thought TIL
: same and put it by, but some tim
!, later, on going to South America
/, took it with me, thinking woul
| use it myself
e / went inland to spend a couple {
r days with avery old friend, who wa
Z working an estate. He had two son
!. just growing up with him, an agre,
able wife and u pretty daughter.
|, iancied the latter was somewhat I'M
t my Marion; at any rate she sang; s
n did Marion; and they both had cocl
Il ly sol t of light hair, and / am sui
o that these were my reasons for I'll
4 tender feeling | exDeriauced whom