The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-10-29
A COOL MILLION.

sum of money.
She meant John Warbeck's fortune,
made in Colorado, with which he was
now on his way, after long years of abb
sence, 20 his sisters home. There GER
tainly never was a family In such a state
of excitement over an approaching event
as was ours now. Nothing else had been
talked of for weeks. The only person
who appeared the least bit calm was
Mr.. Archibald, but then he. you know,
was nonentity
After his wife had spoken the above
words he folded up the letter he had
been reading, sheathed. 1t in its envelope,
and resumed his breakfast
Mrs. Archibald eyed him impatiently
for some time, and then said rather Sc
verely: well, Mr.. Archibald, If you can
find time to tell me, should like to know
what my brother John says. When will
he arrive5 Pray don't choker'
Tomorrow morning." answered the
old gentleman, "but not with cool mill
ion"
Something very near it then-only
little less"
Considerably less, my dear-a twenty
dollar note"
What Please talk sensibly, Mr.. Arch
bald | hate jokes and riddles; don't
understand them"
He said he never had more than two
hundred Thousand dollars, and that he
lost last week in st. Louis at cards. You
know his weak point, He always would
play. Everybody CANDLES at the mines
He sat up two days and two nights over
the game they call faro, and left the
table with fifty dollars in his pocket.
When he arrives here he will have about
twenty He intends to begin the world
again. and | suppose we shall have to
take care of him till he can get an open
ing.
Mrs. Archibald had turned deadly
pale. She seized her husbands letter
and hastily read it through. Yes, it was
quite true, and John Warbeck was COM
ing back after so long an absence, Just
as he had gone--a beggar.
Very well, said his affectionate sis
ter, "Fll take care to teach the gentle
man that this is not the almshouse. He
always was fool, but he shall find that
am NOT one at any rate.
Fanny eyed her mamma with some
curiosity All the past week she had
heard nothing but praises of Uncle
Johns shrewdness and industry, and
particularly of his self sacrifice and good
sense in never marrying.
eff anything should happen, my love
he is old, you know, and has led
wearing life-it would-distress me be-
yond measure. should never recover,
fear. But You see, Fanny, everything
positively every penny he has-would
go to you. You must be very attentive
to your uncle, darling"
So mamma had previously often said,
and now the change of sentiment was
as startling as it was sudden. Instead
the new instructions were; your uncle
has no claim upon us, child. You must
take very little notice of him."
Fannie was pretty and also good
girl, and she felt very much distressed
at the idea Of i'll treating her poor old
uncle, and so when Lucius Mallory came
that evening she confided everything to
him.
Lucius was her admirer, under strong
protests from the maternal head of the
house, as his pecuniary prospects were
at present rather dismal, but he was al
lowed to visit the young lady once or
twice week, strictly as friend, and
think it needs no conjurer to tell us that
the two young people were not dream
ing of any such thing as marriage. AS
to the ring in the little trunk up stairs,
kept always locked up, where it came
from and what it meant, ! express no
opinion.
Indeed it would be shame. and real
ly sin. Fannie. said Lucius firing up, for
he was young and chivalrous IF you
must treat the old gentleman coolly in
public mean before your mamma
you ought to let him know the reason
In private"
And this is just what Fannie deter
mined to do
So the next morning Uncle John ar
rived. He was tall and raw boned and
gray, and certainly very rough in his ap-
pearance, but he had an honest, smiling
face, and wonderfully hearty way
about him that certainly would have
won the kindness and sympathy of al
most anybody except Mrs. William
Archibald
William Archibald himself shook hands
with the old man, and was rather cordial
despite the menacing eye of his wife;
but she was grand and distant, and as
suredly so marked in her bearing that |
its meaning could not be misunderstood.
When Fannie kissed her uncle her
mammals fingers tingled to infict GER |
tain nursery chastisement long disused, |
but the elder lady commanded her
temper and only said, "Fannie, you
have not watered the flowers, ! think"
Uncle John seemed rather surprised.
He had received reams of letters from
his sister Clara imploring him to pay his
long promised visit, and how he boosted |
to his friends Of the kind hearts that |
were beating with so much warmth and |
good feeling toward him.
They will eat me up" he had said,
over and over and over, his corded and
weather beaten face radiant with happy |
anticipations. at makes fellow feel |
joyous to think there's somebody cares
fol. him. Let's wind up ag'in, boys"
lOdl ~ WAC DCCduSo 10 WdS SupiIoiy |
too well wound up that he parted with
his money SO speedily at st. Louis But
did he care now?
I've home and good friends to take
care of me therest of my life, /" he said,
and this speech considerably annoyed
the gentlemen who heard it, for they |
remarked among themselves, THAT
old fogy has piles of money hidden
away somewhere. What we've won
isn't drop in the ocean. Let's go for
some more"
But Uncle John declined to play again.
and nothing could persuade him to,break
his resolution. He went to bed and had
a good rest, and then, as we know, start
ed at once for his sisters.
He was surprised, as has been said,
and not without cause. He really could
not understand it. Had he omitted any
polite form in his reintroduction to civ
ihzed society, or was the whole matter
merely fancy after all? No; certainly
that hauteurland those cold monosylla-