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


But one evening there was tap at the
door which interrupted the most dismal
reverie he had yet had, and who should
enter but Miss Fanniel
She threw her arms around the old
mans neck and began to cry little, and
he, rather bewildered, responded by such
soothing words as he could command;
and presently she said: "Oh, Uncle John,
what must you think of us ALP You are
treated SO badly am going to tell
you the truth, dear Uncle John; It's
mammals fault. Lucius says it's a sin
and a shame, and so 1t Is. and won't
encourage or take part in it."
There was good deal more sobbing,
rather unintelliqble and very affecting
to the listener, but the truth soon peeped
out, and John Warbeck in flash saw
all.
The revelation was the greatest grief
of his life. His sister, the pretty, kind
Clara Of long ago, changed to thisl
"She loved my money and not mep he
thought. ut is worth a quarter of a
million, and more, to find out thing
Il
Fannie's countenance soon cleared up,
seeing hew more cheerful, and SO they
talked a long time In the soft twilight
OF that little room, and she told him, as
he tenderly smoothed her pretty hair, a
little secret. 1t was, of course, some
thing in regard to Lucius. She and Luz
cius were secretly engaged to be mar
ried.
"And you see this pretty ring, Uncle
John2 Well, he gave me that--isn't 1t
beautiful?--and it's a pledge, you know,
of his fidelity and truth. We are going
to wait for each other ever 80 long!'
a. And truly they were, If poor Fannie
was going to wait for the accumulation
Of that ''easy competence" upon which
her mamma insisted as a sine qua non,
but which as yet was thing seriously
projected and not begun.
All this was very delightful to old
John Warbeck, poetical romance in
which he instantly became profoundly
interested, to the entire exclusion of his
own affairs. He got up, went over to
his trunk, and took from that capacious
receptacle pair of old fashioned ear
rings and breastpin. The breastpin
was a large locket set with diamonds,
and there was faded daguerreotype In
it of a lady-some one, perhaps. whom
Uncle John had once admired.
yours, my child he said, tenderly
pinning the gift to her dress, and placing
the earrings in her hand. when you
look at them sometimes you'll think of
old Uncle John, won't you?'
These things were antique enough, 1t
is true, but worth l dare not calculate
how much. Fannie kissed her uncle 80
often, between crying and laughing,
that for the first time he realized the
coveted sensation Of "being eaten up"
And so she left him and slipped down
stairs to show them to mamma
Mrs. Archbalds large eyes opened in
the greatest amazement.
1.-THE handsomest | ever sawi" she
calculated with a gasp; and that even
ing John Warbeck was invited to sup
with the family = ito try the fried
chickenl"
Somehow he had sort of instinct
that enabled him to see humiliation in
anything that savored of resentment,
and SO he complied and greatly relished
the fried chicken. Fannie's little con-
fidence, however, was not without its
effect. He no longer remained moping
In his room. but went out every morn
ing with great regularity, and seldom
returned till nightfall He also became
very intimate with Lucius, and what
ever their secrets were, Fannie, sus-
pect, was not excluded from sharing
them.
"Clara," said Mr. Archibald one day to
his wife, "who do you think met In
Spurrier's banking house this morning,
making deposit, too2'
~ don't know, Mr.. Archibald, I'm
sure.
"John Warbeck.
"Johnr
Her husband nodded. Mrs. Archibald
became a. thoughtful, and something
seemed to have occurred to her.
That night John Warbeck was agreeably
SURF ed to find that he was no longer
TO occupy the little back attic room.
why you will insist on that horrid
room, John, can't imagine" said his
sister, when you know there are three
or four vacant chambers on the second
floor"
well, Clara, it's all one to me-" he
good humoredly; "but, now
that we are alone, / want to be frank
with you. I've been here for some time,
it, he hesitatedr-"it goes
against my grain to live at any place
paying for my accommodation,
you know. / don't feel independent.
Now, here's hundred dollars-not for
my board, you know. Clara-but just as
4 present / want you to buy dress or
something with it,
John Warbeck, I" said Mrs. Archibald
Indignantly, II do not deserve this In
suit. Your home Is here as long as mine
IS here. | felt honored-I felt touched,
John," she continued, tears starting to
1er eyes, when you wrote that you In
ended to spend the evening Of your
lays under my roof; and now to offer
noney-to your own and only sister
who has always loved you
And she quite broke down and sobbed
yiolently.
John put away the money and soothed
ner as well as he knew how, but she left
him apparently deeply wounded.
By the time she reached her husbands
study her feelings were evidently under
better control, for she burst In upon that
slderly gentleman, who was quietly read
ng his paper, with the words, William
Archibald, you always would have your
own way, and now see the RESULT My
poor brother, John Warbeck, has been
n this house weeks weeks, strand
treated like dogl You would have us
al believe he was pauper, though /
Knew from the first he was man Of
enormous wealth. He is worth cool
million today II he is worth pennyr
"Do you think 50, my DEAR gasped
William Archibald, truly astonished
~ was sure of 1t from the first, and
but for you, Mr.. Archibald, would have
pursued very different course from the
shameful one you have made your fam
ly follow. II was only little subter-
huge on John Warbeck's part. His
'ortune is intact, and he only wished to
.ast no Ercantr1o xuaa1fhv poopla 40