Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-26
CHAPTER II.

draw the line as regards my future deeds
OF vaior precisely at one million"
CHAPTER II.
With great punctuality stanfeld presented
himself the next morning at his uncle's house
In state street. The building had by no means
cheerful look as he raped with the bright
Ass knocker on the whits-painted door. Its
blinds were tightly closed and it seemed to
browse in an apathy Of oblivion. But this was
not his first ascent Of that slim-railed stoop;
he was prepared for the sallow, STOPPING but
Ter, who presently admitted him without a
word. but with an air of having expected him.
Soon he was shown into parlOr so dark that
he almost stumbled against q small but heavy
mahogany table. on which was q Friendships
Keepsake In crimson and gold binding and
one or two enormous, griuning, rose-lipped
conch shells. After little while old Samuel
made it lighter and then Mr.. Van Doren came
into the room.
1t is possible that the old man had never
treated any one more cordially in all his hard,
austere life than he now treated Stanfeld.
You did very fine thing, sir. he said:
''you saved my life, beyond a doubt Yes,
grant it, you see. grant it." Then he rubbed
one hand against the other as though, in spite
Of gratitude, he we're washing away from them
all material obligation of a remunerative kind,
and with his shrewd. beady eyes. ambushed be-
low their gray slants Of shaggy eyebrow, he
glanced round him at the threadbare carpets,
the mirrors in their furnished frames and the
hair cloth furniture whose edges here and there
betrayed the tawny buckram below them. But
he doubtless deserted none Of these and Of
other signs, all glaring enough to attest his
own avarice. He was very probably refresh
ing his memory concerning the little "business-
like offer" which he had resolved to make
this handsome, stalwart young gentleman
In the way of recognition and recon-
pense. But Stanfeld had now made up
his mind to speak, and promptly did 90. He
told Myndherst Van Doren who he was, and at
length added: Not, sir, until had been the
means Of your rescue did learn Of our rela-
tionship. You did not ask me for my name,
nor did your servant seek it of me this morn
ing. But since have already made this name
known to you in my efforts to gain your kindly
notice, 1 feel sure that Alfred Stan6eld' will
not strike SO very unfamiliarly on your ears"
As he finished speaking the young man placed
a ~ard which bore his present address on the
shell-adorned table near which he sat. He did
no: proffer it to Van Doren, though perhaps if
he had done SO that gentleman would have
hurled it aside in disdain, for his nephew had
scarcely ended before he rose pale and tremu-
lous with wrath.
Il see! 1 seer' he exclaimed. cts all a
trick, miserable trick! Your mother threw
herself away on q penniless lover, and now
youve watched your chance to steal into nv
good grsces-to get money from me-the money
I've made by hard work, sir. and mean to keep
with tight hand. l can tell your At this
point the speaker agitatedly rose. 'SamuelI'
he calledl ''Samuelr' in q shriu, falsetto
voice, and the old servant. who had lately gone
from the room, now reappeared with strange
promptitude.
"Show this-this person to the door, fumed
Van Doren. Then wrathfully to his nephew:
'.Your scheme has miscarried, sir-completely
mlscarried" And hurrying to pair of heavy
folding doors which were partly divided, he
passed through the aperture, closing 1t behind
him an instant later in noisy and savage
fashion.
stanfeld, as he quilted the house. laughed
aloud laugh Of the heartiest scorn. .'was
there ever such an old beast?" he said to his
wife, after reaching home and telling her how
he had been treated.
''No wonder he acted to my poor mother "a
he did Upon my word, when think his con-
duct over in It's true, contemplate colors
wonder that ever his age and kinship prevented
me from giving him the soundest Of thrash
ings"
But before evening all had changed Mynd-
herst Van Doren presented himself at the Iodg-
ings Of Stanfield that afternoon and humbIy
begged his nephew's pardon: He performed
this duty with much awkwardness, bu- emphat-
ically performed it, nevertheless.
"Of course you saved my life," he said, "and
played very shabby part to you this morn
ing in speaking as did l beg you to forgive
an old man for letting his bitter tongue run away
| with him. know m Grabbed and surly and
| all that. What you said about being my nephew
| surprised me good deal. but l don't mean
that such surprise was the slightest excuse
Now, there, will you be kind enough to accept
| my apology, and-and--" Here the old man
seemed hesitating how to conclude his peace
able overtures. and then, with a sudden curt
briskness. concluded-'agree that you and
shall turn over an entirely new leaf?''
Flushed and stern. Stanfeld had listened,
| and here he glanced at Martha, who was not
| far away, and who gave him q little nod sug-
costing Precipitation. Van Doreu's hand vss
| now slightly lifted. His nephew gnaved his
| lips for a moment and then went forward and
| took it.
81 will do as you say, sir," he replied, land
| promise you that the new leaf shall not be
| soiled by any misconduct Of my own"
Martha, who had been secretly ouiverins
with nervous dread, here struck in A gentle
| laugh and said, she Joined her hus6and's
side: 'Please let me be counted in, too. for ali
Alfred's frieds are mine; and II you will re-
ceive him a. your real nephew at last Won
must let me become your real niece beeides"
This little speech was given with much grace
and winsomeness, but it seemingly had no sffect
| upon Van Doren. His manner grew. indeed
somewhat grimmer. not that his apology had
been made and accepted. After having ceated
himself at the request Of his host he bluntly
| said:
I'm not going to beat round the bush-
| what's the use? I've got Q pretty fair pile of
money that IL took me Q lot Of time nd troubIe
to make. shouldn't be surprised n I'm what
people would call . miser. let 'sm talk A.
they choose. Now, Of course, IL isnt going 10
be very pleasant for aman who's e fond Of his
dollars as am 70 give you many Of 'sm down.
won't do anything OF that kind. can't and
won't" Here Stsnfeld and his We az
ahanrad ~lsncAa and TIA A.. - a. S~-~.