Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-02-18

ing-doors, which were partly divided, he passed through the aperture, closing it behind him an instant later in noisy and savage fashion.
 Stanfleld, as he quilted the house, laughed aloud a laugh of the heartiest scorn. Was there ever such an old beast?" he said to his wife after reach ing home and telling her how he had been treated.
 No wonder he acted to my poor mother as he did. Upon my word, when think his conduct over in it's true con- temptible colors, wonder that ever his age and kinship prevented me from giving him the soundest of thrashings."
 But before evening all had changed. Myndherst Van Doren presented him. self at the lodgings of Stanfield that afternoon and harshly begged his nephew's pardon. He performed this duty with much awkwardness, but em- phatically he performed it nevertheless.
 ''Of course you saved my life," he said, land played very shabby part to you this morning in speaking as did. beg you to forgive an old man for letting his bitter tongue run away with him. know I'm grabbed and surly and all that. What you said about being my nephew surprised me good deal, but I don't mean that such sur prise was the slightest excuse. Now, there; will you be kind enough to ac- cept my apology and-and'-here the old man seemed hesitating how to con- clude his peaceable overtures, and then, with sudden curt briskness, concluded
 -"agree that you and shall turn over an entirely new leaf?"
 Flushed and stern, Stanfield had lis, tened, and here he glanced at Martha, who was not far away, and who gave. him little nod suggesting propitiation., Van Doren's hand was now slightly lifted. His nephew gnawed his lips for a moment and then went forward and took it.
 ''l will do as you say, sir," he replied, "and I promise that the new leaf shall not be soiled by any misconduct of my own"
 Martha, who had been secre tly quiv- ering with nervous dread, here struck in a gentle laugh, and said, as she joined her husbands side: "Please let me be counted in, too, for all Alfred's friends are mine, and If you will receive him as your real nephew at last you must let me become your real niece be- sides"
 This little speech was given with much grace and winsomeness, but it seemingly had no effect upon Van Doren. His manner grew, indeed, somewhat grimmcr, now that his apology had been made and accepted. After having seated himself at the request of his host, he bluntly said:
 lin not going to beat round the bush-what's the use? I've got pret- ty fair pile of money that it took me a lot of time and trouble to make. shouldn't be surprised if I'm what peo- pie would call miser. l let 'em talk as they choose. Now, of course 1t isn't going to be very pleasant for q man who's as fond of his dollars as I am to give you many of 'em down. won't do anything of that kind. can't and won't" Here Stanfield and his wife exchanged glances, and the eyes of the former seemed to say: "Oh, the un- speal1able old skinflint!'
 But I'll tell you what will do," Van Doren soon resumed, with a keen though side-long look at his nephew. 'I'llleave you all I've got when I'm done with it. That oughtn't to be so long, either. I'll reach sixty-eight my next birthday My father died at fifty-six and both my brothers went at ages un- der thirty" He now gave husky lit tie laugh, about as joyless as the turn ing of rusted key in its lock. "So, you sec, the chances are against your waiting very long. I'll send for a law yer tomorrow, and by next Thursday the will can be fully drawn up. in tended giving it all to charities, but in- stead of that I'll leave every dime of it to the nephew that saved my life at the risk of his own. Now, what do you think of this arrangement? Does it satisfy you? Because if doesn't," fin ishcd Van Doren, rising, "I'm afraid it's altogether the best can do."
 His own face had soured as he watched the expression wrought by these words on the face of his nephew. But Stanfield's reply, though very frank, was quite free from ill feeling.
 Naturally" came his answer, "I do not wish to concern myself with any compact that bears relation to your death. Still, if you are willing to make having so decided, and yet," he con- tinued, ''I would ask you, sir, for some help. Our needs are grow ing urgent, though they are not at all excessive. My wife and could live on a very moderate annuity. If you would consent to aid us with certain month ly sum could, perhaps-indeed, most probab ably-succeed in getting a clerk ship here in New York that would swell the amount donated until 1t be- came an actual compe tence."
 "Mm-ycs, yes" muttered Van Doren, stroking his bare, sharp, shaven chin. 'You want, in other words, more than I'm willing to give. thought my terms very fair-Very fair" and he looked both StaD6eld and Martha full in the eyes, for 8 moment, with a gaze that seemed to both of them positively vulpine.
 But the young wife, whatever may have been her furtive repulsion, now drew nearer to the obdurate old man and addressed him with a simple and