The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-26
room, now reappcarcd with strange

room, now reappcarcd with strange
promptitude.
''Show this-ths person to tho doorr'
fumcd Van Dorcn. Then, wrathfully,
to his nephew: Your scheme has mis-
carried, sir--completcly miscariedv"
and, hurrying to pair of heavy fold
ing-doors, which were partly divided,
he passed through the aperture, closing
it behind him an instant later in noisy
and savage fashion.
Stantield, as he quilted the house,
laughed aloud IL laugh of the hcarticst
scorn. WAS there ever such an old
bcast?" he said to his wife after reach
ing home and telling her how he had
been treated.
mo wonder he acted to my poor
mother ms lie did. Upon my word, when
think his conduct over in its true con-
temptiblc colors, wonder that ever his
age and lSinship prevented me from
giving him the soundcst of furnishings"
But before evening all had changed.
Myndhcrst Van Dorcn presented him
self Mt the lodgings of Stanfield that
afternoon and harshly begged his
ncphcws pardon. lie performed this
duty with much awkwardncss, but en-
phatically he performed it nevertheless.
"Of course you saved my life," he
said, land played IL very shabby part
to you this morning in speaking as I
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 inc good
deal, but | don't mean that such sur
prise was the slightest excuse. Now,
there; will you be kind enough to ac-
ccpt my apology nnd-and''-hcre the
old man seemed hesitating how to con-
cludc his pcaceable ovcrtureS, and then,
with II sudden curt brisllncss, concluded
-"agrec that you and shall turn over
an entirely new lcaf?"
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 Precipitation.
Van Dorcn's hand was now slightly
lifted. His nephew gnawcd his lips for
Il moment and then went forward and
took it.
Il will do as you say, SIR" he replied,
land promise that the new leaf shall
not be soiled by any misconduct of my
own"
Martha, who had been secrct thy quiv-
ering with nervous dread, here struck
in gentle laugh, and said, as she
Joined her husbands side: please let
me be counted in, too, for all Alfred's
friends arc mine, and if you will receive
him as your real nephew at last you
must let me become your real niece be-
Sides
This kttle speech was given with
much grace and winsomencss, but it
seemingly had no effect upon Van Dorcn.
His manner grew, indeed, somewhat
grimmer, now that his apology had
been made and accepted. After having
seated himself at the request of his
host, he bluntly said
I'm not going to beat round the
busl-whats the use? I've got prct-
ty fair pile of money that it took me n
lot of time and trouble to make I
shouldn't be surprised if I'm what pco-
pie would call Il miser. l let 'cm talk
as they choose. Now, of course it isn't
going to be very pleasant for man
who's as fond of his dollars as am to
give you many of 'em down. won't
do anything of that kind. emit and l
won't" Here Stanfcld and his wife
exchanged glances, and the eyes of the
IormcC seemed 10 say: "Oh, the I'M
speakablc old sllinilint,''
"But I'll tell you what l will do"
Van Dorcn soon resumed, with keen
though sidc-long look at his nephew.
"Ill'leave you all I've got when I'm done
with it. That oughtn't to be SO long,
either. I'll reach sixty-cight my next
birthday. My father died ut fifty-six
and both my brothers went at ages I'M
der thirty" He now gave q husky lit
tie laugh. about as joyless us the turn
ing of a rustcd key in it's lock. 80,
you see, 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
ished 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 Stanfelds reply, though very
frank, was quite free from i'll feeling.