Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-11-10

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took Il.
II will do rs 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 secretly quiv.
ering with nervous dread, here struck
In a gentle laugh, and said, rs she
joined her husbands side: "Please let
inc he counted In, too, for oil Alfred's
friends are mine, and II You will receive
him as your real nephew ut last you
must let me become your real niece be-
sides"
This little speech was given with
much grace and winsomencss, but 1t
seemingly had no effect upon Van Doren.
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, lie bluntly said:
I'm not going to beat round the
bush-what's the use? I've got pref
" fair pile OF money that Il took me
lot OF time and trouble TO make. !
shouldn't be surprisedif I'm what peo-
pic would call q miser ! let 'em talk
us they choose. Now. Of course II isn't
going to be very pleasant for man
who's us fond Of his dollars rs am to
give you many Of en- down. ! won't
do anything OF that kind can't and
won't" Here Stanfeld and his wife
exchanged chances. and the eyes OF the
former seemed TO say: "Oh. the I'M
speakable old skinGint."
but I'll tell you what ] will do"
Van Doren soon resumed, with u keen
though side-long look Mt his nephew.
'I'lllc you oil I've got when I'm done
with IT, That oughtnt to be SO long,
either ri reach sixty-eight my next
birthday My father died ut 6fty-six
and both my brothers went ut ages un-
der thirty" lie now gave husky lit
tie laugh. about rs joyless rs the turn.
ing of rustcd key in its lock. so,
you sec. the chances are against your
waiting very long I'll send for law
yer tomorrow, and by next Thursday
the will can be fully drawn up in
tended giving II all to charities. but in
stead of that I'll leave every dime OF II
to the nephew that saved my life at the
risk Of his own Now. what do you
think OF this arrangement? Does II
satisfy you? Because II doesn't" fin
,shed Van Doren, rising, I'm afraid
it's altogether the best can do"
His own face had soured us he
watched the expression wrought by
these words on the face Of his nephew
hut Stan6eld's reply, though very
frank. was quite free from i'll feeling
Naturally" came his answer, ~ do
not wish to concern myself with any
compact that bears relation to your
death Still, II you are willing to make
the your heir can but thank you for
having so decided. and yet" he con-
tinuctl. II would ask you. sir, for some
immediate help Our needs are grow
ing urgent. though they are not ut all
excessive My wife and could live on
"a very moderate annuity II you would
consent 10 aid us with certain month
~ sum ! could. pcrhaps-indeed. most
probably succeed in getting n clerk.
ship here in New York that would
swell the amount donated until II be.
came an actual competence.
"M.m-ycs. yes" muttcred Van Doren.
,troking his bare. sharp. shaver chin.
Won want. in other words, more than
I'm willing to give thought my
terms very fair-vcry fair" and he
looked both Staplield and Martha full
m the eyes. for moment. with u gaze
that seemed To both Of them positively
vulpine
IIut the young wife. whatever may
have been her furtivc rcpulsion. now
drew nearer TO the oblurate old man
and addressed him with simple and
lovely cloqucacc Of pleading She spoke
Of their marriage and the deep mutual
love that had caused il: OF Alfred's great
Willingness to work. and of her own
eager desire to Gil their little home
with happiness and thrift. There were
tcarspf cntrcaty in her voice, though
none IN her tendcrly beseeching eyes.
But possibly light was there that
somehow c,ept. With whatever faint
hess. down into the sullcn gloom Of
nat unnut,il al heart Before the inter.
lew WIS over Martha. and not her hus-
and, had gu ned victory Staaneld
vus 70 receive everything at his uncie's
ueatn. ana meanwhile. until that high.
ly uncertain event occurred, he was TO
get small monthly allowance. But
besides this. rs Van Dorcn gravely con.
ce,lcd before his departure, efforts
would bc used towards securing for his
nephew the desired mercantile clerk
ship
That last promise. like the former
one. was faithfully carried out The
old man, in spite Of his detcstcd stingi'
ness, retained certain distinct bust.
ness influence lie recommended STAN
field 70 firm OF some Importance. and
here. in prim Office overlooking the
throngs Of mlsts mt the do:ks Of Water
strest, Martha's husband soon found
himself seated before lcdger-laden
desk
phrase goes. head for figures. ind by
nature lie was not one TO whom the gid
dy pleasures Of cities offered tempting
lures But II began gradually TO bore
him with increasing keenncss that he
could not crafty In the cautious and
conservative atmo phere Of Messrs. Van
veclsten & Co his longings for quickly
acquired riches
II despise money merely in ITSELF"
he would say TO Martha But what II
will bring--ah! that's another affair!
Think you and might so round the
world together, arm In arm. rs Il were,
II that old fellow would only consent
to let us!''
"And so we shall, some day, no
doubt" whispered Martha, with lips
against his check.
"IIush." ne said, almost pushing her
away from him II hate 10 count on