The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1899-07-08
4 TALE ON TWO MISERS
By Edgar Fawcett.
lcopYRIour. 1911
80 ll.sE


pie would call miser. ] let 'em tall
rs they choose. Now, of course it isn't
going to be very pleasant for q mar
who's as fond of his dollars as am to
give you many of 'em down. won't
do anything of that Kind. can't and !
won't" Hero Stanfeld and his wife
exchanged glances, and the eyes of the
former seemed to say: ''Oh, the un-
speakable old slSinhint!"
"But I'll tell you what / win do
Van Doren soon resumed, with 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 flfty-six
and both my brothers went at ages I'M
der thirty" He now gave husky lit
tie laugh, about as joyless as the turn
ing of rustcd key in its lock. $50,
you sec, the chances are against your
waiting very long. I'll send for a law
yer tomorrow, and by next Thursday
tho 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 Stanfeld's reply, though very
frank. was quite free from i'll feeling.
Naturally" came his answer, 81 do
not wish to concern myself with any
compact that bears relation to your
death. Still, if You arc willing to make
me your heir. can but thank you for
having so decided, and vet" he CON
tinucd, 81 would ask you, sir, for some
immediate help. Our needs arc grow
ing urgent, though they are not at all
excessive. My wife and could live on
4 very moderate annuity. If you would
consent to aid us with certain month
iy sum / conld, perhaps-indeed, most
probably-succeed in getting a clerk
ship here in New York that would
swell the amount donated until it be-
came an actual compe tence."
;M-m-ycs, yes, muttered Van Doren,
strolSing his bare, sharp, shavcn chin.
you want, in other words, more than
I'm willing to give. l thought my
terms very fair-very fair" and he
looked both Stapficld and Martha full
in the eyes, for a moment, with a gaze
that seemed to both of them positively
vulpine.
But the young wife, whatever may
have been he" furtiYc repulsion, now
drew nearer TO- the obdurate old man
md addressed him with simple and
lovely eloqueroe Of pleading. She spoke
Of their marriage and the deep mutual
love that had "aused it, of Alfred's great
To week, and of her own
Eager desire 10 ill their little home
with happiness and thrift. There were
ears of entreaty in her voice, though
lone in her tanderly beseeching ewes.
But possibly light was there that
erept, with whatever faint
less, down into She sullen gloom of
hat unnatural heart. Before the inter
lew was over Martha, and not her hus-
'andi had gained q victory Stanfield |
vas TO receive everything at his uncle's
Ieatil, and meanwhile, until that high |
" uncertain event occurred, he was to |
ret a small monthly allowance. But
besides this, as Van Doren gravely con-
'eded before his departure, efforts
would be used towards securing for his
nephew the desired mercantile clerk.
hip.
That last promise, like the former
me, was faithfully carried out. The
'ld man, in spite of his detested stinpi-
less, retained certain distinct busi-
less influence, He recommended Stan
lcld to firm of some Importance. and
ere, in n prim office overlooking the
hrongs of masts at the docks of Water
treet, Martha's husband soon found
imself seated before ledger.laden
esk.
1t was tiresome work; he had, as the
hrase goes, head for figures, and by
AZURE he was not one to whom the gid
pleasures OF cities offered tempting
lres' But it began gradually to bore
Inn with increasing keenness that lie
1uld not crafty in the cautious and
1nservative atmosphere of Messrs. Van
eekten q Co. his longings for quickly
aquired riches.
I despise money merely in itself,D
would say to Martha. ''Rut what IL
i'll bring-ah! that's another ATARI
tinkl you and I might go round the
ORD together, arm in arm, us it were.
that old fellow would only consent
} let usl''
And SO we shall, some dav. no
'ubt, whispered Martha, with Inns
gainst his cheek. ]
Hush, he said, almost pushing her
way from him. 81 hate to count on
lyone's death-even his" :
''1es;you're right. dear, said Martha ,
Forgive me-" /, !
Nevertheless he did count ON his /
lcie's death, harshly us it first went y
iainst his nature to do SO. During the n
Xt live years two children were horn (
Martha and himself, boy and a girI q
re little family had just enough to a
pply its wants and not a dime more n
artha' with her babies and her domes- o
cares, kept up her spirits in blitbest v
shion. But the change in Alfred wor- ii
d her. She saw that his Office work n,
IS growing a more and more leaden y
'1 70 him, and that the yearning for il