Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-01-11
CHAPTER IL.

owner woke M. stared az the ceiling
then az the sun baked bricks beyond
his window. lie saw not the glory ot
the sun and the heavens. To hiS eyes
there WAS nothing poetic IN the flash OF
the distant church spires against the
billowy cloud banks. The gray doves
circling about the chimneys. did not in.
spire him nor the twiilcring of the
sparruwS on the window ledge. There
was nothing AT all in the world hut Il
long stretch of barren, lonely years.
And he wondered how without her at
his side he ever could traverse them.
He was driftwoOd again. lie had built
upon sands a. usual. and the tide had
come in: his castle was iotSam ANA
jetsam. He was drifting and he didn't
care where. He was very sorry for
himself. and he had the blue devils the
worst kind Of way. Finally he crawled
out of bed and dressed because it had
10 be done. He was not particularly
painstaking with the procedure. 1t
mattercd not what collar became him
best, and he picked up a tie at random.
\ man generally dresses for certain
woman's approval. and when that is
no longer to be gained he grows indif-
ferent. The other women do not
count.
My breakfast consisted of cup Of
coffee, and as the generous nectar
warmed my veins my thoughts took a
philosophical turn. 1t is fate who
writes the was, the is and the shall be-
We have proverb for every joy and
misfortune. 1t is the only consolation
fate gives us. 1t is like conqueror
asking the vanquished TO witness the
looting. All roads lead to Rome. and
all proverbs are merely signpOsts by
which we pursue our destinieS. And
how was | to get to Rome? | knew
not. Hope is better than clairvuyance.
Was Phyllis right when she said that
l did not truly love her? | believed
not Should l 90 on loving her all my
life? Undoubtedly | should. As to
aftinities. l had met mine, but it had
proved a one sided affair
1t was after 10 by the elu-k Nhen l
remembered that | was to meet the
lawyer, the arbiter of my new for
tunes. Money is a balm for most
things, and coupled with travel it
might lead me to forget. He was the
family lawyer, and he had come all
the way north to see that | received
my uncle's bequest He was bent,
gray and partially bald. He must have
been close to 20, but for all that there
was a youthful twinkle in his eyes as
he took my card and looked up into
my face.
80 you are John Winthrop" he said
in way of preliminary. You may hand
cardcase full of your name to law
yer and still lie will insist upon n YER
bal admission.
IL have always been led to believe
So" | answered smartly, placing my
hat beside the chair in which | sat
down. How did you manage to To-
cate me in this big city,"
Your uncle had seen some of your
signed articles in New York papers
and said that in all probability | should
find you here. A few inquiries set me
on your track" Here he pulled out a
lengthy document from his handbag.
Il confess, however" he added, that
am somewhat disappointed in your
looks"
Disappointed in my looksr' was my
cry. What sort of duffer were you
expecting to see?'
He laughed well, your uncle gave
me the idea that l should find good
for nothing hack writer dweller in
some obscure garrett"
IF that is the case, what under the
sun did he send you up here for?'
The merriment went out of the old
mans face, and his eyes became grave
"Of that anon. Let me proceed with
my business and read the will to you.
You will find it rather remarkable
document"
| settled back in my chair in wait
ing attitude. 70 tell the truth | was
somewhat confused by all this pream-
bic. To his son my uncle left the bulk
of his property, which amounted to
more than S1000,0O0. | was listless.
The head overseer received the munifi-
cent sum of $4,000. TO the butler, the
housekeeper and the cook he gave $1O,-
600 each. | began to grow interested.
He was very liberal to his servants. |
Several other names were read. and
my interest assumed the color of anxi- |
ETY.. When the lawyer stopped to I'M
fold the last flap | spoke.
"And where in the world do come
in?"
I'm the sense you understand you do
not come in"
| stared at him in amazement. 81
don't come in?' | repeated vaguely. |
"Ah," reaching down for my hat "then
| go out, as it were, as brilliant as a |
London yellow fog. What the devil |
does all this mean?" started to rise.
"Wait!' he commanded. "To my |
nephew, John Winthrop, l bequeath
the sum of $1,000, to be presented to
him in person Immediately after this
Will is probated and with the under
standing that he shall make no further
demand upon my son and heir in the
future That is ALL" concluded the
lawyer, folding the document. "t have
the check in my pocket"
Keep it." said l, rising. A hot flush
or Indignation swept over me- | un-
derstood. 1t was his revenge To
have man make sport of you after
he is dead and gone leaving you i'm
potent and with never a chance to re-
tallate! Keep it." | said again;
throw it away, or burn it. | under
stand He has satisfied petty re-
Venge. 1t is an insult not only to me,
but to my dead parents. You are, of
course, acquainted with the crcum-