Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-08-10

virtuoso, who detested business. and
whose ambition was to be known as a
man of taste. The possessOr of a small
independent income, he had resided at
North End ever since his fathers death.
When, at his sisters urgent wish, he
assumed the sole responsibility of the
estate, he put all the floating capital
into three per cents, and was content to
see the interest accumulate. Lady De-
vine had never recovered the shock of
tn circumstances attending Sir Richards
death, and clinging to the belief in her
sons existence, regarded herself as the
mere guardian of his interests, to be
displaced at any moment by his sudden
return. The retired pair lived thus to-
gether, and spent in charity and bric-a-
brac about a fourth of their mutual In
come. By both of them the return Of
the wanderer was hailed with delight
To Lady Devine it meant the realization
of lifelong hope. To Francis Wade it
meant relief from the responsibility Of
looking after another PERSONS money.
Il shall not think of interfering with
the arrangements which you have made,
my dear uncle" said Mr.. John Rex, on
the first night of his reception "It
would be most ungrateful of me to do so.
My wants are very few, and can easily
be supplied. l will see your lawyers
some day, and settle It,"
See them at once, Richard; see them
at once. l am no man of business, you
know, but l think you will find all
right"
Richard, however, put off the visit
from day to day. He desired to have as
little to do with lawyers as possible.
He had resolved upon his course of ac-
tion. He would get money from his
mother for Immediate needs, and when
that mother died he would assert his
rights. my rough life has unified me
for drawing rooms, dear mother" he
said. DO not let there be a display
about my return. Give me a corner to
smoke my pipe and am happy" Lady
Deyine, with loving, tender pity, for
which John Rex could not altogether
account, consented, and "Mr Richard"
soon came to be regarded as a martyr
to circumstances, a man conscious of his
own imperfections, and one whose mper-
tections were, therefore, to be lightly
dwelt upon. So the returned prodigal
had. his own suite of rooms, his own
servants, his own bank account, and was
merry.
thus taken upon trust, Mr.. Richard
Devine mixed in the very best of bad So
ciety, and had no lack of agreeable
friends to help him to spend his money.
so admirably did he spend it, that Fran.
els Wade became at last alarmed at the
frequent drafts, and urged his nephew to
bring his affairs to a final settlement
Richard Devine-in Paris, or Hamburg
or London, or elsewhere-could never be
got to attack business, and Mr.. Francis
Wade grew more and more anxious TIL,
poor gentleman positively became il
through the anxiety consequent upon hi
nephew's dissipations. IL wish, my dea
Richard, that you would let me know
what to do," he wrote. 81 wish, m
dear uncle, that you would do what yo
think best" was the nephew's reply.
Mr.. Wade began to repent of his to
easy taking of matters in the beginning
Not that he had suspicion of Rex, bu
that he remembered that Dick was a
ways a loose fish. He grew pale an
hollow eyed. His digestion was impair
ed. He ceased to take the interest 1
china which the Importance Of that art
Gle demanded. In word, he grew dc
spondent as to his fitness for his misso
In life. Lady Ellinor saw a change 4
her brother. She wrote a long letter t
Mr.. Richard, who was at Paris, an,
begged him to come over at once MI
Richard replied that some horse racin
matter of great Importance occupied hi
attention, but that he would be at hi
town house on the 18th, and would "g
into matters" 81 have lost n good dea
of money lately, my dear mother" sal
Mr.. Richard, 'and the present will be
good opportunity to make final settle
ment." The fact was that John Rex
now three years In undisturbed posses
sion, considered that the moment ha,
arrived for the carrying off at one swooI
of the whole Of the fortune he had gam
bled for.
The town house of Mr.. Richard De
vine was decorated in conformity witt
the tastes of its owner. The picture
were pictures of horses; the books wer
records of races, or novels purportini
to describe sporting life Mr.. Franci
Wade, waiting for the coming of hi
nephew, sighed as he thought of the cul
tured quiet of North End House.
Mr.. Richard appeared in his dressin
gown. Three years of good living ha
deprived his figure of its athletic beauty
He was past forty years of age, and tn
sudden cessation from severe bodily toi
had increased Rex's natural proneness t
fat, and instead of being portly he ha,
become gross. His cheeks were inflame
with the frequent application of hot an
rebellious liquors to his blood. His hand
were swollen, and not so steady as o
yore. His whiskers were streaked witt
unhealthy gray. His eyes, bright an
black as ever. lurked in thicket O
crows feet. He had become premature
ly bald. He spoke with assumed heart