Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-08-24

viFtuOsO, who detested business, and |
whose ambition was to be known as a |
man of taste The possessor Of 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 clingiug 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 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 1t
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. at
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. | am no man of business, you
know. but 1 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
lie had resolved upon his course of &C
ton. He would get money from his
mother for immediate needs. and when
that mother died he would assert his
rights. My rough life has untitled me
Tor 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
Devine, with loving, tender pity, for
winch 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 imper-
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
chs 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,
OF London, or elseWhere-could never be
got to attack business, and Mr.. Francis
Wade grew more and more anxious. The
poor gentleman positively became i'll
through the anxiety consequent upon his
nephew's designations. II wish, my dear
Richard, that you would let me know
what to do" he wrote. 81 wish. my
dear uncle, that you would do what you
think best" was the nephew's reply.
Mr.. Wade began to repent of his too
easy taking of matters in the beginning.
Not that he had suspicion of Rex, but
that he remembered that Dick was al
ways a loose fish. He grew pale and
hollow eyed. His digestion was impair
ed. He ceased to take the interest in
china which the Importance of that arti-
Gle demanded. In a word, he grew de-
spondent as to his fitness for his mission
In life. Lady EllinOr saw a change in
her brother. She wrote a long letter to
Mr.. Richard, who was at Paris, and
begged him to come over at once. Mr..
Richard replied that some horse racing
matter of great Importance occupied his
attention. but that he would be at his
town house on the 14th. and would Ego
into matters" Il have lost a good deal
of money lately, my dear mother" said
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 possess
sion, considered that the moment had
arrived for the carrying off at one swoop
of the whole of the fortune he had gam
bled for.
The town house Of Mr.. Richard De-
vine was decorated in conformity with
the tastes of its owner. The pictures
were pictures of horses; the books were
| records of races, or novels purporting
to describe sporting life. Mr.. Francis
Wade, waiting for the coming of his
nephew, sighed as he thought of the cul-
| tured quiet of North End House.
Mr.. Richard appeared in his dressing
gown. Three years of good living had
deprived his figure of its athletic beauty.
He was past forty years Of age. and the
sudden cessation from severe bodily toll
had increased ReXs natural proneness to
! fat, and instead of being portly he had
become gross. His cheeks were inflamed
with the frequent application of hot and
rebellious liquors to his blood. His hands
were swollen. and not so steady as of
wore His Whiskers were straakad xv;+h