The Cairo bulletin., 1908-02-23
UNCLE JACOB,SWT


hiCPAoSc iShpeu anu BlOWeu ana cas-
fantastic shadows on the ceiling Q
the grimly furnished library, TIL
man In the massive rocker leane
slightly forward, his chin In hi
hand, deep In thought. Now AM
then he smiled compassionately Il
ominous noises from the room
above Indicated that the searcher
were still persistent, For him til,
search was ended: the will reposeS
/ safely In the breast pocket OF hi.
| coat
Somehow his cousins, the search.
ersi imagined that the old uncle had
bequeathed his all to their branch
OF the family, In which case the
shares would be much NOR substan-
tial than If he had died interstate.
thus benefiting that despised other
branch. the children Of the dead
mans sister. The young man In
meditation before the fire was
member OF that other branch"
! How they would rave. those pre-
| cious cousins Of his, when they learn
cd that he, Richard Blake. was sole
heir and legatee. Well, 1t would
serve them right: they were too
grasping And yet, were they not
excusable? They all had large fam
lilies and seemed very much In need.
lie remembered that Cousin Johns
Wife had on very shabby gloves, and
her gown was much worn and fad
ed
Then he fell to thinking OF him
self: OF how much he would enjoy /
the old place; Of how he would enjoy
taking up the life of country squire
where Uncle Jacob had laid 1t down.
And Amy would help him to enjoy It,
Amy, with her soft, dark eyes and
gentle manner. would make an ideal
wife for squire. And those others
would go on needing, more and
more. probably as the years rolled
on. Amy would always feel sorry
for that; he knew she would. Oh,
II Uncle Jacob or had died intes-
tate IL he o. .E-had He sat
upright In his clair with start; the
thought was as sudden as 1t was
quixotc.
''JoYel' he whispered, way not?"
with an equal share or the estate
and his own earnings as Success
ful architect, he need not fear for
Amy and himself. They would have
enough; oh, quite enough The law
'er who drew UP the win was dead:
he witnesses were scattered and
would probably never know.
why not?' he whispered again.
He cast a hurried look about the
DOM, then drew the will from his
pocket. He spread 1t open and look
"a once more upon his right, then
aid 1t on the fire. The flame fiared
lp and Ht the room with itsbrillian~.l
v. The portiere clicked and the G
nan turned to meet Amy's wonder .
aden eyes. Their glance wandered
rom his face to the paper on the
re. last VIII and Testament"
jared at her In big bold script. Like y
stricken thing she turned and fac r.
/ the man.
You have burned your uncle's r
I'LL" she exclaimed, breathiessly.
The man nodded his head.
There was moment OF Impress A,
e silence. then the girl spoke again. M
here was no anger in her voice, su
Ily deep, heart-wrung sorrow.
"Oh, am grieved, grievedt" she
oaned. Il had thought you 80 far
'ove such greed Think! think!
chard, what you have done; robb-
your cousins OF their right! Can't
u speak?" she implored. Cant
u say something in exoneration OF
ur action7"
A stubborn anger awoke within
the man. If Amy chose to think -
3 worst OF him-well. let II be
II have nothing TO say" he re- ss'
ed doggedly.
Nothing to sayr' she could not
ae the scorn that crept into her u.
ce. G.
Nothing" he repeated. "And j.
suppose need not hope y.
No." she said YEARLY, you need
hope-after that"
he bowed and left the room. The
controlled her feelings until she Inc
lrd the front door close, then Wn
ceiling by the chair where the man Cha
sat, she sobbed out her grief d.
PRESENTLY she raised her head and ~,
ked again at the evidence Of her
sr's crime. A part of the docu-
1t had been detached by the -
ught of the fire and lay at the ~
g OF the crate. the heavy parch- I'd
II still glowing like coal, the
ing wildly distinct. She looked
indifferently at first, then leaned .u
yard eagerly. And. because he ~
never harassed me. nor sought -
dvise or Influence me In any way
D hereby bequeath all my pro- -
y to my beloved nephew, Rich
Blake" she read. ere the ember XII
yelled.
Oh, I'm afraid" she walled. =
-. l.