The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-07-01

why he let him stay. ex-
cept that In his own sor-
row he was tllled with pity
for any hurt or injured thlng. He had
ir herlted tho bulk OF the fortune. for
my grandfather had practically dis
owned Uncle Ephraim for some youth
full scandal that my father would never
tell me about He only said that we
should be sorry for him. and that his
ways wero not our ways, and that he
was quite poor now. But. little girl
as l was. I wondered that my father.
knowing what no did OF my uncle.
could fall so completely under hi1
sway"
Nancy threw out her hands In q
little gesture OF defense.
You see." she went on. father was
not himself. He had lost interest In
the world, and his courage. the big.
nghting courage | knew he once had.
was broken. AS he had drawn away
from the world and business no paid
less and less attention to his own
Affairs. and though I am sure he did
not love his brother. and that even his
presence In tho house made him I'M
comfortable. yet once having taken
him In because he was sorry for him.
he found II more and more easy to cast
his responsibilities on him. First.
they used TO have long talks together
OF an evening. talks from which my
father came out looking worn and
tired. and which gradually absorbed
the time we had been accustomed tn
amending so happily togetherA They
, were business talks. he told me. ana
he used to sigh YEARLY. and complain
because the money which he no longer
cared for so demanded his attention
"At last know. he revolted. ana
gaye all his necessary business INTO
Uncle Ephraims charge. IT Is queer
how gradually such things come about.
I remember how I used to pity my
father for the work he had to do. uhuI
I almost felt grateful to Uncle Ephraim.
whom hated. for relieving him OF ".
But ne n Ut OF US realized. untii the time
I WAS sent away TO school. what a
power he had become In the house
at was the last great test. and u
showed how complete his influence over
NV father had become. l was the only
thing on earth my father cared for. and
my uncle was able to make him part
with me. He told him, ! remember.
that he had been selfish. that no matter
how well he was educating me he h "a
ma r-ght TO withdraw me from the COM
panionship OF other girls; and although
nv father wept piteously and openly
when he told mo OF II he was too much
under my uncle's sway TO be uncon-
WINGED, and | was sent TO school which
my uncle chose for me In pretty
suburb OF Paris.
III had been nj school scarcely two
months when I was rcahed by cable
gram from my uncle. My father, he
cabled. had received some sort OF stroke
| was hurried home by the first steamer,
but never saw my father again.
AT first Uncle Ephraim said that
my father was too sick TO see me-
| No one saw him but his doctor and his
man trained nurse and sometimes.
suppose. my uncle. / lived for months
| in terrible anxiety. to be told finally
that although my father was growing
stronger, his long fever had 50 proved
lupon his mind ms to leave him actually
unbalanced. and that the ony hope
OF a cure lay In Keeping him In the
quiet OF absolute seclusion
"They all told me 50, tho doctor my
uncle and the nurse was sure II
would have done him good to see me
To- have had me to take care OF hin
and to amuse him, but they were all
very certain It would not. and | was
only nfteen and now had not even my
goyerness TO advise me So for nv,
years my father lived In a closed
room"
Nancy paused. her faced turned
away from me, | knew that she WA
struggling with her tears.
Five years" she repeated softly, a
last. but now he is free again" She
turned wet eyes to me and smiled
l"He died six days ago." she said.
I tried. I suppose. to Offer some poo
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