The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-07-08
Expectations
BY EDUARD K. DRoANE

10 wealth most unfortunate.
came of family Of the middle
class and from childhood was made tc
understand that / would have to flghi
my own way in the world. But was
given an education, which is consider
ed and usually is essential to success
At sixteen I was about to accept po
sition in business when an uncle OF
mine suddenly made fortune by a
deal In the stock market He bad the
good sense to invest his gains in good
first mortgage bonds and never after.
ward risked cent in speculation.
My uncle was bachelor sixty years
old, and my mother was his favorite
sister. He had always shown a par
TALLY for me and proposed to my
mother that he should send me to col
lege and make me his heir, for he
claimed that he had no desire to marry
and IL he should marry at his time of
life he would wish he had not mar
ried- I longed for a college educa-
ton and for my part was glad to ac-
cept my uncle's proposition.
Ispent four years art college, my ex-
penses being paid by my uncle. In
deed. he gave me an allowance that
enabled me to associate with such of
my fellow students as were not oblig-
ed to earn their living or part of 1t
while getting their education.
When I was graduated with fair
standing in my class was one Of
the all around prominent men of it.
began the study of professional
my uncle's expense-and had nearly
finished 1t when | received a telegram
that my uncle was very i'll. | went to
him at once and assumed the direction
of his household. His illness was
destined to be protracted one. and,
there being no one but myself to do
anything for him. assumed charge not
only of his domestic but his other af-
fairs.
spent FIVE years ministering to the
old man, living in his house with him
and devoting myself exclusively to
him. regretted that my professional
studies had been broken into, but since
! was heir to fortune and had what
money needed did not repine. True,
my uncle was very irritable and often
tried my patience. but the doctors as
sured me that he could live only few
years at most. and then, having means
at my command, could make up for
lost time, for be 1t understood, was
not content to live in idleness and es-
pecially desired a career.
My uncle fingered longer than had
been expected, and toward the last /
found the work of amusing him very
trying. | suggested cards, and he was
pleased with the idea. He had been
a poker player in his time. and by
playing with him for small stake |
got through many hours that would |
otherwise have been burden. Never
theless playing penny ante with a
broken down old man hour after hour !
was not to me pleasing way Of spend
Ing my time. and when my uncle pro-
posed to raise the stake to 5 cents !
acquiesced.
This was mistake. He was nat
ural gambler, and it was knowledge
of this fact--a fear that he would lose
what he had made in the stock mar
ket-that led him to quit 1.-THE street"
Since then his passion for gambling
had lain dormant 1t was now excit-
ed anew. He kept raising the stake.
and l did not dare to oppose him.
When he got the value of chip up to
% cents began to be troubled. How
ever. hoped that by refusing to win
might keep out of trouble, for real
zed that to win any considerable
amount from him would irritate him,
md In his broken condition feared he
might break with me.
One afternoon when he was more
'retful than usual got out the cards
ind the chips. During the sitting there
one of those marvellous runs
If luck by which players are enabled
o break banks. A Jack pot had been
rowing on the table for some time
when / was dealt three queens and
lrew a fourth. | would have bet a
,mall sum, but since the cards must
,e shown / feared to irritate my uncle
~ appearing to favor him. At the
Ihowdown he had full of aces. which
rave me the pot
From that time the devil seemed to
,e In the cards. Whenever l dealt
rave myself large hands and invari-
bly, gave my uncle hands but little
,elow mine. When / had straight
lush he would have full; when had
hree aces he would have three lower
ards. Terrified, / attempted to deal
i'm a hand larger than mine. He
aught me in the act.
For some time had seen by his ex-
ression that he suspected l was in ,
entionally dealing to myself large
ands and to him hands but little
mailer to draw him on. When be '
aught me trying to deal him win |
er he fell back on the pillows behind
i'm and pointed to the door. In vain
endeavored to explain. He contin-
ed to point to the door. and / left
oping when be had cooled to renew ,
~ efforts to disabuse his mind of his j
IMPRESSION. He sent word for me to q
ave the house and never enter 1t c
gain. '
The next day he changed his will. c
saving his fortune to charities. and a {
nrther result of the episode was his
cath a few days later.
I am over thirty years old. have y