The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-11-07
MY UNCLE'S
WILL
By STEPHEN c. HARDWICK

One evening. at stag dinner ! gave
at my house to party Of friends,
when the coffee was brought on and
cigars were passed l noticed that
one Of my guests. Major Tisdale, did
not help himself from the box offered
him.
Don't you smoke, majorY' l asked.
mo-" he replied. Il do not"
He was the only man in the room
who did not smoke. and the others
looked at him with some curiosity. |
was about to turn the subject when
he gave us his reasons for not doing
so in the following story:
l was brought up by an uncle who
was very rich-my parents both died
when l was very young-and since he
had no children of his own it was
understood that | was to be his heir.
My life was not very pleasant one,
for persons whose experience In bring
ing up their own offspring is nil are
at great disadvantage in bringing up
the offspring of others. A child is
utterly devoid of reason and a sense
of his duties toward a parent. In
deed. it is remarkable that parents
should tolerate their own children
This l think is the reason why adop-
lions are not usually satisfactory.
When was ten years old q boy
taught me to smoke dried leaves. One
day my uncle caught me at this and
for the first time spoke to me with
great harshness. It was evident that
he had a great prejudice against to-
Dacco. He told me that If he ever
caught me smoking again he would
send me away.
passed a couple Of months after
graduation at my uncle's home. As
young soldier l was very attractive to
MIN. and he petted me without stint
l had no desire. especially after nv
experience at West Point. to offend
him by the use of tobacco, which I did
not use in any form He seemed
charmed to have me with him and
spent great deal Of the time talking
to me about his estate. explaining his
projects for it's increase. telling me
what property he intended to improve
and what to dispose Of.
He was getting old. he said, and he
thought would better resign and be-
come accustomed to the care Of the
property that would fall upon me at
his death. had no wish to leave the
army to live under the tutelage of an
opfnionated old man. so | told him
that having been educated by the gov
eminent didn't consider 1t honorable
to resign my. commission at once. but
in three years. If he still maintained
the same disposition toward me.
would accede to his wish. He COM
mended me very highly for my sense
Of honor and assented to my remain
ing as I was.
A couple Of years after that fell in
love with the lady who became my
wife. IT was then for the first time
that I realized the benefit that would
accrue to me in my uncle's fortune.
He had never said anything to me on
the subject Of marriage. but I knew
that l should consult him before the
matter was settled. deferred it. how
ever. to q convenient season. for my
uncle had remained a bachelor all his
hater. If he should take the same
view for me ! might he put in the
position Of giving up the girl | loved
or a fortune. could not in honor do
the first. and If married the fortune
would mean much to me-
AS luck would have it. the old rascal
beg pardon. gentlemen. you will under
stand better at the end Of my story
why l speak so disrespectfully of the
man who had educated me and was to
leave me his estate. AS ] was saying.
my uncle rendered it unnecessary for
me to say anything to him about my
love affair by very conveniently being
taken Ill and showing every evidence
thai his end was near. | was tele-
graphed for to come at once and be-
fore going told my love Of my passion
for her. Of my expected Inheritance
ana invited u0E I'd SNARE IL WALL Hnc
when l got it. This could not be long.
She returned my affection and accepted
me.
When l reached my uncle 1t was not
expected that he, would live through
the night. He rallied, however. and
the pcxt day was slightly better. HIS
physician remained at the house most
Of the time, especially at night. ana
when he was not with his patient ne
and sat in the library below. keeping
each other company. He was a very
coed fellow. and | grew fond OF nlm'
Be liked his toddy. in which | 5olnet
him, but when it came to smoking ne
was obliged to smoke alone.
My uncle fingered between lie anu
death for several weeks. No one couiu
tell just when he would drop away.
The night he died the doctor ana
were keeping ourselves mp by an occa-
| sional potation. The doctor pulled t"o
cigars from his pocket and. offerlng "e
one. said:
4 ~