Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-11-14
The Evening Story
MY UNCLE'S
WILL.
., STEPHEN c. HARDwcx

Wne0 the cO0ee was 0EVu8ub On 3no
cigars were passed noticed that
one Of my guests. Major Tisdale. did
not help himself from the boz offered
him.
Don't you smoke. majorr' asked
mo-" he replied. II do not"
He was the only man in the room
who did not smoke. and the others
looked at him with some curiosity. I
was about to turn the subject when
he gave Ms his reasons for not doing
% In the following story:
! was brought up BY an uncle who
was very rich-my parents both died
when was very young-and since hs
had no children Of his own It was
understood that was to b his heir.
Ny life was not very pleasant one.
for persons whose experience in bring.
Ing up their own offspring II nil are
at great disadvantage In bringing up
the offspring of others. A child 10
utterly devoid of reason and Q sense
Of his duties toward q parent In.
deed. II 10 remarkable that parents
should tolerate their own children.
This think 10 the reason why adop-
lions are not usually satisfactory.
When ! was ten years old . boy
taught me to smoke dried leaves. Ono
day my uncle caught me at this and
for tAs lrst time spoke to me with
great harshness. Il was evident that
he had great prsjudics against to-
bacco. He told mo that II he ever
caught mo smoking again hs would
send mo away.
! passed 4 couple Of months after
graduation at my uncle's hons. Az q
young soldier I was very attractive to
him. and he petted me without stint
had no desire. especially after my
experience at West Point, to offend
him BY the use at tobacco. which did
not use In any form. He seemed
charmed to have me with him and
spent q great deal Of the time talking
to me about his estate, explaining his
projects for its increase. telling me
what property he intended to improve
and what to dispose Of.
he was getting old, he said, and he
thought I would better resign and be-
como 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 tutel0ge Of an
opinionated old man, 30 told him
that having been educated BY the gov.
eminent didn't consider It honorable
to resign my commission at once. but
in three years. II he still maintained
the same disposition toward me, I
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 1rst time
that I realized the benefit that would
accrue to me in my rnclc's fortune.
He had never said anything to me on
the subject of marriage. but I knew
that should consult him before the
matter was settled. I deferred It. how
ever, to a convenient season. for my
uncle had remained bachelor Ill his
life. and knew him to b Z woman
hater. II he should take the same
view for me might be put in the
position Of giving up the girl I. loved
or fortune. ! could not in honor do
the frst, and II I married the fortune
would mean much 10 me.
As luck would have Il, the old rascal
beg pardon. gentlemen, you win under
stand better at the end Of my story
why l speak 10 disrespectfuily Of the
man who had educated me and was to
leave me his estate. A. / was saying,
my uncle rendered Il unnecessary for
me to say anything to him about my
love AFFAIR by very conveniently being
taken III and showing every evidence
that his end was near. was telo-
graphed for to come at once and be.
fore going told my love Of my passion
for her. Of my expected inheritance.
and invited her to share Il with me
when got It. This could not b lone.
She returned my affection ana accepted
me.
When I reached my uncle 10 WAS moe
expected that he would live through
the night He rallied, however, ana
the next day was slightly better. His
physician remained at the house u4ost
Of the time, especially ut night and
when he was not with his patient he
and sat In the library below. keeping
each other company. He was . very
good fellow. and grew fond ef him.
He liked his toddy. in which l Joined
him. but when II came to smoking hs
waa OBLIGED t0 nnoke alone
My uncle fingered betweea ME and
death for several weeks. No one could
tell just when he would drop away.
The night hs died the doctor and
were keeping ourselves up BY an occa-
sionai potation. The doctor pulled two
cigars from his pocket and, Offering me
Iope, said:
"Snoke. He's too far gone to know
anything about It"
4 accepted his proposition. lighted thu
cigar and smoked Just enough of Il tt
H. - - "a 49, - -