The Holly chieftain., 1914-08-21

things II did not coAx Uncle to take
him back into his good graces again
I told him would not say word to
Uncle. He vas very angry and swore
at me. When / tried to leave the
room he locked the door and would
not let me 20 until screamed for
help. Then he almost choked me. but
when he heard Uncle coming he jump
ed out of the window. The next day
he forged q check In my Uncles name,
and tried to throw suspicion on me.
but he was discovered. and my uncle
disinherited him. Uncle had intended
to educate Richard and start him we'll
In life. but now he would have nothing
further to do with him. 1t seemed to
work upon my uncle's health. all the
disgrace to the family name. although
NO one ever thought Of my uncle in
connection with blame. AS he paid
Richards debts. It was not known
what the boy had done. except by the
banker. who was personal friend.
I'VE went abroad then. and every.
where Uncle amused himself by put
ting me under the best music masters,
and giving me all possible advantages
in languages, literature, and art
Three years ago he died at Carlsbad.
and after his death went back to my
music studies. following his wishes in
the matter, and staying with dear
old lady In Vienna. who had been kind
to US when We were there before.
"As soon ~ my uncles death was
known at home, Richard wrote the
most pathetic letter to me, protesting
deep contrition, and saying he could
never forgive himself for having quar-
relied with his dear uncle. He had q
sad tale of how the business that he
had started had failed and left him
with debts. II he had only few hun
dred dollars. he could go on with it
and pay on everything. He said had
inherited all that would have been his
IL he had done right, and he recog-
nized the Justice of it, but begged that
would lend him small sum until he
could get on his feet, when he would
repay me.
Il had little faith In his reformation,
but felt as IL I could not refuse him
when was enjoying what might have
been his. 50 sent him all the money
had at hand. AZ was not yet Of
age, ! could not control all the prop
erty, but my allowance was liberal.
Richard continued to send me volum-
inous letters. telling OF his changed
life. and finally asked me to marry
him. l declined emphatically, but he
continued to write for money, always
ending with statement of his undy-
ing affection. In disgust l at last
money regularly II he would stop
writing to me on this subject. and I'm
ally succeeded In reducing our CORE.
spondence to check account This
has been going on for three years, ex-
cept that he has been constantly ask
ing for larger sums, and whenever
would say that l could not spare
more Just then he would begin telling
me how much he cared for me. and
how hard 1t was for him to be separat-
ed from me. began to feel desperate
about him, and made up my mind that
when received the Inheritance I
should ask the lawyers to make some
arrangement with him by which |
should no longer be annoyed.
ut was necessary for me to return
to America when l came Of age, in
order to sign certain papers and take
full charge of the property. Richard
knew this. He seems to have had some
way OF finding out everything my
Uncle did.
"He wrote telling me OF q dear
friend Of his mother, who was soon to
pass through Vienna, and who by
some misfortune had been deprived OF
. position as companion and chaperon
to young girl who was travelling. He
said It had occurred to him that per.
haps he could serve US both by sug.
gesting to. me that she be my travelling
companion on the voyage.
II really did need travelling com
panion, Of course. having failed to get
my dear old lady to undertake the
voyage, so l thought 1t could do no
harm. I went to see her. and found
her pretty and frail. and sad. She made
piteous appeal to me. and though
was not greatly taken with her, de-
cided she would do as well as any one
for companion.
"She did not bother me during the
voyage, but futtered about and was
quite popular on board, especially with
a tall, disagreeabe man with cruel
jaw and small eyes, who always made
me feel as II he would gloat over any
one in his power. found out that he
was a physician, specialist In mental