The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-07-15

NA~ AS~0 NA0 49, -
do not owe me a dollar. You are inde-
pendent, Eric. I have seen to IL b a
you who came to me against your will,
who remained in my house all these
years because you could not help your
self-I say I've seen to It that you are
fou have paid me, out or your inheri-
lance, for everything you have re-
ceived, and so has Mary"
Uncle Horace, l."
Just a moment, please. I am not so
penurtous as you think. My will has
been made, Eric, these many years. In
1t there Is a special clause re-
the money I used In the payment Of
these-er, aheml-fixed charges, you
might say. 1 say II Is a special clause,
because during the asst year / altered
my will in n other n somewhat VI
tai particular. I will not go into that,
however" ",. w..
His lean grey face hardened as he
look came into his eyes.
But l can't think OF taking back
began Eric all at sea over the strange
turn OF affairs.
You can't help yourself. my boy"
said Horace Blagden, kindly. "Sit
down here with me on this bench. It's
cool here, and Of late the sun appears
~ bO dALCChAnB Ln0 Ohu1ys DNiCp yOAA
aunt and / are proud Of you. In spite
Of ourselves We have always liked you
and Mary. II we were harsh with you,
Ii was because we were envious-even
Jealous. It isn't so lard to say that,
either. And. believe me, there was a
time when we honestly feared for your
future. That Is why here q thin
smile broke on his iips-"we set Mr..
Presbrey on you. I hope you will for
give US that. And yet, don't misunder-
stand me, / believe he did you more
good than you will admit. Well, you
are 81. You are going to be q credit to
all Of us-living and dead. Your mid
die name is Blagden, don't forget that.
I a we are proud OF you. My boy,
It is more than that with me. / am
fond OF you I will not say that your
aunt Is not quite as much Scr,
ahem!-as / am. I want you to know
that I love you for your fairness, your
gentleness, your honesty. You are a
good boy, Eric. I would to GOD you
were my son."
Eric was d~umbfounded. An older
n keener Judge of human nature
would not have been deceived into be-
heving that a generous impulse moved
Horace to that unhappy lament. It was
an exposition Of the quintessence Of
s~elfishness. He was thinking only Of a
| personal gain that had been denied him
L III AAaNhAO - SuNAOALs ouN NANA
not know this. He vas touched by the
unhappy cry from the great mans soul.
| A sudden desire came ver him to lift
the dreadful suspense that was hang
ing over his uncle's head.
Uncle Horace l want to tell you
something that will make 1t easier for
you about-Chetwynd. It has been A.
Mr.. Blagden turned on him coldly.
stop right thereI" he said without
raising his voice. but with a look in his
eyes that served better than q shout of
command. you are not to mention
his name. sir. I have told you so be-
fore. There is nothing you a say
that will make-But there! I am for
getting myself. We will resur1e our
are safe and sound, n I sincerely hope
you will condescend to manage them
as carefully as I have done, as your
guardian, and as your grandfather did
before me. Do not put your fortune
into the hands OF the Jews. It is safe
the tendrils Of New York. They suck
up gold as the plants suck In the dew.
I hate a Jew. Have o noticed there
are no Jews in Corinth?"
"A Jew couldn't live in Corinth,
uncle" said Eric, who hated the town.
He'd starve to DEATH"
His uncle closed one eye and a grim
smile showed lJScII IalnIly at the cor
ners OF his mouth.
IT fancy he would" said he. 1T IL a
far cry from Corinth to New York"
why shouldn't I leave my affairs In
your hands, uncle, just as they have
been? p Eric observed after a moments
reflection. I'D only ask for q certain
portion of the income-enoush to live
on, you see. Is IL asking too much of
you, slr?"
Horace laid his hand on the young
mans knee. II think they would be
safer in my hands than in yours, my
boy. At least, for q few years. I will
continue to look after tham for you on
the condition that you askee In writing
to-er-ahem! Ito allow m absolute
control over them" s
For a certain length Of time. SIR
said Eric steadily. II believe I can
manage for myself when I am a little
| older" ....
quite right. Wen say ive years.
You viii be married by that time, 1
Eric blushed. He had been with Joan
Bright that very morning.
."Who knows?" he unused evasively.
And 80 II was agreed between them
that Horace Blagden was to have con-
troll OF Eric's fortune for a term Of
and simple, said Mr.. Bladgen, In which
he proposed to serve as agent at q
much lower rate OF compensation than
Erie could hope to obtain from the
Jews. II was quite a satisfactory ar
rangement all around, for Eric would
not have had him act without compen-
sation. Eric was past % when he pre-
have charged up to my own sisters
pared for the Beaux Arts. He was to
be abroad for at least two years. Long
before he completed his work at Har-
ward, he was promised a commission
his first real work as an architect and
builder.
Judge Bright was to be his first cli-
emit The young man was to design
and build for him a new and magnifi-
cent home in Upper Corinth, a struc-
ture that would cost no less than $780,
"Td sooner entrust the Job to you.
Eric, than to any OF those chaps in
Boston, with all their training and
prestige" said the judge to the sur
prised and overwhelmed undergradu-
| ate. you've got ideas, M that's
what / want. Think oyer the plans
while you're in Paris, and, In case you
write to Joan. who is the n you'll
Ithave to please after all, discuss them
with her. She's got ideas, too"
or course, when h news got abroad
In Corinth that q boy Of "a was to build
Judge Bright's palatial residence, the
like OF which Corinth had never seen
except as q trespasser, there was q
general sniff OF amaxement. More than
Whna ne Ahn anlacfpnan ana urarffraliv the