Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-14
THE BROAD HIGHWAY !:
Mn UncIe's wiz
CHAPTER I

~ l.
4. ,be fervent hope that IT may help him
4 the devil within the year. or as soon
sfer as may be-
rsre Mr.. Granger paused in his reading
a. oiance up over the rim of his spec-
.soes while Sir Richard lay back in his
sS.,r and laughed loudly, "Gadw he ex-
.i.iroed. still chucking, 'Id give a hun
srsd mounds II he could have been pres
~ 10 hear that" and the baronet went
~ into another roar of merriment.
Mr Granger, on the other hand, dig
.,eed and solemn, coughed a short, dry
eourh behind his hand.
aT1elp him TO the devil within year."
..neated Sir Richard, still chuckling.
"Pray proceed, sir said !, motioning
..wsrds the will But instead Of
soronivinr. Mr. Granger laid down the
rsrohment, and removing his spectacles,
hsran TO polish them with a large silk
handkerchief
uyou are. / believe, unacquainted with
,onr cousin Sir Maurice Vibart7" he in
ouired
~ have never seen him." said 1; "all
-,, life has been passed either at school
or the university, but have frequently
Sserd mention of him, nevertheless"
aFeadl" cried Sir Richard, who hasn't
h.sr5 Of Buck vibart-beat Ted PARA
wav. of Swansea, in five rounds-drove
.oscb and four down Whtehall-on side
walk-ran away with a French marquise
while but a boy of 20, and shot her hus-
hand into the bargain. Devilish celebrated
figure In sporting circles' lrleno Oh the
Prince Regent
neo I understand" said I.
aAl+orether as complete a young black
Guard as ever staggered down St.
Ssmes's" Having said which, Sir Rich
ard crossed his legs and inhaled a pinch
Of snuff.
Twenty thousand pounds is q very
handsome sum-" remarked Mr. Granger
nonderously and as though with 'h0 nten-
ton of saving something rather than re-
naming silent just then.
,Tndeed it is" said /, land might help
q man to the devil as comfortably as need
be- but"
'rhough," pursued Mr.. Granger, much
below his expectations and sadly inade-
ouste to his present needs. fear"
"That is most unfortunate" said I,
''but-"
"His debts" said Mr.. Granger, busy at
his spectacles again, "his debts are very
heavy, believe"
'tThen doubtless some arrangement can
be made to-but continue your reading.
beg" said I.
Mr. Granger repeated his short, dry
cough, and taking up the will, slowly and
throat and began as follows:
Furthermore. to my nephew, Peter
Wharf, cousin to the above, l will and
beuueath my blessing and the sum of 10
Euneas in cash. wherewith to purchase a
copy of Zeno or any other of the stole
philosophers he may prefer
Again Mr.. Granger laid down the WILL
and again he regarded me over the rim
Of his spectacles.
sts, ID
to his feet, the man must have been
mad Ten guineas-why, it's an insult
dammel-it's an insult-youll never take
It, of course, Peter"
"On the contrary, sir" said l.
"But-1O guineas!" beloved the baronet;
ION my soul now, George was a cold
blooded fish, but didn't think even he
was capable Of such a despicable trick
no-curse me If I did! Why, it would
have been kinder to have left you nothing
at all-but it was like George-bitter to
the end-10 guineasn'
"Is 10 guineas," said I, land when one
comes to think of it. much may be done
with 10 guineas."
Sir Richard grew purple in the face,
but before he could speak Mr.. Granger
began to read again
Moreover, the sum of e500000, now
vested in the funds, shall be paid to either
Maurice or Peter Wharf aforesaid, if
either shall, within one calendar year,
become the husband of the Lady Sophia
Seton of Cambourne.'"
Good Godr exclaimed Sir Richard.
"'Failing which," read Mr.. Granger,
the said sum, namely, e5OOOOO, shall be
bestowed upon such charity or charities
as the trustees shall select Signed by me
this tenth day of April, eighteen hundred
and, George Wharf. Duly witnessed
by Adam Penleet, Martha Trent" "
~
remember, in the silence that followed
the parchment cracked very loudly as
he folded 1t precisely and laid it on the
table before him. / remember also that
slr Richard was swearing vehemently un-
Ger his breath as he paced to and fro
between me and the window.
And that is all?" inquired at last.
That" said Mr.. Granger. not looking
at me now, rs ALL"
The Lady Sophia" murmured sil
Richard as if to himself, 1.-The Lady So
phia"' And then, stopping suddenly be-
fore me in his walk. "Oh, Peter" said he
clapping his hand down upon my shoul
Ger "oh, Peter, that settles It; you're
done for. boy-a crueler will was never
made"
'Marriage" said 1 to myself HUM
20 damnable iniquity!" exclaimed Sil
hienard, striding up and down the room
again
The Lady Sophia Seton OF Cam
bournel" said I. rubbing my chin.
Why. that's just it," roared the bar
onet; She's a reigning toast-most ia
nous beauty in the country. London'I
mao over her-she can pick and choos'
rom all the finest gentlemen in England
On it's 'good-by' to all your hopes o.
me inheritance, Peter, ana that's thu
deyil Of It,"
said /.
'What?" cried Sir Richard, facinl
round on me. I'd you think you'd have I
ehanee with her then?"
Why not?"
Without friends, position or money
rsh, boy don't / tell you that ever!
puck and dandy-every mincing nacaron
" the three kingdoms would give his yer.
legs to marry her-either for her beaut!
q her fortune?" spluttered the baronet
~no let me inform you further that She
ueNhsh high and naughty with II all
aey 90 say she even rebuffed the Prime
regent himself"
But then, sir. consider myself a bet
'sl man than the Prince Regent" said !
OF Richard sank into the nearest chai
ana stared at me open-mouthed.
olr," I continued 'you doubtless Sc
ne down as an egoist Of egoists. freel'
Nentess II; so are you, so Is Mr.. Grange
soAoer, so are we all OF US egoists Il
eninking ourselves as good as some feN
~ our neighbors and better than grea