The house of Colonel Ross was the finest in the village, with one
exception. A certain Mr. Carrington, a city merchant, had, five years
before, built a country villa surpassing it, a little distance away on
the same street.
It was provided with handsome grounds, and originally cost, everything
included, thirty-five thousand dollars, exclusive of furniture.
It was the day after Harry’s triumphant acquittal that Uncle Obed
remarked, casually:
“I hear that Mr. Carrington is anxious to sell his estate.”
“I am not surprised,” answered Mrs. Gilbert. “He bought it chiefly to
please a young wife, and her sudden death sadly disturbed all his
plans.”
“I have made some inquiries,” continued Uncle Obed, “and find that he
is willing to sell everything, even to the furniture, for fifteen
thousand dollars.”
“That is a great bargain, for he could scarcely have paid less than
forty thousand dollars for the whole.”
“I have about decided to buy the place,” said Mr. Wilkins, quietly.
“What!” exclaimed Mrs. Gilbert and Harry, in concert.
“Since you both think it will be a good bargain, I think I will buy
it,” continued Uncle Obed, his eyes twinkling.
“That’s a good joke,” said Harry.
“No joke at all, as you will find.”
“You don’t mean to say you can afford to buy such a place?” said Harry,
in amazement.
“I consider myself worth seventy-five thousand dollars,” said Mr.
Wilkins.
Mrs. Gilbert and Harry stared at him in undisguised astonishment.
“I thought you were a very poor man,” said the widow.
“I know you did,” said Uncle Obed, laughing.
“What will Colonel Ross say?” wondered Harry.
“I feel more interested in what my niece will say,” said the old man.
“I am afraid they will take you away from us, Uncle Obed, when they
find out that you are rich.”
“Not against my will, I think,” replied the old man, with quiet
determination.
“They won’t want to send you back to Illinois now.”
“I don’t know but they will, when they find I won’t go with them.”
“Do you think of moving into the new house, Mr. Wilkins?” asked Mrs.
Gilbert, anxiously.
“Yes, I think I shall.”
“We shall be sorry to lose you,” she said, soberly.
“You are not going to lose me,” assured Uncle Obed. “Do you think I am
going to live alone? I should die of loneliness. No! You and Harry go
with me, and I shall take the liberty of paying all the expenses of
housekeeping.”
“How kind you are, Uncle Obed,” said Harry.
“No, I’m not. I’m a selfish old man, looking out for what will make my
home happy. And that’s not all. Mrs. Gilbert, didn’t you tell me you
had a sister—a dressmaker in New York—in poor health.”
“Yes, poor Maria. She is in poor health, but cannot afford a vacation.”
“You shall offer her a home with you. There’s plenty of room in
Carrington’s house. She will be company for all of us, especially when
Master Harry goes to college.”
“When I go to college!” Harry ejaculated.
“Certainly! Wouldn’t you like it?”
“Very much; but it would take so many years, when I could be earning
nothing.”
“I will see that you are provided for, Harry; but I don’t want you to
go away from home at present, if it can be avoided. Isn’t there any one
in the village with whom you can prepare for college?”
“Mr. Rodman, the minister, is an excellent scholar, and I am sure he
would be glad to take a pupil.”
“Then go to see him at once. Tell him I don’t want him to work for
nothing. I will pay him well for his services, and buy him all the
sticks he needs to flog you when you require it.”
“That doesn’t frighten me,” said Harry, smiling.
“You will wonder how I became so rich,” said Mr. Wilkins, after a
pause. “I will tell you. Ten years ago I befriended a young man, and
furnished him the means to go to California. There he prospered, and
became very rich. A year since he returned, on a visit, and, to my
amazement, insisted upon my accepting seventy thousand dollars as a
free gift. This, added to the little property I already had, made me
worth rather over seventy-five thousand dollars. Recently, feeling
lonely, I came East, intending, if my relatives here received me
kindly, to make my home with them, and make Philip Ross my heir. You
know how my expectations were disappointed. It was a grief to me, but
it is all right now. I look upon you and your mother as relatives, and
I intend to treat you as such, and, in return, I know you will provide
me with a happy home during my few remaining years.”
It is needless to say what hearty assurances Uncle Obed received that
his happiness would be consulted, and secured, so far as Harry and his
mother were able to effect it.
The next day Uncle Obed, accompanied by Harry, went to the city, and
returned the owner of the Carrington estate.
The Gilberts immediately began to make arrangements for moving into the
new house. No sooner did Colonel Ross and his family receive a hint of
what was going on than in amazement Mrs. Ross called at the little
cottage, where she found all in confusion.
“Is it true, Uncle Obed,” asked Mrs. Ross, abruptly, “that you are a
rich man?”
“I believe so, Niece Lucinda,” answered the old man, meekly.
“I am so glad,” said Mrs. Ross, with suavity. “We all rejoice in your
good fortune, dear uncle! And now, Uncle Obed, you must come over to
our house at once. We will set aside the best room for you, and we will
try to make you happy. This little house is not suitable for you.”
“So I thought, and for that reason I have bought the Carrington place.”
“So I heard,” said Mrs. Ross; “but, of course, you won’t think of
living there alone?”
“No; Mrs. Gilbert and Harry will live with me there.”
Mrs. Ross darted a glance of hatred and suspicion at the widow, whom
she mentally accused of scheming for Uncle Obed’s wealth.
“Better let the place, and come to live with us, dear Uncle Obed,” she
said, sweetly.
“No, thank you. We’ll be good neighbors, Niece Lucinda, and I shall be
glad to exchange calls; but I want a home of my own.”
And to this determination Mr. Wilkins adhered, in spite of all his
niece could say.
So Harry and his mother and his aunt took up their residence at the
fine Carrington house, which Uncle Obed took care to support in a
befitting manner, though not extravagantly.
He bought a horse and carriage, and engaged Tom Calder as a stable boy,
as we have already hinted. Harry began at once to prepare for college,
under the care of the minister.
Five years have passed away. He is now at Yale College, but comes home
often to see his mother and Uncle Obed. He is one of the highest
scholars in his class, and Uncle Obed is proud of his success.
He is recognized as the heir of Mr. Wilkins, much to the chagrin of
Mrs. Lucinda Ross and family.
Philip is a spendthrift, and is giving his parents serious anxiety. He,
too, entered college; but was expelled the first year. It is to be
hoped he will some day turn over a new leaf.
For Harry I confidently expect a useful and honorable career, and I am
sure that all my young readers will rejoice at the prosperity which has
come to the struggling boy.
THE END