Part 58 (2/2)
”We shall be sorry to lose you,” she said, soberly.
”You are not going to lose me,” a.s.sured 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 e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed.
”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 a.s.surances 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.”
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