Arms and the Woman

"Keep it," said I, rising. A hot flush of indignation swept over me.

I understood. It was his revenge. To have a man make sport of you

after he is dead and gone, leaving you impotent and with never a chance

to retaliate! "Keep it," I said again; "throw it away, or burn it. I

understand. He has satisfied a petty revenge. It is an insult not

only to me, but to my dead parents. You are, of course, acquainted

with the circumstances of my mother's marriage. She married the man

she loved, disregarding her brother's wishes."

"I knew your mother," said the lawyer, going to the window and looking

out and beyond all that met his gaze.

"To think," I went on, cooling none, "that my mother's brother should

die in this manner, nourishing so small and petty a spite! When he did

this he knew that I should understand his motive. In the first place,

I never dreamed that he would remember me in his will; never

entertained the least idea of it. I am independent; I am earning a

livelihood, small, but enough and to spare. I'll bid you good

morning." I took a step toward the door.

"Young man, sit down," said the old man, coming back to his chair. "I

want to talk to you for a few minutes. Your uncle was a peculiarly

vindictive man. What he considered a wrong he neither forgot nor

forgave. His son pleaded with him not to put in that final clause. He

offered even to share with you. Your uncle swore he would leave it all

to the stablemen first. This journey was forced upon me, or I should

not have taken it. This is my advice to you: Accept the check, in the

privacy of your room tear it up, or light a cigar with it; that's about

all it's worth. You will feel no little satisfaction in lighting a

cigar with it, that is, if you are anything like me. Think of it! a

thousand dollars to light your cigar. It is an opportunity not to be

missed. When you grow old you will say to your grandchildren: 'Once I

lit a cigar with a thousand-dollar check.' The oldest inhabitant will

be silenced forever; it may become history. And then, too, if there

are spirits, as Scripture says there are, your uncle's will writhe at

the performance. I trust that you will forgive me my part in the

matter. I have taken a fancy to you, and if you will accept my

friendship I shall be happy to accept yours. Your uncle's revenge will

not be a marker to the restitution his son will make."