OCT 2 9 2007 
 
 SCHOOL OF INFORMATION 
 AND LIBRARY SCIENCE 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 ENDOWED BY THE 
 DIALECTIC AND PHILANTHROPIC 
 
 SOCIETIES 
 
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 00028209 
 
 71 
 
Herbert Carter's 
 Legacy 
 
 Arias, r 
 
 BY 
 HORATIO ALGER, Jr. 
 
 Author of The Store Boy, Bound to Rise, Brave and Bold, Ca9b 
 
 Boy, Erie Train Boy, Julius the Street Boy, Paul 
 
 the Peddler, Phil the Fiddler, Etc. 
 
 
 CHICAGO 
 M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 
 
 407-429 Dearborn St. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 I. Mrs. Carter Receives a Letter 
 
 II. What the Letter Contained . 
 
 III. Herbert Meets a Relative 
 
 IV. Reading the Will . . , 
 V. What Came Afterward . * 
 
 VI. The Lawyer's Home . „ , 
 
 VII. A Welcome Discovery . . 
 
 VIII. Herbert's Return 
 
 IX. A Business Confidence . . 
 
 X. Squire Leech is Baffled . , 
 
 XI. Sickness 
 
 XII. "Poor and Proud" . 
 
 XIII. Mr. Banks, the Superintendent 
 
 XIV. Herbert's New Undertaking . 
 XV. The Crisis Approaches 
 
 XVI. An Unexpected Offer 
 
 XVII. What the Letter Contained . 
 
 XVIII. How the Squire was Circumvented 
 
 XIX. Herbert Becomes a Professor 
 
 XX. Prospect Pond 
 
 XXI. Rowing .... 
 
 XXII. Andrew Temple . 
 
 XXIII. Temple the Tempter 
 
 XXIV. James is Snubbed 
 XXV. The New Boat 
 
 iii 
 
 PAOB 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 15 
 
 22 
 29 
 36 
 
 44 
 51 
 
 59 
 66 
 
 73 
 
 80 
 
 88 
 
 95 
 103 
 no 
 117 
 125 
 
 132 
 140 
 148 
 
 155 
 162 
 169 
 177 
 
IV 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 page 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 The Rival Boatmen ..... 184 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 The Race 
 
 
 
 
 
 igt 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Mrs. Carter's Guest 
 
 
 
 
 
 198 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 A Bitter Pii.l 
 
 
 
 
 
 205 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Our of Work Again 
 
 
 
 
 
 213 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 A New Start . 
 
 
 
 
 
 220 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Opening the Campaign 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 228 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Herbert as a Newsboy 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 236 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Herbert's Legacy . , 
 
 
 
 
 
 244 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 Herbert's Return . 
 
 
 
 
 
 252 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 Conclusion 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 259 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S 
 LEGACY 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 MRS. CARTER RECEIVES A LETTER 
 
 " Is that the latest style? " inquired James Leech, 
 with a sneer, pointing to a patch on the knee of Her- 
 bert Carter's pants. 
 
 Herbert's face flushed. He was not ashamed of 
 the patch, for he knew that his mother's poverty 
 made it a necessity. But he felt that it was mean and 
 dishonorable in James Leech, whose father was one 
 of the rich men of Wrayburn, to taunt him with what 
 he could not help. Some boys might have slunk 
 away abashed, but Herbert had pluck and stood his 
 ground. 
 
 - It is my style," he answered, firmly, looking 
 James boldly in the face. 
 
 " I admire your taste, then," returned James, with, 
 a smooth sneer. 
 
 " Then, you had better imitate it," retorted Her- 
 bert. 
 
 "Thank you," said James, in the same insulting. 
 
2 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 tone. " Would you lend me your pants for a pat- 
 tern? Excuse me, though; perhaps you have no 
 other pair." 
 
 " For shame, James ! " exclaimed one or two boys 
 who had listened to the colloquy, stirred to indigna- 
 tion by this heartless insult on the part of James 
 Leech to a boy who was deservedly a favorite with 
 them all. 
 
 Herbert's fist involuntarily doubled, and James, 
 though he did not know it, ran a narrow chance of 
 getting a good whipping. But our young hero con- 
 trolled himself, not without some difficulty, and said : 
 " I have one other pair, and these are at your ser- 
 vice whenever you require them." 
 
 Then turning to the other boys, he said, in a 
 changed tone : " Who's in for a game of ball ? " 
 
 " I," said one, promptly. 
 
 " And I," said another. 
 
 Herbert walked away, accompanied by the other 
 boys, leaving James Leech alone. 
 
 James looked after him with a scowl. He was 
 sharp enough to see that Herbert, in spite of his 
 patched pants, was a better scholar and a greater 
 favorite than himself. He had intended to humiliate 
 him on the present occasion, but he was forced to 
 acknowledge that he had come off second best from 
 the encounter. He walked moodily away, and took 
 what comfort he could in the thought that he was 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 3 
 
 far superior to a boy who owned but two pairs of 
 pants, and one of them patched. He was foolish 
 enough to feel that a boy or man derived importance 
 from the extent of his wardrobe ; and exulted in the 
 personal possession of eight pairs of pants. 
 
 This scene occurred at recess. 
 
 After school was over, Herbert walked home. He 
 was a little thoughtful. There was no disgrace in a 
 patch, as he was sensible enough to be aware. Still 
 he would have a little preferred not to wear one. 
 That was only natural. In that point, I suppose, 
 my readers will fully agree with him. But he knew 
 very well that his mother, who had been left a 
 widow, had hard work enough to get along as it 
 was, and he had no idea of troubling her on the sub- 
 ject. Besides, he had a better suit for Sundays, 
 which was neat though plain, and he felt that he 
 ought not to allow himself to be disturbed by James 
 Leech's insolence. 
 
 So thinking, he neared the small house which he 
 called home. It was a small cottage, with some- 
 thing less than an acre of land attached, enough 
 upon which to raise a few vegetables. It belonged 
 to his mother, nominally, but was mortgaged for 
 half its value to Squire Leech, the father of James. 
 The amount of the mortgage, precisely, was seven 
 hundred and fifty dollars. It had cost his father 
 fifteen hundred. When he built it, obtaining half 
 
4 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 this sum on mortgage, he hoped to pay it up by de- 
 grees; but it turned out that, from sickness and 
 other causes, this proved impossible. When, five 
 months before, he had died suddenly, the house, 
 which was all he left, was subject to this incum- 
 brance. Upon this, interest was payable semi- 
 annually "at the rate of six per cent. Forty-five dol- 
 lars a year is not a large sum, but it seemed very 
 large to Mrs. Carter, when added to their necessary 
 expenses for food, clothing, and fuel. How it was 
 to be paid she did not exactly see. The same 
 problem had perplexed Herbert, who, like a good 
 son as he was, shared his mother's cares and tried 
 to lighten them. But in a small village like Wray- 
 burn there are not many ways of getting money, at 
 any rate for a boy. There were no manufactories, 
 as in some large villages, and money was a scarce 
 commodity. 
 
 Herbert had, however, one source of income. 
 Half a dozen families, living at some distance from 
 the post office, employed him to bring any letters or 
 papers that might come for them, and for this ser- 
 vice he received a regular tariff of two cents for 
 each letter, and one cent for each paper. He was 
 not likely to grow rich on this income, but he felt 
 that, though small, it was welcome. 
 
 According to custom, Herbert called at the post 
 office on his way home. He found a letter for Dea- 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 5 
 
 con Crossleigh, one for Mr. Duncan, two for Dr. 
 Waffit, and papers for each of the two former. 
 
 " Ten cents ! " he thought with satisfaction. 
 " Well, that is better than nothing, though it won't 
 buy me a new pair of pants." 
 
 He was about to leave the office, when the post- 
 master called after him: " Wait a minute, Herbert; 
 I believe there's a letter for your mother." 
 
 Herbert returned, and received a letter bearing 
 the following superscription : " Mrs. Almira Carter, 
 Wrayburn, New York." 
 ■ " I hope it isn't bad news," said the postmaster. 
 
 I see it's edged with black." 
 
 " I can't make out where it's from," said Her- 
 bert, scanning the postmark critically. 
 
 " Nor I," said the postmaster, rubbing his glasses, 
 and taking another look. " The postmark is very 
 indistinct." 
 
 " There's an n and a p," said Herbert, after a 
 little examination. " I think that it must be Ran- 
 dolph." 
 
 " Randolph ? So it is, I declare. Have you got 
 any friends or relatives living there ? " 
 
 ' Yes, my mother's uncle Herbert, for whom I 
 was named, lives there." 
 
 " Then he must be dead." 
 
 " What makes you think so? " 
 
 " The envelope is edged with black. You had 
 
6 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 better carry it home before you go round with the 
 others." 
 
 " Perhaps I had," said Herbert. " I'll run, so 
 as not to keep the others waiting. Deacon Cross- 
 leigh is always in a hurry for his paper." 
 
 f< Yes, the deacon's always in a fidget to know 
 what's going on, particularly when Congress is in 
 session. You know, he takes a wonderful interest in 
 politics." 
 
 Herbert ran up the street with a quick step, paus- 
 ing a minute at his humble home. 
 
 ' You are out of breath, Herbert. Have you 
 been running ? " 
 
 " Yes, I've got a letter for you, and I wanted to 
 bring it before I went round with the rest." 
 
 " A letter ! Where from ? " asked the widow, 
 with curiosity, for she held very little intercourse 
 with the world outside of Wrayburn. 
 
 " It's postmarked Randolph, as well as I can make 
 out. While you are reading it, I'll run and leave 
 my letters, and be back to hear the news." 
 
 In a hurry to do all his errands and get back, Her- 
 bert ran all the way. While his eyes were fixed on 
 one of the envelopes, he ran full against James 
 Leech, who was walking up the street with a pomp- 
 ous air. 
 
 In the encounter James' hat came offl, and he was 
 nearly thrown down. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 7 
 
 "What made you run into me? " he demanded, 
 wrathfully. 
 
 " Excuse me, James," said Herbert, recovering 
 himself. 
 
 " You did it on purpose," said his enemy, glaring 1 
 at him angrily. 
 
 " That isn't very likely," said Herbert. " I got 
 hit as hard as you did." 
 
 " Your hat didn't get knocked off. Pick it up," 
 said James, imperiously, pointing to it as it lay in 
 the path. 
 
 " I will, because it is by my fault that it fell," said 
 Herbert, stooping over and picking it up. " You 
 needn't have ordered me to do it." 
 
 " Take care the next time how you run against a 
 gentleman," said James, arrogantly. 
 
 " Take care the next time to speak like a gentle- 
 man," said Herbert. " Good-night. I must be 
 off." 
 
 " Insolent beggar ! " muttered James. " He don't 
 know his place. How dare he speak to me in that 
 way?" 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 WHAT THE LETTER CONTAINED 
 
 Half an hour later, Herbert re-entered the cot- 
 tage breathless with running. 
 
 "Well, mother, what is it?" he asked. 
 
 " Uncle Herbert is dead," she answered. 
 
 "When did he die?" 
 
 " Yesterday morning. They wrote at once. 
 The funeral is to take place to-morrow afternoon, 
 at three o'clock." 
 
 " Uncle Herbert was rich, wasn't he, mother ? " 
 
 " Yes, he must have left nearly a hundred thou- 
 sand dollars." 
 
 " What a pile of money ! " said Herbert. " I 
 wonder how a man feels when he is rich. He ought 
 to be happy." 
 
 " Riches don't always bring happiness. Uncle 
 Herbert was disappointed in early life, and that 
 seemed to spoil his career. He gave himself up to 
 money-making, and succeeded in it; but he lived by 
 himself and had few sources of happiness." 
 
 " Then he had no family? " 
 
 " No." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 9 
 
 " Do you think he has left us anything, mother? " 
 asked Herbert, with something of hope in his 
 tone. 
 
 " I am afraid not. If he had been disposed to do 
 that he would have done something for us before. 
 He knew that we were poor, and that a little assist- 
 ance would have been very acceptable. But he 
 never offered it. Even when your father was sick 
 for three months, and I wrote to him for a small 
 loan, he refused, saying that we ought to have laid 
 up money to fall back upon at such a time." 
 
 " I don't see how a man can be so unfeeling. If 
 he would only leave us a thousand dollars, how 
 much good it would do us ! We could pay up the 
 mortgage on the house, and have something left 
 over. It wouldn't have been much for him to do." 
 
 " Well, we won't think too much about it," said 
 Mrs. Carter. " It will be wisest, as probably we 
 should be only preparing ourselves • for disappoint- 
 ment. Uncle had a right to do what he pleased with 
 his own." 
 
 " Shall you go to the funeral, mother ? " 
 
 " I don't see how I can," said Mrs. Carter, slowly. 
 " It is twenty miles off, and I am very busy just 
 ,now. Still one of us ought to go, if only to show 
 respect to so near a relation. People would talk if 
 we didn't. I think, as you were named for your 
 Uncle Herbert, I will let you go." 
 
io HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " If you think best, mother, I will walk, and 
 that will save expense." 
 
 " It will be too much for you to take such a walk. 
 You had better ride." 
 
 " No, mother, I am young and strong. I can 
 walk well enough." 
 
 " But it must be twenty miles," objected his 
 mother. 
 
 " The funeral doesn't take place till three o'clock 
 in the afternoon. I will get up bright and early, 
 say at five o'clock. By nine I shall be halfway 
 there." 
 
 "I am afraid it will be too much for you, Her- 
 bert," said Mrs. Carter, irresolutely. 
 
 " You don't know how strong I am," said Her- 
 bert ; " I shan't get tired so easily as you think." 
 
 " But twenty miles is a long distance." 
 
 " I know that, but I shall take it easy. The stage 
 fare is seventy-five cents, and it's a good way to save 
 it. I wish somebody would offer me seventy-five 
 cents for every twenty miles I would walk. I'd 
 take it up as a profession." 
 
 " I am afraid I could earn little that way. I 
 never was a good walker." 
 
 " You're a woman," said Herbert, patronizingly. 
 " Women are not expected to be good walkers, you 
 know." 
 
 " Some are. I remember my Aunt Jane would 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY n 
 
 take walks of five and six miles, and think nothing" 
 of it." 
 
 " I guess I could match her in walking," said 
 Herbert, confidently. " Is she alive ? " 
 
 " No, she died three years since." 
 
 " Perhaps I take after her, then." 
 
 " You don't take after me, I am sure of that. I 
 think, Herbert, you had better take seventy-five 
 cents with you, so that if you get very tired with 
 your walk over, you can come back by stage." 
 
 "All right, mother; I'll take the money, but I 
 shall be sure not to need it." 
 
 " It is best to be prepared for emergencies, Her- 
 bert." 
 
 "if I am going to-morrow morning, I must 
 split up enough wood to last you while I am 
 gone." 
 
 " I am afraid you will tire yourself. I think I 
 can get along with what wood there is already 
 split." 
 
 " Oh, don't be afraid for me. You'll see I'll 
 come back as fresh as when I set out. I expect 
 to have a stunning appetite, though." 
 
 " I'll try to cook up enough for you," said his 
 mother, smiling. 
 
 Herbert went out into the woodshed, and went 
 to work with real energy at the woodpile. In the 
 course of an hour he had sawed and split several 
 
i2 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 large baskets full, which he brought in and piled up 
 .behind the kitchen stove. 
 
 Mrs. Carter could not be expected to feel very 
 deep grief for the death of her uncle. It was now 
 more than six years since they had met. He was a 
 selfish man, wholly wrapped up in the pursuit of 
 wealth. Had he possessed benevolent instincts, he 
 would have offered to do something out of his 
 abundance for his niece, who he knew found it very 
 hard to make both ends meet. But he was a man 
 who was very much averse to parting with his 
 money while he lived. He lived on a tenth of his 
 income, and saved up the rest, though for what end 
 he could not well have told. Since the death of 
 Mr. Carter, whose funeral he had not taken trouble 
 to attend, though invited, he had not even written 
 to his niece, and she had abstained from making any 
 advances, lest it might be thought that she was seek- 
 ing assistance. Under these circumstances she had \ 
 little hope of a legacy, though she could not help 
 admitting the thought of how much a few hundred 
 dollars would help her, bridging over the time till 
 Herbert should be old enough to earn fair wages in 
 some employment. If he could study two or three 
 years longer, she would have been very glad, for her I 
 son had already shown abilities of no common order; 
 but that was hardly to be thought of. 
 
 " There, mother, I guess I've sawed wood enough 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 13 
 
 to last you, unless you are very extravagant," said 
 Herbert, re-entering the kitchen, and taking off his 
 cap. " Now is there anything else I can do ? You 
 know I shall be gone two days, or a day and a half 
 at any rate." 
 
 " I think of nothing, Herbert. You had better 
 go to bed early, and get a good night's rest, for you 
 will have a hard day before you." 
 
 " So I will, but eight o'clock will be soon enough. 
 Just suppose we should get a legacy, after all, 
 mother. Wouldn't it be jolly? " 
 
 " I wouldn't think too much of it, Herbert. 
 There isn't much chance of it. Besides, it doesn't 
 seem right to be speculating about our own personal 
 advantage when Uncle Herbert lies dead in his 
 house." 
 
 There was justice in this suggestion, but Herbert 
 could hardly be expected to take a mournful view 
 of the death of a relative whom he hardly remem- 
 bered, and who had appeared scarcely to be aware 
 of his existence. It was natural that the thought 
 of his wealth should be uppermost in his young 
 nephew's mind. The reader will hardly be sur- 
 prised to hear that Herbert, knowing only too well 
 the disadvantages of poverty, should have speculated 
 a little about his uncle's property after he went to 
 bed. Indeed, it did not leave him even with his 
 waking consciousness. He dreamed that his uncle 
 
14 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 left him a big lump of gold, so big and heavy that he 
 could not lift it. He was considering anxiously'how 
 in the world he was going to get it home, when all 
 at once he awoke, and heard the church clock strike 
 five. 
 
 "Time I was on my way!" he thought, and, 
 jumping our of bed, he dressed himself as quickly 
 as possible, and went downstairs. But, early as it 
 was, his mother was down before him. There was 
 a fire in the kitchen stove, and the cloth was laid for 
 breakfast. 
 
 " What made you get up so early, mother? " asked 
 Herbert. 
 
 " I wouldn't have you go away without break- 
 fast, Herbert, especially for such a long walk." 
 
 " I meant to take something from the closet. 
 That would have done well enough." 
 
 " You will be all the better for a good, warm cup 
 of tea. Sit right down. It is all ready." 
 . Early as it was, the breakfast tasted good. Her- 
 bert ate hastily, for he was anxious to be on his way. 
 Knowing that he could not afford to buy lunch, he 
 put the remnants of the breakfast, including some 
 slices of bread and butter and meat, into his satchel, 
 and started on his long walk. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 HERBERT MEETS A RELATIVE 
 
 Herbert had never been to Randolph. In fact, 
 he had never been so far away from Wrayburn. 
 He was not afraid of losing his way, however. 
 Here and there along the road guide posts were con- 
 veniently placed, and these removed any difficulty 
 on that score. 
 
 When he had gone about six miles, the coach rat- 
 tled by. It had started more than an hour later. 
 Herbert turned out for the lumbering vehicle, and 
 waited for it to pass. There was a boy on top, but 
 such was the cloud of dust that he could not at 
 first recognize him. It happened, however, that one 
 of the traces broke, so that the driver was compelled 
 to make a stop just as he overtook our hero. Then 
 he saw that the boy on top was James Leech. 
 
 With James curiosity overcame his disinclination 
 to speak to one so far beneath him. 
 
 " Where are you going, Carter? " he inquired. 
 
 " To Randolph," was the answer. 
 
 " Going to walk all the way ? " 
 15 
 
x6 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I expect to," said Herbert, not relishing the 
 cross-examination. 
 
 " Why don't you ride? " 
 
 James did not ask for information. He knew 
 well enough already, but as there are purse-proud 
 men, so there are boys who are actuated by feelings 
 equally unworthy, and it delighted him to remind 
 Herbert of his poverty. Herbert divined this, but 
 he was proud in his way, and answered : " Because 
 I choose." 
 
 " Well, you must like, the dust, that's all," said 
 James, complacently tapping his well-polished boot 
 with a light cane which he had brought. 
 
 " Where are you going? " asked Herbert, think- 
 ing it about time for him to commence questioning. 
 
 " I'm going to Randolph, too," answered James, 
 with unwonted affability. " I'm going to stop a 
 few days with a friend of mine, Tom Spencer. His 
 father's a rich man — got a nice place there. Didn't 
 you ever hear of Mr. Spencer, the lawyer? " 
 
 " I don't think I have." 
 
 " That's his father. He makes a load of money 
 by his law business. I think I shall study law some 
 time. Perhaps I'll go into partnership with him. 
 What are you going to be ? " 
 
 " I don't know yet," said Herbert. 
 
 " I suppose you'll be a mechanic of some kind—* 
 a carpenter, or mason, or bricklayer." 
 
HERBERT CARTERS LEGACY 17 
 
 " Perhaps so," said Herbert, quietly. 
 
 " What are you going to Randolph for ? " asked 
 James, with sudden curiosity. 
 
 " To attend my uncle's funeral." 
 
 " What's your uncle's name ? " 
 
 " The same as mine." 
 
 " I suppose he was poor." 
 
 " No, he was rich." 
 
 " Was he ? " repeated James, in some surprise. 
 ** What do you think he was worth?" 
 
 " About a hundred thousand dollars." 
 
 " Sho ! you don't say so. Perhaps," continued 
 James, with new-born respect, " he has left you 
 something in his will." 
 
 " I don't think so." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " He hasn't shown any interest in us for six 
 years, and I have no reason to think he'll remember 
 us now." 
 
 James looked thoughtful. He had never before 
 heard of this relationship, or he would have treated 
 Herbert differently. The mere fact of having a 
 wealthy relative elevated our hero considerably in 
 his eyes.^ Then, too, there was a possibility that 
 Herbert would turn out a legatee. 
 
 "When is your uncle's funeral?" he inquired, 
 after a pause. 
 
 "This afternoon." 
 
18 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " You won't get there in time. You had better 
 get up and ride." 
 
 " No, I guess not." 
 
 " Well, perhaps I shall meet you at Randolph." 
 ' By this time the harness was repaired, the driver 
 resumed his seat, and whipped up the horses to make 
 up for lost time. 
 
 " I'm glad I don't think as much of money as 
 James Leech," thought Herbert. " I suppose if 
 my uncle would only leave us a good round sum, he 
 would forget that I once wore patched pants, and 
 accept me as his intimate friend." 
 
 This- was exactly what James would have done, 
 and Herbert showed that he was not wholly without 
 knowledge of the world in forming the conjecture. 
 
 Pausing occasionally to rest, Herbert at length 
 accomplished his journey, arriving at Randolph a 
 little after noon. He stopped just outside the vil- 
 lage and ate his frugal dinner, which by this time 
 he was prepared to relish. He then took off his 
 jacket and beat the dust out of it, dusted his shoes, 
 and washed his face in a little brook by the roadside. 
 Having thus effaced the marks of travel, he entered 
 the village and inquired the way to the residence of 
 his late uncle. He found out where it was, but did 
 not go there yet, knowing that there would be prep- 
 arations going on for the funeral. Neither did he 
 go to the tavern, for he knew that he would be ex- 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 19 
 
 pected to dine there, and this was an expense which 
 he did not feel able to incur. He threw himself 
 down in the shade of a tree, and remained there 
 until he heard the church clock strike two. He was 
 still lying there when a young man, smartly dressed, 
 sporting a showy watch chain and locket and an 
 immense necktie, came up the street and accosted 
 him. 
 
 " I say, boy, can you tell me where old man Car- 
 ter's house is ? " 
 
 " Yes," said Herbert. " Do you want to go 
 there?" 
 
 " Of course I do. I'm one of the relatives. I've 
 come all the way from New York to attend the 
 funeral." 
 
 " I'm one of the relations, too," said Herbert. 
 " We'll go along together." 
 
 " By Jove, that's strange ! How are you related 
 to the old chap ? " drawled the young man. 
 
 " He was my mother's uncle." 
 
 " Was he? Well, I'm a second or third cousin, I 
 don't know which. Never saw him to my knowl- 
 edge. In fact, I wouldn't have come on to the 
 funeral if 1 hadn't heard that he was rich. Expect 
 to be remembered ? " 
 
 " I don't think so. He hasn't taken any notice of 
 mother or myself for years." 
 
 " Indeed ! " said the young man, who was rather 
 
so HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 pleased to hear this intelligence. " Are there many 
 relations, do you know ? " 
 
 " I don't think there are." 
 
 " That's good. It makes our chance better, you 
 know. I say, what's your name?" 
 
 " Herbert Carter." 
 
 " vSame as the old man's? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Did he know you was named for him ? " 
 
 " Of course." 
 
 " Then he may leave you something for the 
 name," suggested the other, not very well pleased. 
 
 •■' I don't expect anything. What is your name? " 
 
 " Cornelius Dixon. I'm related to the old man 
 on my mother's side." 
 
 " Are you in business in New York ? " asked Her- 
 bert, who in spite of the queer manners of his new 
 relative, felt considerable respect for one who hailed 
 from so important a city. 
 
 ■ Yes, I am a salesman in a New York store. 
 Where do you live? " 
 
 " In Wrayburn." 
 
 "AVhere's that?" 
 
 " About twenty miles from here." 
 
 " Some, one-horse country town, I suppose. Are 
 you in any business ? " 
 
 " No," said Herbert, " but I'd like to be. Do you 
 think you could get me a place in New York? " 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 21 
 
 " Well," said Cornelius, flattered by the belief in 
 his influence which this inquiry implied, " perhaps 
 I might. You can give me your name and address, 
 so I can write to you if I hear of anything. If the 
 old man only leaves me a few thousand dollars, I'll 
 go into business for myself, and then I'd have an 
 opening for you." 
 
 " I hope he will, then." 
 
 " So do I. That is where we both agree. But 
 perhaps it will be you that will get the cash." 
 
 " I don't think so." 
 
 " If you do, put it into my hands, and go into 
 partnership with me. I've got business experience, 
 you know; while you're green, countrified, you 
 know. It would never do for you to start alone." 
 
 " No, I shouldn't think of it." 
 
 "Then it's agreed, is it?" said Cornelius. "If 
 I get a legacy, I'll take you into my store. If you 
 get it, you will go into partnership with me." 
 
 " I'm willing," said Herbert, who really believed 
 that his companion had as valuable business quali- 
 fications as he claimed. How was he to know that 
 the pretentious Cornelius was only a salesman, at 
 twelve dollars a week, in a dry-goods store? 
 
 By this time they had reached the rather dingy- 
 looking house rof their deceased relative. The front 
 door was open. They passed through the gate and, 
 entering, took their places with the mourners. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 READING THE WILL 
 
 Apparently the deceased had but few relatives. 
 'But six persons were in a small room appropriated 
 to the mourner when our hero and his new ac- 
 quaintance entered. One of these, and far the most 
 imposing in appearance, was a stout lady, who quite 
 filled up the only armchair in the room. In a plain 
 chair close by was a meek little man, three inches 
 shorter, and probably not more than half her weight. 
 A boy and girl, the children of the ill-matched pair, 
 the former resembling the father, the latter the 
 mother, were ranged alongside. Permit me to in- 
 troduce Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Pinkerton, of Castle- 
 ton, an adjoining tpwn, Master Albert and Miss 
 Nancy Pinkerton. 
 
 Mrs. Pinkerton is a milliner, and her husband is 
 her clerk and errand boy. She has considerable 
 business capacity, and makes enough to support the 
 family comfortably, besides adding something an- 
 nually to the fund in the savings bank. The rela- 
 tionship to the deceased is on the side of the hus- 
 band, who is a cousin. This relationship has given 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 23 
 
 rise to great expectations on the part of Mrs. Pink- 
 erton, who fully expects to inherit half the estate 
 of Mr. Carter. 
 
 " If we get it, Josiah," she had promised mag- 
 nificently, " I mean to buy you a new suit of Sunday 
 clothes." 
 
 " But, Maria," expostulated the meek husband, 
 " it will be left to me, not to you." 
 
 "Why so?" demanded she, frowning. 
 
 " Because he is my cousin, not yours." 
 
 " You indeed ! " retorted the wife, angrily ; " and 
 what do you know about the use of money? Who 
 supports the family, I should like to know ? " 
 
 " I help," answered Josiah, meekly. 
 
 " And precious little you help," returned his wife, 
 sarcastically. " So far as you are concerned, we 
 should all be in the poorhouse long before this. No, 
 Josiah, the money must come into my hands. I'll 
 give you a good allowance, and hire an errand boy 
 so that you needn't have to carry round bundles. 
 You ought to be contented with that." 
 
 As no legacy had yet been received, Mr. Pinker- 
 ton thought it best not to continue the discussion. 
 Indeed, he was rather afraid of his imperious wife, 
 who held the reins of authority, and whom he did 
 not dare to dispute. 
 
 The two other relations were, first, a brown-faced 
 and brown-handed fanner, Alonzo Granger, and am 
 
24 HERBERT GARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 old lady, of seventy or thereabouts — Miss Nancy 
 Carter, a sister of the deceased. For years she had 
 lived on a small pension from her brother, increased 
 somewhat by knitting stockings for the neighbors. 
 She, indeed, was the only real mourner. The rest 
 were speculating about how far they were likely to 
 be benefited by the death of the deceased, of whom 
 they had seen but little in life. Even Herbert, 
 though impressed by the presence of death, could 
 hardly be expected to feel deep grief for a man who 
 had neglected his mother in his life. 
 
 Of the funeral rites it is unnecessary to speak. 
 We are interested in what came afterward. 
 
 The relations were quietly notified to meet at five 
 o'clock in the office of Mr. Spencer, the lawyer, to 
 whom had been intrusted the will of the late Mr. 
 Carter. Those who have even a slight knowledge 
 of human nature will not need to be told that the 
 attendance of all was punctual. There was an 
 anxious, expectant look on the faces of all — not even 
 excepting the old lady. She knew that if her 
 brother had made no provision for her, she must 
 go to the almshouse, and against this her honest 
 pride revolted. She was willing to live on any- 
 thing, however little, if she might live independ- 
 ently, as she had hitherto done. To feel herself de- 
 pendent on public charity would indeed have been a 
 hard trial for the poor old lady. Of all, probably 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 25 
 
 Mrs. Pinkerton was the most confident. She had 
 come to feel that her family was entitled to a large 
 share of the estate, and she had gone so far as to 
 decide just how she would invest it, and what new 
 arrangements she would make, for she had no idea 
 of consulting her husband on the subject. 
 
 The lawyer was a gentlemanly-looking man, 
 whose face inspired confidence in his integrity — a. 
 remark which, unhappily, cannot be made of all in 
 his profession. He took his seat at a table, and pro- 
 duced the will, which he considerately commenced 
 reading at once. Aiter the usual introduction, the 
 will proceeded thus : 
 
 " To my sister Nancy I give the use of my house, 
 rent free, as long as she shall live. I leave her also 
 an income of two hundred dollars a year, which, as 
 her wants are small, will be sufficient to maintain 
 her in comfort." 
 
 The old lady breathed a sigh of relief. Her fears 
 were removed. She could continue to live as she 
 had been accustomed to do, and need not be beholden 
 to private or public charity. Mrs. Pinkerton was 
 not so well pleased. She felt almost as if she had 
 been deprived of what belonged to her by right. 
 She frowned at Miss Nancy, but the old lady was 
 unconscious of the displeasure excited in the bosom 
 •f her imposing-l©oking relative. 
 
26 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 The lawyer proceeded : "To my cousin, Alonzo 
 Granger, I leave one hundred dollars; not because 
 he needs it, for I understand that he is well-to-do, 
 but as a mark of remembrance." 
 
 The farmer scowled slightly, and opened and 
 closed his brown hands in dissatisfaction. He was 
 well-to-do; but when was a man ever satisfied with 
 that? He had counted upon a few thousands, with 
 which he proposed to buy an adjoining farm. Mrs. 
 Pinkerton, however, was pleased. There was so 
 much more for her. 
 
 " To Cornelius Dixon " — here Herbert's morn- 
 ing acquaintance began to feel excited — " I be- 
 queath one hundred dollars, to buy a looking-glass 
 and a new suit of clothes." 
 
 The young man's face lengthened very perceptibly 
 as he heard the small amount of his legacy, and he 
 glared savagely at Mrs. Pinkerton, who showed a 
 mirthful face at his discomfiture. 
 
 Her turn came next. 
 
 " To Josiah- Pinkerton, his wife and children, I 
 leave one hundred dollars apiece ; also my best black 
 pantaloons, which he or his wife may appropriate, 
 as may be arranged between them." 
 
 All except the Pinkertons laughed at this sly hit, 
 and even the lawyer smiled; but the stout lady 
 flushed with rage and disappointment, and ejacu- 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 27 
 
 latecl : " Abominable ! " The eyes of all were di- 
 rected to Herbert, who was the only one remaining". 
 Could it be possible that the rest of the property was 
 left to him ? The fear of this made him the focus of 
 unfriendly eyes, and he became restive and anxious. 
 
 " To my namesake, Herbert Carter, I leave a 
 black trunk which I keep in my room, with all that 
 it contains. To his mother I direct that the sum of 
 one hundred dollars be paid." 
 
 This was not much, but it was more than Herbert 
 had expected. He knew how welcome even one 
 hundred dollars would be to his mother, and he 
 looked satisfied — the only one of the party, except 
 the old lady, who showed any pleasure at the con- 
 tents of the will. 
 
 The relatives looked bewildered. All had been 
 mentioned in turn, and yet but a small part — a very 
 small part — of the estate had been disposed of. 
 Mrs. Pinkerton bluntly expressed the general curi- 
 osity. 
 
 " Who is to have the rest, Mr. Spencer? " she de- 
 manded. 
 
 " I'm coming to that," answered the lawyer, 
 quietly. 
 
 " All the rest and residue of my property, of 
 whatever kind, I leave to the town of Randolph, to 
 
28 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 establish a high school, directing that not more than 
 twenty thousand dollars be expended upon the build- 
 ing, which shall be of brick. I desire that the school 
 shall be known as the Carter School, to the end that 
 my name may be remembered in connection with 
 what I hope will prove a public blessing." 
 
 " That is all," said the lawyer, and he laid down 
 the will upon the table. 
 
?* 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 WHAT CAME AFTERWARD 
 
 There was silence for a minute after the will 
 was read. Mrs. Pinkerton fanned herself furiously, 
 and looked angry and excited. 
 
 At length she said : " I wish to say that this is 
 a very unjust will, Mr. Spencer." 
 
 " I am not responsible for it, Mrs. Pinkerton/' 
 answered the lawyer, quietly. 
 
 " I don't know what the rest of you think," said 
 the angry lady, with a general glance around the 
 office, " but I think the will ought to be broken." 
 
 " On what grounds ? " asked Mr. Spencer. 
 
 " He had no right to put off his own flesh and 
 blood with a beggarly pittance, and leave all his 
 money to the town." 
 
 " Pardon me; whatever you may think of Mr. 
 Carter's will, there is no doubt that he had a perfect 
 legal right to dispose of it as he did." 
 
 " Then the laws ought to be altered," said Mrs. 
 Pinkerton, angrily. " I don't believe he was sane 
 when he made the will." 
 
 29 
 
3 o HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " If you can prove that," said the lawyer, " you 
 can set aside the will; but not otherwise." 
 
 " My brother was in his right mind," here inter- 
 posed Miss Nancy. " He always meant to give the 
 town money for a school." 
 
 " No doubt you think he was sane," sneered Mrs. 
 Pinkerton, turning upon the old lady. " You have 
 fared better than any of us." 
 
 "miss Nancy was most nearly related to the de- 
 ceased," said the lawyer, " and she needed help 
 most." 
 
 " It's all very well to talk," said the lady, toss- 
 ing her head, " but me and mine have been badly 
 used. I have hard work enough to support the 
 family, and little help I get from him," she added, 
 pointing to her unhappy husband. 
 
 " I'm workin' all the time," remonstrated Josiah. 
 " You are unkind, Maria." 
 
 " I could hire a boy to do all your work for three 
 dollars a week," she retorted. " That's all you help 
 me. I've worried along for years, expectin' Mr. 
 Carter would do something handsome for us ; and 
 now he's put us off with four hundred dollars." 
 
 " I get only one hundred," said the farmer. 
 
 " And I too. It's a beastly shame," remarked 
 Cornelius. 
 
 " Really," said the lawyer, " it appears to me un- 
 seemly to speak so bitterly so soon after the funeral." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 3« 
 
 " I dare say you like it well enough," said Mrs. 
 Pinkerton, sharply. " You've got all our money to 
 build a schoolhouse." 
 
 " It will not benefit me any more than the towns- 
 people generally," said the lawyer. " For my part, 
 I should have been glad if my late friend had left 
 a larger sum to those connected with him by 
 blood." 
 
 " Don't you think we could break the will ? " 
 asked Mrs. Pinkerton, persuasively. " Couldn't 
 you help us? " 
 
 " You can attempt it, but I assure you in advance 
 you haven't the ghost of a chance. You would only 
 lose your money, for the town would strenuously 
 oppose you." 
 
 The stout lady's face fell. She felt that the last 
 hope was gone. 
 
 " All I can say is, that it's a scandalous thing," 
 she concluded, bitterly. 
 
 " I should like to know what's in that trunk he 
 left you," said Cornelius Dixon, turning- to Herbert. 
 " Maybe it's money or bonds. If it is, don't for- 
 get our agreement." 
 
 This drew attention to Herbert. 
 
 " To be sure," said Mrs. Pinkerton, whose curi- 
 osity was aroused, " Mr. Dixon may be right. Sup- 
 pose we all go over to the house and open it." 
 
 Herbert looked irresolutely toward the lawyer. 
 
32 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " There is no objection, I suppose," said Mr. 
 Spencer. 
 
 " I know what's in the trunk," said Miss Nancy, 
 quietly. 
 
 Straightway all eyes were turned upon her. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " It's clothes. My brother used to . keep his 
 clothes in that trunk." 
 
 Cornelius Dixon' burst into a rude laugh. 
 
 " I say, Herbert, I congratulate you," he said, 
 with a chuckle. " The old fellow's left you his 
 wardrobe. You'll look like a peacock when you put 
 'em on. If you ever come to New York to see me, 
 leave 'em at home. I wouldn't like to walk up 
 Broadway with such a gawk as you'd look." 
 
 " Young man," said Miss Nancy, her voice trem- 
 ulous, " it don't look well in you to ridicule my poor 
 departed brother. He didn't forget you." 
 
 " He might as well," muttered Cornelius. 
 
 " I hope you won't laugh at my brother's gift," 
 said the old lady, turning to Herbert. 
 
 " No, ma'am," said Herbert, respectfully. " I 
 am glad to get it. I can't afford to buy new clothes 
 often, and they can be made over for me." 
 
 " You wouldn't catch me wearing such old- 
 fashioned duds," said Cornelius, scornfully. 
 
 " No one asked you to, young man." said the old 
 lady, disturbed at the manner in which her brother 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 33 
 
 was spoken of. " The boy's worth a dozen of 
 you." 
 
 " Thank you," said Cornelius, bowing with mock 
 respect. " I should like to ask," he continued, turn- 
 ing to the lawyer, " when I can get my legacy. It 
 isn't much, but I might as well take it." 
 
 " As the amount is small, I will send you a check 
 next week," said Mr. Spencer, " if you will leave 
 me your address." 
 
 " And can I have my money, too ? " demanded 
 Mrs. Pinkerton. " It's a miserable pittance, but I 
 owe it to my poor children to take it." 
 
 " I will send your husband a check also, next 
 week, madam." 
 
 " You needn't send it to him. You may send it to 
 me," said the lady. 
 
 " Part of it is mine," expostulated the husband, ; 
 in meek deprecation. 
 
 " I can give you your part," said his wife. 
 "Mr Spencer, you may make the check payable 
 to me." 
 
 " But, Maria " 
 
 " Be silent, Josiah ! Don't make a fool of your- 
 self," said his wife, in an imperious tone. 
 
 The poor man was fain to be silent, but the lawyer 
 was indignant, and said : "Mr. Pinkerton, I will cer- 
 tainly not pay your legacy, nor your children's, to 
 anyone but yourself. I will send Mrs. Pinkerton a 
 
34 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 check for her own share — one hundred dollars— 
 since she desires it." 
 
 " I insist upon your sending me the children's 
 money also," said the lady, angrily. " He ain't fit 
 to take charge of it." 
 
 : ' You may insist as much as you like, Mrs. Pink- 
 erton," said the lawyer, coolly, " but it will be 
 useless. As the head of the family, I shall send the 
 money designed for the children to your husband." 
 
 " Do you call him the head of the family? " de- 
 manded the angry Maria. " I would have you 
 know, sir, that I am the head of the family." 
 
 " The law does not recognize you as such. As 
 to the pantaloons, which form a part of the legacy, 
 I will forward them to you, if you wish." 
 
 " Do you mean to insult me, sir? " gasped Mrs. 
 Pinkerton, growing very red in the face. 
 
 " Not at all; but they were left either to you or 
 your husband, as you might jointly agree." 
 
 The lady was about to decline accepting them at 
 all, but it occurred to her that they might be made 
 over to suit her husband, and so save the expense 
 of a new pair, and she directed that they should be 
 sent to him. 
 
 Then, gathering her family about her, she strode 
 majestically from the office, shaking off, metaphori- 
 cally, the dust of her feet against it. 
 
 Next Mr. Granger, after a few words with the 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 3 5 
 
 lawyer, departed. Mr. Cornelius Dixon also an- 
 nounced that he must depart. 
 
 " Come and see me some time in the city," he 
 said to Herbert, " and if you ever get a windfall 
 just put it into my hands, and I'll go into business 
 with you." 
 
 " I'll remember," said Herbert, " but I'm afraid 
 it 71 be a good while before that." 
 
 " I don't know about that. You can open a sec- 
 ond-hand clothing store. The old man's left you a 
 good stock in trade. Good joke, isn't it? Good- 
 by." 
 
 Next Miss Nancy rose to go. 
 
 " Tell your mother to call and see me, my boy," 
 she said, kindly, to Herbert. " I wish my brother'd 
 left her more, for I know she needs it." 
 
 " Thank you, Miss Nancy," said Herbert, respect- 
 fully; "but we don't complain. We are thankful 
 for what we have received." 
 
 " You're the best of 'em," said the old lady, ear- 
 nestly. " You're a good boy, and God will prosper 
 you." , 
 
 She went out, and of the eight heirs Herbert 
 alone remained. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE LAWYER'S HOME 
 
 The lawyer regarded Herbert with a smile. 
 
 " Your uncle's will doesn't seem to have given 
 general satisfaction," he said. 
 
 " No," responded Herbert ; " but for my part I 
 have come out as well as I expected." 
 
 "I suppose you know Mr. Carter was rich?" 
 
 " So my mother told me." 
 
 " How much do you think he was worth ? " 
 
 Herbert was rather surprised at this question. 
 Why should the lawyer ask it, when of course he 
 knew much more about the matter? 
 
 " About a hundred thousand dollars, I suppose," 
 he answered. 
 
 " You are not far wrong - . Now doesn't your 
 share, and your mother's, seem very small compared 
 with this large amount ? " 
 
 "It is very small compared with that, but we 
 had no claim to anything. The clothes and the 
 money will be very useful to us." 
 
 " You are a model heir," said Mr. Spencer, smil- 
 36 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 37 
 
 ing. " You alone do not find fault, except, of 
 course, Miss Nancy, who has fared the best." 
 
 " I would rather make a fortune for myself than 
 inherit one from another," said Herbert, sturdily. 
 
 " I respect your independence, my boy," said the 
 lawyer, who felt favorably disposed toward our 
 hero. " Still, a legacy isn't to be despised. Now 
 tell me when you want to take your trunk." 
 
 " I want to ask your advice about that," said Her- 
 bert. " I walked over from Wrayburn. How 
 shall I carry the trunk back? " 
 
 " You will have to return by the stage to-morrow 
 morning, that is, if you are ready to go back s^ 
 soon." 
 
 " Do they charge much to stop overnight at the 
 hotel ? " asked Herbert, anxiously, for he had but 
 seventy-five cents with him. It occurred to him 
 how foolish he had been not to consider that it would 
 be necessary for him to spend the night in Ran- 
 dolph. 
 
 " I don't know exactly how much. I think they 
 charge fifty cents for a bed, and the same for each 
 meal." 
 
 Herbert's face lengthened, and he became 
 alarmed. How was he going to manage, on his 
 limited resources? 
 
 The lawyer penetrated his perplexity, and, being 
 a kind-hearted man, quickly came to- his relief. 
 
38 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I think you would find it lonely at the hotel, 
 my boy," he said, " and I shall therefore invite you 
 to pass the night at my house instead." 
 
 " You are *Pery kind, sir," said Herbert, grate- 
 fully, finding his. difficulty happily removed. " I ac- 
 cept your invitation with pleasure." 
 
 " The boy has been well brought up, if he is 
 poor," thought Mr. Spencer. " Well," he said, 
 " that is settled. I think our supper must be ready, 
 so we will go over to the house at once. By the 
 way, there is a boy from your town visiting my son. 
 You must know him." 
 
 "Is it James Leech?" asked Herbert, remem- 
 bering what James had told him. 
 
 "Yes. Do you know him?" 
 
 " We are schoolmates." 
 
 " Then it will be pleasant for you to meet." 
 
 Herbert was not quite sure about this, but for- 
 bore to sa)r so. 
 
 He accompanied Mr. Spencer to his house, which 
 was just across the street from the office, and fol- 
 lowed the lawyer into an apartment handsomely 
 furnished. James Leech and Tom Spencer were 
 sitting at a small table, playing checkers. 
 
 "Hello, Carter!" exclaimed James, in surprise, 
 "how came you here?" 
 
 " Mr. Spencer invited me," said Herbert, not sur- 
 prised at the mode of address. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 39 
 
 " Did your uncle leave you anything ? " asked 
 [James, with interest. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "How much?" 
 
 " He left my mother a hundred dollars." 
 
 " That isn't much," said James, contemptuously. 
 *Was that all?" 
 
 " No, he left me a trunk, and what is in it." 
 
 "What is in it?" 
 
 " Clothes, I believe." 
 
 " A lot of old clothes ! " commented James, turn- 
 ing up his nose. " That's a fine legacy, I must 
 say." 
 
 " I shall find them very useful," said Herbert, 
 quietly. 
 
 " Oh, no doubt. You can roll up the pants and 
 coat-sleeves. It will be fun to see you parading 
 round in your uncle's tailcoats." 
 
 " I don't think you'll have that pleasure," said 
 Herbert, flushing. "If I wear them I shall have 
 them made over for me." 
 
 " I congratulate you on your new and extensive 
 wardrobe," said James, mockingly. " Won't you 
 cut a dash, though, on the streets of Wrayburn ! " 
 
 Herbert did not deign a reply to this rude speech. 
 Tom Spencer, who was much more of a gentleman 
 than James, was disgusted with his impertinence, 
 He rose, and took Herbert by the hand. 
 
40 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 ' You must let me introduce myself," he said. 
 " My name is Thomas Spencer, and I am glad to 
 see you here." 
 
 " Thank you," said Herbert, his heart opening at 
 :he frank and cordial manner of the other. " My 
 name is Herbert Carter, and I a'm very glad to make 
 your acquaintance." 
 
 "Are you going to finish this game, Tom?" 
 drawled James, not relishing the idea of Herbert's 
 receiving any attention from his friend. 
 
 " If you don't mind, we'll have it another time," 
 said Tom. " There goes the supper bell, and I for 
 one am hungry." 
 
 At the supper table James noticed, to his secret 
 disgust, that Herbert was treated with as much con- 
 sideration as himself. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer ap- 
 peared to consider them social equals, which made 
 James very uncomfortable. 
 
 ;i You boys are about of an age, I suppose," said 
 Mr. Spencer. 
 
 " I really don't know," said James, haughtily. 
 
 ' You attend the same school? " 
 
 ' Yes," said James, " but I expect to go to some 
 select academy very soon. At a public school you 
 have to associate with all classes, you know." 
 
 Mr. Spencer arched his brows, and steadily re- 
 gardecT the young aristocrat. 
 
 " I don't see any great distinction of classes in a 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 41 
 
 country village," said he, dryly. " Besides, we are 
 living in a republic." 
 
 ". You wouldn't like to associate on equal terms 
 with a day laborer," said James, pertly. 
 
 "I am a laborer myself," said the lawyer, smil- 
 ing. " I wish I could say I was a day laborer ex- 
 clusively, but sometimes I have to work into the 
 night." 
 
 " You are a professional man, and a gentleman," 
 said James. " You don't work with your hands." 
 
 •• I hope you boys will all grow up gentlemen," 
 said Mr. Spencer. 
 
 " I shall, of course," said James. 
 
 "And you, Tom?" 
 
 * I hope so." 
 
 "And you, Herbert?" 
 
 " I hope so; too," said Herbert ; " but if it is neces- 
 sary to be rich to be a gentleman, I am not sure 
 about it." 
 
 " What is your idea of a gentleman, James ? " 
 asked the lawyer. 
 
 " He must be of a good family, and wear good 
 clothes, and live nicely." 
 
 "Is that all?" 
 
 " He ought to be well educated." 
 
 " I see you name that last which I should name 
 first. So these constitute a gentleman, in your opin- 
 ion?" 
 
4* HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Not always. I have known men combining all 
 the qualifications you have mentioned, who were 
 very far from being gentlemen, in my opinion." 
 
 " How is that, sir? " asked James, puzzled. 
 
 " They were arrogant, puffed up with an idea of 
 their own importance, deficient in politeness." 
 
 " How well he has described James ! " thought 
 Herbert, but he was too much of a gentleman to say 
 so. 
 
 James looked disconcerted, and dropped the sub- 
 ject. He thought the lawyer had some queer ideas. 
 Why need a gentleman be polite to his inferiors ? he 
 thought, but he didn't say so. 
 
 After supper the boys went out behind the house, 
 and feasted on peaches, which were just ripe. Her- 
 bert found Tom very social, but James took very 
 little notice of him. Our hero did not make himself 
 unhappy on this account. In fact, he was in unusual 
 good spirits, and enjoyed in anticipation the pleas- 
 ure of going back to Wrayburn with the welcome 
 news of the two legacies. 
 
 About half-past seven Mr. Spencer came out into 
 the orchard. 
 
 " As the stage starts early in the morning, Her- 
 bert," he said, " we had better go over and get the 
 trunk ready, so that you can take it home." 
 
 James Leech hoped to receive an invitation to ac- 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 43 
 
 company the two; but no invitation was given, and 
 he was forced to content himself with staying behind, 
 wondering the while what the contents of the trunk 
 could be, and laughing maliciously as he thought of 
 Herbert attired : e the old clothes of his deceased 
 relative. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 A WELCOME DISCOVERY 
 
 Mr. Spencer entered the house so lately vacated 
 by the old man who had occupied it for forty years. 
 
 " The trunk is in your uncle's room," said the 
 lawyer, " or ought to be. I suppose it has not been 
 moved." 
 
 The two entered, the chamber. It was a small, 
 poorly furnished apartment, covered with a . carpet 
 which, cheap in the first place, was so worn with 
 use that the bare floor showed in spots. 
 
 " Your uncle was not very luxurious in his taste,'* 
 said Mr. Spencer. " There are plenty of day labor- 
 ers in town who have as good rooms as this.'* 
 
 " I suppose he liked laying up money better than 
 spending it," said Herbert. 
 
 " You are right there. This must be the trunk." 
 
 It was a small, black hair trunk, studded with 
 brass nails. Mr. Spencer took a bunch of keys from 
 his pocket and unlocked it. Lifting the cover, he ex- 
 posed to view a collection of woolen clothes — coats, 
 vests, and pants. 
 
 44 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 45 
 
 " This is your legacy,. Herbert," said the lawyer. 
 " I am afraid you won't find it very valuable. What 
 is this?" 
 
 He drew out, and held up to view, a blue cloak of 
 ample proportions. 
 
 " Will you try it on ? " he said, smiling. 
 
 Herbert threw it over his shoulders, and looked 
 at himself in a small seven-by-nine looking glass 
 which was suspended over the washstand. It came 
 down nearly to his feet. 
 
 " I should hardly dare to wear this without altera- 
 tion," he said ; " but there is a good deal of good 
 cloth in it. Mother can cut a coat and vest out of it 
 for me." 
 
 " Here is a blue coat with brass buttons. I re- 
 member your uncle used to wear it to church twenty 
 years ago. Of late years he has not attended, and 
 has had no occasion to wear it. Here is a pair of 
 pantaloons ; but they are pretty well worn." 
 
 So they went through the list, finding little of 
 value. The last article was a vest. 
 
 " It seems heavy," said Herbert. 
 
 The lawyer took it from him and examined it. 
 
 " There seems to be an inside pocket," he said. 
 " There must be something in it." 
 
 The pocket was confined by a button; Mr. Spen- 
 cer thrust his fingers inside, and drew out something 
 loosely enveloped in brown paper. 
 
46 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 "What have we here?" he said, in a tone of 
 curiosity. 
 
 The secret was speedily solved. When the paper 
 was opened, it was found to contain five gold eagles, 
 and two dollars in silver coins. 
 
 Herbert's eyes glistened with delight as he viewed 
 the treasure. 
 
 " Fifty-two dollars! " he exclaimed. " And it is 
 mine." 
 
 " Undoubtedly. The will expressly says you are 
 to have the trunk, and all it contains." 
 
 " I wonder whether Uncle Herbert remembered 
 this money? " 
 
 " We can't tell as to that, but it doesn't affect 
 your title to the money. I congratulate you, Her- 
 bert." 
 
 " It will do us a great deal of good. Then there 
 are the hundred dollars for mother. Why, we shalf 
 be rich." 
 
 " Then you are content with your legacy? " asked 
 Mr. Spencer. 
 
 " Oh, yes ; it was more than I expected, or 
 mother, either." 
 
 " Yet it is but a mere drop of your uncle's wealth," 
 said the lawyer, thoughtfully. 
 
 " That may be ; but he needn't have left us any- 
 thing." 
 
 " I see you look upon it in the best way. You 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 47 
 
 are quite a model heir — very different from most of 
 your relatives — Mrs. Pinkerton, for instance." 
 
 " I suppose she expected more than I did." 
 
 " She appeared to expect the bulk of the property. 
 I am afraid her husband will have a hard time of it 
 for a week to come," said the lawyer, laughing. 
 " He will have to bear the brunt of her disappoint- 
 ment. Well, there seems no more for us to do here. 
 'We have found out the value of your legacy, and 
 may lock the trunk. If you'll lend a hand, we will 
 take it across to my house, so that there may be no 
 delay when the stage calls in the morning." 
 
 " All right, sir." 
 
 James Leech was looking out of the front win- 
 dow, awaiting the return of Mr. Spencer and Her- 
 bert with not a little curiosity. At length he spied 
 them. 
 
 " Tom ! " he exclaimed, " your father and that 
 Carter boy are coming back." 
 
 " Why do you call him that Carter boy ? Why 
 don't you call him Herbert ? " 
 
 " I am not on intimate terms with him," said 
 James. 
 
 " That is strange, as you both live in the same 
 village." 
 
 !t You must remember that there is some difference 
 in our social positions," said James, with a haughty 
 air. 
 
48 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " That is something I never think of," said Tom, 
 candidly. " I am a genuine republican." 
 
 " I am not," said James. " I should like to live in 
 England, where they have noblemen." 
 
 " Not unless you could be a nobleman yourself, 
 I suppose ? " 
 
 "No; of course not." 
 
 By this time Mr. Spencer and Herbert were 
 bringing the trunk into the front entry. 
 
 " I shouldn't think a professional gentleman like 
 your father would like to be seen carrying a trunk 
 across the street," said James. 
 
 " Oh, he don't care for that ; nor should I," said 
 Tom. 
 
 Herbert entered the room. 
 
 " Well, Herbert, what luck? " asked Tom. 
 
 " Better than I expected," said Herbert, gayly. 
 "What do you say to that? " and he displayed the 
 gold and silver. 
 
 " How much is it? " asked James, his vanity melt- 
 ing under the influence of curiosity. 
 
 " Fifty-two dollars." 
 S " Capital ! " said Tom. 
 
 " It isn't much," said James, in a tone of de- 
 preciation. 
 
 " I'll bet Herbert is richer than you, James," said 
 Tom, in a lively manner. " Can you show as much 
 money as that ? " 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 49 
 
 " i shall be a rich man some day," said James, 
 with an air of importance. 
 
 " Your father may fail." 
 
 " The moon may be made of green cheese," re- 
 torted James, loftily. " How about the clothes? 
 Are you going to show them ? " 
 
 " I think not," said Herbert. 
 
 " A parcel of rags, I suppose," said James, with a 
 sneer. 
 
 " Not quite so bad as that," responded Herbert, 
 good-naturedly. " Still, I think I shall hardly ven- 
 ture to wear any of them without alteration." 
 
 " I wouldn't wear second-hand clothes," re- 
 marked James Leech, in his usual amiable tone. 
 
 " Perhaps you would if you were poor," said Her- 
 bert, quietly. 
 
 " But I am not poor." 
 
 " Fortunately for you." 
 
 " Then you won't show the clothes ? I suppose 
 they all look as if they were made in the year 
 one." 
 
 " For our forefather Adam ? " suggested Tom, 
 laughing. " I am inclined to think the old gentle- 
 man in question hadn't clothes enough to fill a trunk 
 as large as that." 
 
 " Probably not," said Herbert ; " he had no uncle, 
 you know, to leave any to him." 
 
 " What are you going to do with your money, 
 
5o HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 Carter? " asked James, whose curiosity got the bet- 
 ter of his dignity occasionally. 
 
 " I haven't made up my mind yet. I think I 
 shall find plenty of uses for it." 
 
 " What would you do with it if you had it, 
 James ? " asked Tom. 
 
 " I can have more if I want to. I have only to 
 ask father." 
 
 " Then you're better off than I. Say, father, will 
 you give me fifty-two dollars? " 
 
 " When you are twenty-one I may do it." 
 
 " You see," said Tom. " But you haven't an- 
 swered my question. What would you do with the 
 money if you had it? " 
 
 " I think I would buy a new rowboat; there's a 
 pond near our house." 
 
 " When you get it send for me, and I'll help you 
 row." 
 
 " Very well," said James; but he did not answer 
 very positively. In fact, he was by no means sure 
 that his father would comply with his request for 
 money, although it suited him to make this repre- 
 sentation to his companions. 
 
 Herbert retired early. It had been a fatiguing 
 day for him, and it would be necessary to rise in good 
 season the next day, as the coach left Randolph for 
 Wrayburn at an early hour. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 Herbert's return 
 
 Mrs. Carter awaited Herbert's return with inter- 
 est. She felt lonely without him, for he had never 
 before been away from home to stay overnight. But 
 there was a feeling - of anticipation besides. Her 
 hopes of a legacy were not very strong, but of 
 course there was a possibility of her uncle's having 
 remembered them in his will. 
 
 " Even if. it is only five dollars, it will be wel- 
 come," she thought. " Where people are so poor as 
 we are, every little helps." 
 
 She sat at her sewing when the stage stopped be- 
 fore the door. 
 
 "I'm glad he rode home," thought the widow; 
 " the walk both ways would have been too fati- 
 guing, 
 
 " Z3ut why does not Herbert come in at once ? " 
 
 He had gone behind the coach, and the driver was 
 helping him take down a trunk. 
 
 " Where did he get it ? " thought his mother, in 
 surprise. 
 
 5* 
 
52 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I guess you can get it into the house yourself," 
 she heard the driver say. 
 
 'Yes, I'll manage it; you needn't wait," said 
 Herbert. 
 
 The driver cracked his whip, and the lumbering' 
 old coach drove on. 
 
 " Oh, there you are, mother," said Herbert, look- 
 ing toward the house for the first time. " I'll be 
 with you in a minute." 
 
 And he began to draw the trunk in through the 
 front gate. 
 
 '' Where did you get that trunk, Herbert ? v asked 
 Mrs. Carter. 
 
 " Oh, it's my legacy," said Herbert, laughing. 
 " Here it is," and he lifted it up, andlaid it down in 
 the front entry. 
 
 " What is inside ? " asked his mother, with nat- 
 ural curiosity. 
 
 " It isn't full of gold and silver, mother, so don't 
 raise your expectations too high. It contains some 
 clothes of Uncle Herbert, out of which you can get 
 some for me." 
 
 " I am glad of that, for you need some new 
 clothes. Well, we were not forgotten after all." 
 
 " You don't seem disappointed, mother." 
 
 " I might have wished for a little money besides, 
 Herbert ; but beggars cannot be choosers." 
 
 " But sometimes they get what they wish for. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 53 
 
 Uncle Herbert left you a legacy of a hundred dol- 
 lars." 
 
 " A hundred dollars ! " said Mrs. Carter, brightly. 
 " Why, that will be quite a help for us. Was it left 
 to me ? " 
 
 " Yes, to you." 
 
 " It was kind in your uncle. My legacy is more 
 than yours, Herbert." 
 
 " I don't know about that, mother; look here! " 
 
 And Herbert displayed his gold and silver. 
 
 " Here are fifty-two dollars that I found in the 
 pocket of a vest. It belongs to me, for the will says 
 expressly that I am to have the trunk and all it con- 
 tains." 
 
 " I am really glad," said his mother, joyfully. 
 " We are more fortunate than I expected. Sit down 
 and tell me all about it. Who got the bulk of the 
 property? " 
 
 " None of the relations. It is bequeathed to the 
 town of Randolph, to found a high school, to be 
 called the Carter School." 
 
 " Well, it will do good, at any rate. Didn't the 
 other relations receive legacies ? " 
 
 " Small ones ; but they didn't seem very well satis- 
 fied. Do you know Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Pinker- 
 ton?" 
 
 " Slightly," said Mrs. Carter, smiling. " Were 
 they there ? " 
 
54 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " She was, and he was in attendance upon her. 
 She didn't give him a chance to say much." 
 
 " I have always heard she kept him in good sub- 
 jection. How did they fare? " 
 
 " They and their two children received a hundred 
 dollars apiece. She was mad and wanted to break 
 the will. Then there was a Mr. Granger, a farmer, 
 who got the same; and Cornelius Dixon, also." 
 
 " I hope Aunt Nancy fared better. She is the 
 best of them all." 
 
 " She is allowed to occupy the house, rent free, 
 and is to have an income of two hundred dollars a 
 year as long as she lives." 
 
 " I am really glad to hear it," said Mrs. Carter, 
 with emphasis. " She deserves all her good fortune. 
 One of the best things her brother did in life was to 
 allow her such an income as to keep her independent 
 of public charity; I feared he would forget to pro- 
 vide for her." 
 
 She seems a good old lady. She asked me to 
 invite you to call and see her." 
 
 " I should like to do so, and if I ever have occasion 
 to go to Randolph I will certainly do so." 
 
 " Now, mother," said Herbert, when he had an- 
 swered his mother's questions, " I want you to take 
 tiiis money, and use it as you need." 
 
 " But, Herbert, it was left to you." 
 
 " And if you use it I shall receive my share of it. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 55 
 
 By the way, your money will be sent you next week ; 
 so Mr. Spencer assured me." 
 
 " Who is Mr. Spencer ? " 
 
 " The lawyer who read the will. He was very 
 kind to me. It was at his home I spent the night. 
 I got acquainted with his son Tom, a fine fellow. 
 I met also James Leech, whom I cannot compliment 
 so highly. He was visiting Tom." 
 
 " I never thought him an agreeable boy." 
 
 " Nor anyone else, I expect. He appears to think 
 he can put on airs, and expects everybody to bow 
 down to him because his father happens to be a rich 
 man." 
 
 " I hope you didn't quarrel with him," said Mrs. 
 Carter, apprehensively. 
 
 " Oh, no; he sneered at me, as usual, and drew a 
 ridiculous picture of my appearance with my uncle's 
 clothes on." 
 
 " Do you mind what he says? " asked his mother, 
 anxiously. 
 
 "A little," said Herbert; "but I can stand it if 
 he doesn't go too far." 
 
 " He has an unhappy nature. I think his father 
 must have been somewhat like him when he was 
 young." 
 
 " So do I. He feels just as important as James. 
 I like to see him strut round, as if he owned the 
 whole village." 
 
56 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " He does own more of it than anyone else. 
 Among the rest, he owns our house, in part." 
 
 " You mean he has a mortgage on it, mother? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Seven hundred and fifty dollars, isn't it ? " 
 
 " Yes, Herbert." 
 
 " How much do you consider the whole worth ? : ' 
 asked our hero, thoughtfully. 
 
 " It cost your father fifteen hundred dollars. 
 That is, the land — nearly an acre — cost three "hun- 
 dred dollars, and the house, to build, twelve hun- 
 dred." 
 
 "Would it sell for that?" 
 
 " Not if a sale were forced ; but, if anybody wanted 
 it, fifteen hundred dollars would not be too much to 
 pay." 
 
 " I wish the mortgage were paid." 
 
 " So do I, my son ; but we are not very likely to be 
 able to pay it." 
 
 " How fine it would have been if Uncle Herbert 
 had left us, say eight hundred dollars, so that we 
 might have paid it up, and still have had a little left 
 for immediate use." 
 
 " Yes, Herbert, it would have made us feel quite 
 independent, but it isn't best speculating on what 
 might have been. It is better to do the best we can 
 with what we really have." 
 
 " I suppose you are right, mother ; but it is pleas- 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 57 
 
 .ant to dream of good fortune, even if we know it is 
 out of reach." 
 
 " The trouble is, our dreaming often interferes 
 with our working." 
 
 " It shan't interfere with mine. I've got some- 
 thing to work for." 
 
 " Do you refer to anything . in particular, Her- 
 bert?" 
 
 " Yes. I want to pay off this mortgage," an- 
 swered Herbert, manfully. 
 
 " Some day, when you are a man, you may be 
 able ; but the time is too far off to spend much time 
 upon it at present." 
 
 Herbert had moved to the window as the conver- 
 sation went on. Suddenly he called to his mother : 
 " Look, mother, there is Squire Leech riding up. 
 He is pointing out our house to the man that is rid- 
 ing with him. Do you know who it is ? " 
 
 " Yes, it is Mr. Banks, his new superintendent. 
 He has just come into the village." 
 
 " I wonder why he pointed at our house? " 
 
 " Probably he was telling him that he had a mort- 
 gage on it." 
 
 " When does the interest come due on the mort- 
 gage ? " 
 
 " Next week. I had only five dollars laid by to 
 meet it, but thanks to my legacy, I shall have no 
 trouble in the matter." 
 
58 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " If you couldn't pay the interest, could the squire 
 foreclose ? " 
 
 " Yes, that's the law, I believe." 
 
 " And he would take advantage of it. But he 
 never shall, if I can prevent it." 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 A BUSINESS CONFIDENCE ■ 
 
 Squire Leech lived in a large, square, white 
 house, situated on an eminence some way back from 
 the street. It had bay windows on either side of the 
 front door, a gravel walk, bordered with flowers, 
 leading to the gate, a small summerhouse on the 
 lawn, and altogether was much the handsomest resi- 
 dence in the village. Three years before, the house, 
 or at all events, the principal rooms, had been newly 
 furnished from the city. No wonder the squire and 
 all the family held up their heads, and regarded 
 themselves as belonging to the aristocracy. 
 
 In a back room, used partly as a sitting room, 
 partly as an office, the great man and his new super- 
 intendent, Amos Banks, were sitting, the evening 
 previous to Herbert's return home. It may be asked 
 why Squire Leech needed a superintendent. To this 
 I answer that his property, besides the home farm, 
 included two outlying farms, which he preferred to 
 carry on himself rather than let to tenants. Besides, 
 he had stocks and bonds, to which he himself at- 
 tended. But the farms required more attention than 
 
 59 
 
6o HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 he individually was willing to bestow. Accordingly 
 he employed a competent man; who had the general 
 supervision of them. His former superintendent 
 having emigrated to the West, he had engaged Mr. 
 Banks, who had been recommended to him for the 
 charge. Banks came from a town thirty miles dis- 
 tant, and had never lived in Wrayburn before. He 
 had just entered upon his duties, and was talking 
 over business matters with the squire. 
 
 ; ' You will occupy the house on the Ross farm," 
 said Squire Leech. " I think you will find it com- 
 fortable. I have always reserved it for my superin- 
 tendent." 
 
 " There is a house on the other farm, I suppose," 
 said Banks. 
 
 "Yes; but that is occupied by a family already. 
 I don't rent the farm, that is, except about half an 
 acre of land for a kitchen garden. That I have 
 prepared to cultivate myself." 
 
 " Precisely," said the superintendent. " I will 
 tell you why I inquired. You tell me there will be 
 need of another permanent farm workman. Now I 
 know an excellent man — in fact, he is a cousin of 
 my own — who would be glad to accept the place." 
 
 " Very well. I have no objection to your engag- 
 ing him, since you vouch for him." 
 
 " Oh, yes ; he is a faithful and industrious man, 
 and he will be willing to do work for moderate 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 61 
 
 wages. Indeed, he cares more for a permanent 
 place than high pay. Where he is now, he is liable 
 to be idle for some months in the year." 
 
 '■- Is he a family man? " 
 
 " Yes; he has two young children." 
 
 " Of course he will move to Wrayburn." 
 
 " Yes ; if he can get a suitable house. In fact, 
 that was what I was coming at. I thought of your 
 other house, but you say that is already occupied." 
 
 " Yes ; and the family has occupied it for several 
 years. I should not like to dislodge them." 
 
 " Do you know any other small house my cousin 
 could rent? " 
 
 Squire Leech reflected. 
 
 :< The fact is," he said after a pause, " there has 
 not been much building going on in Wrayburn for 
 several years, and it is hard to find a vacant house." 
 
 " I am sorry for that. I am afraid it may inter- 
 fere with Brown's coming." 
 
 " There is one house, I think, that would just suit 
 your cousin," said Squire Leech, slowly. 
 
 "Where is it?" 
 
 " It is now occupied by the widow Carter and her 
 son." 
 
 " Is she going to move ? " 
 
 " She wouldn't like to." 
 
 "Then how will that help us? Who owns the 
 "house? " 
 
62 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " She does ; that is, nominally. I hold a mort- 
 gage on the place for seven hundred and fifty dol- 
 lars, which is more than half the market value." 
 
 " Then it may eventually fall into your hands? " 
 
 " Very probably. Between ourselves, I think it 
 probable that she will fail to be ready with the semi- 
 annual interest, which comes due next week. She is 
 quite poor — has nothing but this property — and has 
 to sew for a living, or braid straw, neither of which 
 pays well." 
 
 " Suppose she is not ready with the interest, do 
 you propose to foreclose? " 
 
 " I think I shall. I will allow her three or four 
 hundred dollars for her share of the property, and 
 that will be the best thing she can do, in my opin- 
 ion." 
 
 Whether or not it would be the best thing for 
 Mrs. Carter, it certainly wouldn't be a bad specula- 
 tion for the squire, since the place, as already stated, 
 was worth fully fifteen hundred dollars. How a 
 rich man can deliberately plot to defraud a poor 
 woman of a portion of her small property, you and 
 I, my young reader, may find it hard to understand. 
 Unfortunately there are too many cases in real life 
 where just such things happen, so that there really 
 seems to be a good deal of truth in the old adage 
 that prosperity hardens the heart. 
 
 If Mr. Banks had been a just or kind-hearted 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 63 
 
 man, he would not have encouraged his employer in 
 the plan he had just broached; but he was selfish, 
 and thought he saw in it an easy solution of the 
 difficulty which he had met with in securing a house 
 for his cousin. He did not know Mrs. Carter, and 
 felt no particular interest in the question what was 
 to become of her if she was ejected from her house. 
 No doubt she would find a home somewhere. At 
 any rate, it was not his business. 
 
 " It seems to me that will be an excellent plan," 
 he said, with satisfaction. " How soon can we find 
 out about it ? " 
 
 " Next week — Tuesday. It is then that the in- 
 terest comes due." 
 
 " Suppose she is ready to pay the interest, what 
 then?" 
 
 " Then I will make her an offer for the place, and 
 represent, to her that it will be the better plan for 
 her to part with it, and so escape the payment of 
 interest. She has to pay forty-five dollars a 3^ear, 
 and that is a great drain upon one who earns no 
 more than she does." 
 
 "I think you said she had a son; does he earn: 
 anything? Or perhaps he isn't old enough." 
 
 'Yes, he is thirteen or fourteen; still, there isn't 
 much in a small village like this for a boy to do. 
 He is attending school, I believe." 
 
 " Then in one way or another, you think there 
 
64 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 is a good chance of our obtaining the house," said 
 the superintendent, with satisfaction. 
 
 "Yes, I think so." 
 
 " How would it do to go around and speak to the 
 widow about it beforehand? I could then write to 
 Brown.'' 
 
 " As to that, she may be very particular to retain 
 the house, and even if she is not provided with the 
 money, succeed in borrowing enough. Now, my 
 idea is to say nothing about it till Tuesday. She 
 may depend upon my waiting a few days. That I 
 shall not do. If the money is not forthcoming I 
 will foreclose at once, without giving her time to 
 arrange for the money." 
 
 The superintendent nodded. 
 
 '' A very shrewd plan, Squire Leech," he said. 
 " By the way, where is the house situated ? " 
 
 " Only a furlong up the road. It is on the oppo-' 
 site side of the way." 
 
 " I think I remember it. There is some land 
 connected with it, isn't there?" 
 
 " Nearly an acre. The house is small, but neat. 
 In fact, for a small place, I consider it quite desir- 
 able. To-morrow we will ride by it, and you can 
 take more particular notice." 
 
 They did ride by, as we know, and Squire Leech 
 pointed it out to his superintendent. Herbert no- 
 ticed this, but he did not know that the two men 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 65 
 
 had formed a scheme for turning his mother and 
 himself out of their comfortable home, and defraud- 
 ing his mother of a considerable portion of the small 
 property which his father had left. Had he known 
 this, it would have filled him with indignation, and 
 he would have felt that even poverty is no absolute 
 safeguard against the selfish schemes of the mer- 
 cenary and the rapacious. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 SQUIRE LEECH IS BAFFLED 
 
 Tuesday arrived, but as yet the check from Mr. 
 Spencer had not been received. 
 
 " Never mind, mother," said Herbert, " you will 
 get it before the end of the week." 
 
 " But I shall need it to pay the interest to Squire 
 Leech. He will call for it to-day." 
 
 " How much is it ? " 
 
 " Twenty-two dollars and a half." 
 
 " You forget the gold I handed you last week." 
 
 "I don't like to use it, Herbert; I want you to 
 use it for yourself." 
 
 " I am as much interested in paying the interest 
 as you, mother. Don't I occupy the house ? " 
 
 Seeing that Herbert was in earnest, Mrs. Carter 
 overcame her scruples, and laid aside enough of the 
 money to make up the amount required. 
 
 / About five minutes of twelve Squire Leech was 
 seen advancing to the front door with slow, pompous 
 steps. 
 
 " There he comes, mother' " said Herbert. " I'll 
 open the door." 
 
 fyf- 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 67 
 
 "Is your mother at home, Herbert?" asked the 
 squire, in a dignified tone. 
 
 " Yes, sir. Won't you walk in? " 
 
 " Ahem, yes ! I think I will. I have a little 
 matter of business with her." 
 
 Squire Leech entered the small sitting room, 
 which seemed uncomfortably full when he was in 
 it — not on account of his size, but because he seemed 
 so swollen with a sense of his own importance as 
 to convey the idea that he was cramped for space — 
 very much like an owl in the cage of a canary. 
 
 " Good-morning, Squire Leech," said the widow. 
 
 " Good-morning, ma'am. I apprehend you know 
 my errand." 
 
 "I suppose you come for the interest, Squire 
 Leech." 
 
 " You are quite right. Of course you are pre- 
 pared to pay it." 
 
 Though the squire said " of course," he by no 
 means expected that it would be ready, nor, for rea- 
 sons which we know, did he desire it. He was 
 rather discomfited, therefore, when Mrs. Carter 
 said: " Did you bring a receipt with you, squire? " 
 
 " A receipt in full ? " queried the great man. 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Are you prepared to pay the whole to-day? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 This ought to have been gratifying intelligence, 
 
68 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 I 
 
 but it was not. The squire looked quite crest- 
 fallen. 
 
 " No, I didn't bring a receipt," he said, slowly. 
 
 " I'll bring writing materials," said Herbert, 
 promptly. 
 
 He left the room, but appeared almost instantly 
 with pen, ink, and paper. 
 
 The squire sat down to the table with a disap- 
 pointed air, and slowly wrote the required docu- 
 ment. 
 
 " He seems sorry to receive the money," thought 
 Herbert, who was quick in reading the faces of 
 others. "I wonder why?" and he gazed at the 
 visitor in some perplexity. 
 
 The squire received the money, and handed the 
 widow the receipt. Still he did not seem inclined 
 to go. He was thinking how to broach the subject 
 of selling the house. 
 
 ".Mrs. Carter," he began, " forty-five dollars a 
 year seems a good deal for you to pay." 
 
 " Yes, it is considerable," said the widow, sur- 
 prised. Could it be that he intended to reduce the 
 interest? That did not seem like him. 
 > " For one in your circumstances I mean, of 
 course. You've got to earn your own living, and 
 your son's." 
 
 " Herbert does his share," said his mother. 
 " When lie is older I shall feel quite easy." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 69 
 
 ■' But that time is a good way off. I've been 
 thinking of your case, Mrs. Carter, and as a man of 
 business I see my way clear to offer you a little 
 advice." 
 
 " I shall be thankful for any advice, squire," said 
 the widow, meekly. " Of course your judgment in 
 business matters is much better than mine." 
 
 Herbert listened to this conversation with eager 
 interest. What could the squire mean to advise ? 
 
 " I've been thinking," said the squire, deliberately, 
 " that it would be a good plan for you to sell this 
 house." 
 
 "To sell it!" repeated Mrs. Carter, in surprise. 
 " But where could I live? " 
 
 " You might hire a couple of rooms for yourself 
 and' Herbert." 
 
 "I don't ^see how mother would gain anything," 
 interrupted Herbert. " She would have to pay rent." 
 
 " Very true, but she would get some money down 
 for the house, over and above the mortgage." 
 
 " I don't know as anybody would want to buy it," 
 said Mrs. Carter. 
 
 " I will take it off your hands, simply to oblige 
 you," said the squire with an air of extraordinary 
 consideration. " I don't know that it would be of 
 any particular use to me. I might not get a tenant. 
 Still I am better able to take the risk than you are 
 to keep it." 
 
7© HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 "How much would you be willing to pay for 
 it?" asked Herbert, who somehow suspected that 
 the squire was more selfish than benevolent in the 
 plan he had broached. 
 
 " Why," said Squire Leech, assuming a medita- 
 tive look, " over and above the mortgage I would 
 be willing to pay three hundred dollars cash." 
 
 " That would make the value of the place only 
 ten hundred and fifty dollars," said Herbert. 
 
 " Well, you don't consider it worth any more 
 than that, do you? " 
 
 " My husband considered it worth fifteen hundred 
 dollars," said the widow. " It cost him that." 
 
 The squire laughed heartily. " Really, my dear 
 madam, that is utterly preposterous. Fifteen hun- 
 dred dollars! Why, that is ridiculous." 
 
 " It cost that," said Herbert, sturdily. 
 
 " I very much doubt it," said the squire. " I 
 don't believe it cost a cent over twelve hundred dol- 
 lars." 
 
 " I have my husband's papers to show that it cost 
 fifteen hundred," said the widow. 
 
 " Then all I have to say is, he was outrageously 
 cheated," said the squire. " I believe I know as 
 much about real estate as any man in town," he pro- 
 ceeded, pompously. " Indeed, I own more than any 
 other man. I assure you, on my word, I have 
 offered you a very good price." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 7* 
 
 " I would rather not sell," said the widow, gently, 
 but decidedly. 
 
 " I will increase my offer to eleven hundred, in- 
 cluding- the mortgage," said the squire, who saw the 
 prize slipping through his fingers, and felt it neces- 
 sary to bid higher. " Eleven hundred dollars. 
 That's three hundred and fifty dollars cash ! " 
 
 " Mother, I am sure you won't think of selling 
 for any such sum," expostulated Herbert. 
 
 " No," said his mother, " I don't want to sell." 
 
 " You stand very much in your own light, 
 ma'am," said the squire, impatiently; "and you, 
 Herbert, are too young to offer any advice on such 
 a subject." 
 
 **T don't see why," said Herbert, independently. 
 " I ought to feel interested in such a matter." 
 
 " You are a boy, and have no judgment. Boys 
 of your age should be seen and not heard," said the 
 squire, sternly. 
 
 " I can see what is best for my mother's interest," 
 said Herbert. 
 
 " I decline to discuss the matter with you. I 
 consider your interference impertinent," said the 
 squire, becoming angry. 
 
 " Oh, Herbert ! " said his mother, who was a 
 little in awe of the great man of the village, " be 
 respectful to Squire Leech." 
 
 " I mean to be," said Herbert, " but I'm sure he's 
 
72 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 wrong in thinking I have nothing to do with this 
 matter." 
 
 " Reflect again, Mrs. Carter," persisted the squire, 
 " on the advantages of my proposal. Think how 
 comfortable you would feel in knowing that you had 
 three hundred and fifty dollars on interest in the 
 savings bank. I admit that I may not offer you 
 quite as much as the place cost, but houses never 
 fetch their first cost. I've made you a very fair 
 offer, ma'am, very fair." 
 
 " I won't say anything as to that, Squire Leech, 
 but this house my poor husband built — in this house 
 I have passed many happy years — and while we can 
 keep it, Herbert and I, we will. There is no other 
 place in town that would seem so much like home." 
 
 " This is all very sentimental, ma'am ; but, per- 
 mit me to say, very ridiculous," said the impatient 
 squire, rising to go. " I'll give you time to think 
 over what I have said, and I'll call again." 
 
 " I'll have that place yet," he muttered to him- 
 self, as he left the cottage. " I won't be balked by 
 an obstinate woman and an impertinent boy." 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 SICKNESS 
 
 Squire Leech was reluctant to give up his in- 
 tended purchase. He had an idea that Herbert 
 stood in the way, and he contrived to call upon the 
 widow in the course of the following week, at a time 
 when he knew our hero was away from home. ■ 
 
 But he failed again. 
 
 " I'm very sorry to go contrary to your advice, 
 Squire Leech," said Mrs. Carter, deprecatingly, 
 " but I can't give up my home. Herbert, too, would 
 be very much disappointed." 
 
 " I hope you will not allow yourself to be guided 
 by the judgment of an inexperienced boy, ma'am," 
 said the squire, mortified. 
 
 " I think I ought to consult my boy's wishes," 
 said the widow. 
 
 " He doesn't know what is best for him." 
 
 " Perhaps not ; but I feel with him at present. 
 I'm sorry to disappoint you, Squire Leech." 
 
 " As to that, ma'am, I have no interest in the 
 matter. I was only advising it for your good." 
 
 " I'm very much obliged to you." 
 73 
 
74 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " In fact, as your means are limited, I will 
 stretch a point and offer you fifty dollars more. I 
 shouldn't be at all sure of getting my money back." 
 
 " Thank you; but I think we'll keep the house for 
 the present. If I should find we couldn't afford it, 
 I will let you know." 
 
 " I don't agree to keep to my offer after this 
 week. ' Now or never ' is my motto. I can draw 
 the papers right out." 
 
 The widow shook her head, and reiterated in 
 gentle tones her refusal. Squire Leech was pro- 
 voked, and did not hide his feeling. As he only 
 proposed to take the house to oblige her, as he rep- 
 resented, Mrs. Carter was surprised at his display 
 of feeling. She was not a shrewd woman, and it 
 did not occur to her that he had any selfish object 
 in view in his advice. 
 
 " I didn't succeed, Mr. Banks," said the squire 
 to his superintendent. " That Carter woman is 
 dreadfully obstinate. Between ourselves, I judge 
 it's her son that influences her." 
 
 " I think I have seen him — a boy of fourteen or 
 fifteen." 
 
 " Yes, he's a very self-willed boy." 
 
 " You said you thought you would be able to 
 foreclose, on account of their failing to pay the in- 
 terest." 
 
 " They paid it. I was surprised at their prompt- 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 75 
 
 xiess, till I learned from my son that they had re- 
 ceived a legacy of a hundred dollars or so from a 
 relative." 
 
 " That won't last always." 
 
 " No, the time will come when I can get the place 
 on my own terms. I am determined to have it." 
 
 " Then Brown will have to find a different house." 
 
 " Yes ; I have heard of an old house that will do 
 temporarily, till I get the widow Carter's. It's a 
 little out of the village, and is in rather a dilapidated 
 condition, but it will do for a few months or a year, 
 and that will fetch round the Carters." 
 
 The house referred to was secured, and the super- 
 intendent's cousin moved to Wrayburn. But neither 
 the squire nor Mr. Banks forgave Herbert for his 
 assumed instrumentality in thwarting their plans. 
 
 The next winter Mrs. Carter was unfortunate 
 enough to be laid up with severe sickness from 
 December to March. Herbert devoted himself to 
 her comfort, and performed nearly all his mother's 
 customary work. Washing and ironing, however, 
 he was obliged to have done. When the sickness 
 commenced, the hundred dollars left by his uncle 
 was unbroken, but for three months neither he nor, 
 of course, his mother, was able to earn anything of 
 any amount, while their expenses were necessarily 
 increased. 
 
 At the opening of April, Herbert had the satis- 
 
76 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 faction of seeing his mother, fully recovered, assume 
 her usual place in the little household. This was 
 pleasant, but there was a drawback to his satisfac- 
 tion. The legacy had dwindled to twenty-five dol- 
 lars. 
 
 He reported this to his mother. 
 
 " How unlucky that I should have been sick so 
 long," said Mrs. Carter, sighing. 
 
 " How lucky we had the legacy to fall back upon,'* 
 said Herbert. 
 
 " I don't know how we could have got along with- 
 out that, truly." 
 
 " Mother, I must look about for work. I ought 
 to be earning four or five dollars a week at my 
 age." 
 
 " You are only fifteen." 
 
 " But I am stout and strong of my age. I shall 
 soon be a man. Don't you see my mustache com- 
 ing, mother? " said Herbert, with a laugh. 
 
 " Not very distinctly; but perhaps my eyesight is 
 growing poor," answered his mother, smiling. 
 
 " The trouble is," said Herbert, thoughtfully, 
 " there is very little chance of work in this town.'' 
 
 " I wonder whether Squire Leech wouldn't hire 
 you through the spring and summer on one of his 
 2i ms. I heard he was going to hire a boy." 
 
 " I am not sure whether he would be willing to 
 hire me, however much he wanted a boy.'' 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 77 
 
 " Why not ? " 
 
 " He don't seem to like me, nor does Mr. Banks 
 like me." 
 
 "What can they have against you? I thought 
 everybody liked you." 
 
 " That's because you are my mother, but the 
 squire doesn't feel maternal so far as I am con- 
 cerned. I didn't understand it at first, but now I 
 do." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " You remember the squire tried hard to get you 
 to sell this place." 
 
 " That was last year." 
 
 " And you wouldn't sell. That is why he is angry 
 with both of us." 
 
 " But I don't understand why he should be," said 
 the widow, innocently. " He said he would take it 
 only as a favor to me." 
 
 " That was all ' gammon.' Excuse the word, 
 which isn't very elegant, I admit, but it's the right 
 word for all that. The squire wanted the place 
 very much." 
 
 "What could he do with it? He couldn't live 
 in it himself." 
 
 "Not much. I can imagine the look of disgust 
 James' face would wear at the idea of such a thing. 
 He wanted it for Nahum Brown, who lives in the 
 old house up the road. You know Brown, who is 
 
78 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 a cousin of Mr. Banks, the superintendent, and he is 
 very anxious to get hold of our house." 
 
 " How did you learn all this, Herbert? I never 
 knew it before." 
 
 " Tom Banks let it out one day." 
 
 "■ I don't see how the squire can dislike us for 
 wanting to stay in our old home." 
 
 " There are a good many things you don't under- 
 stand — about selfish men — mother. That is why 
 I am afraid it won't be much use to ask the squire 
 for employment." 
 
 " You may be mistaken about his feelings, Her- 
 bert." 
 
 " At any rate, I'll go to him, if I can't find em- 
 ployment anywhere else in the village." 
 
 " I wish you would, that is, if you don't think 
 farm work will be too hard for you." 
 ' " I'll risk that." 
 
 In pursuance of this promise, Herbert, after as- 
 certaining that there was no work to be had any- 
 where else in the village, called one fine morning 
 at the imposing residence of Squire Leech. 
 
 James was in the yard, at work on a kite. 
 
 " Have you come to see me? " said James, super- 
 ciliously. 
 
 " No ; I wanted to see your father." 
 
 "What about?" 
 
 Herbert was about to answer " on business," but 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 79 
 
 it occurred to him that it would be better policy to 
 keep on friendly terms with James, and he said : " T 
 am looking for work, and I thought he might have 
 some for me. 
 
 " Perhaps so," said James, patronizingly. " Of 
 course, one in your position must work for a living." 
 
 " Don't you expect to work? " asked Herbert, in 
 .some curiosity. 
 
 " Not with my hands, of course," said James. 
 " I may study some genteel profession, such as law." 
 
 " I am too poor to be genteel," said Herbert, 
 amused. 
 
 " Of course. You will probably be a day la- 
 borer." 
 
 " I hope to rise to something better in time," said 
 Herbert. " For the present I shall be glad to work 
 by the day, or the month, if your father will engage 
 me." 
 
 " I think my father is at home ; you can ring and 
 see," said James, who could be kind to one who was 
 willing to acknowledge his inferiority. 
 
 Herbert rang the bell, and was ushered into the 
 presence of Squire Leech, who was examining some 
 papers in the back parlor. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 " POOR AND PROUD " 
 
 " Good-morning, Squire Leech," said Herbert, 
 politely. 
 
 " Good-morning," said the squire, jumping - to 
 the conclusion that the Carters had made up their 
 minds to sell their place. " Do you wish to see 
 me?" 
 
 : ' Yes, sir; I hope I don't interrupt you." 
 
 "Go on," said the squire, waving his hand. "I 
 am busy, to be sure, but I can give you a few min- 
 utes." 
 
 He resolved to take advantage of Mrs. Carter's 
 necessities, and make a smaller offer for the place. 
 In this way he would make her suffer for her former 
 obstinate refusal to entertain his proposition. 
 
 His face fell when Herbert said : " I came to ask 
 you if you could give me employment on one of 
 your farms. My mother has been sick, and I feel 
 that I ought to be doing something to earn money." 
 
 " Ahem ! " said the squire, " I leave all such mat- 
 ters to Mr. Banks. Was that all you wished to say 
 tome?" 
 
 80 ' . 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 81 
 
 " I believe so," said Herbert. " Will there be 
 any use in applying to Mr. Banks ? " 
 
 " I don't know whether he has got help enough 
 or not. Your mother has been quite sick, hasn't 
 she?" 
 
 "Yes, sir; all winter." 
 
 " I heard of it. I suppose you found it expensive, 
 eh?" 
 
 " Yes, sir. Neither of us could earn anything.'* 
 
 " You are in debt, then? " 
 
 " No, sjr. My uncle left us some money last 
 year. That kept us along." 
 
 " It's pretty much used up now, I suppose ? " 
 
 " Not quite." 
 
 Herbert was inclined to be surprised at the squire's 
 apparent interest in their affairs, but the motive 
 soon became apparent. 
 
 " Well, you have made up your mind to sell the 
 house now, I suppose ? " said the squire. 
 
 " No, we hadn't thought of it." 
 
 " But you will have to." 
 
 " Not if I can get employment," said Herbert. 
 " Our expenses are very small, and we can live on 
 a little." 
 
 The great man frowned. 
 
 " That is all nonsense," he said, impatiently. 
 " It is quite impossible for you to hold on to the 
 house. I am willing to give you cash down three 
 
82 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 hundred dollars over and above the mortgage for 
 it." 
 
 : ' That isn't as much as you offered last year," 
 said Herbert, shrewdly. 
 
 " I believe I did offer three hundred and fifty 
 then." 
 
 ' Your last offer was fifty dollars more than 
 that." 
 
 " It may be so, but I told your mother that it 
 wasn't a standing offer. She must accept it then 
 or not at all." 
 
 '' We don't ask you to purchase," said Herbert, 
 independently. " I had no idea of such a thing 
 when I came here." 
 
 " That makes no difference. You will have to 
 sell, of course, and I have made up my mind to offer 
 you three hundred and fifty. If you had taken me 
 up at the time, I would have given you fifty more. 
 You can't expect that now, however." 
 
 " We don't expect anything. The house is not 
 for sale." 
 
 " Then, why are you taking up my valuable 
 time ? " demanded the squire, frowning with dis- 
 pleasure. 
 
 " I beg your pardon, sir. I only came in to ask 
 for employment." 
 
 " That I might have given you, if you hadn't been 
 so unreasonable." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 83 
 
 " I don't think we are unreasonable, Squire 
 Leech. Even if we were willing to sell, we should 
 ask, at least, fourteen hundred dollars for the 
 place." 
 
 " Fourteen hundred ! Are you crazy ? I never 
 heard of such a thing." 
 
 " The place, land and all, cost my father fifteen 
 hundred." 
 
 " I don't believe it." 
 
 " We've got his papers to show that it is so." 
 
 " It isn't worth near that now." 
 
 " It is certainly worth more than eleven hundred, 
 which is all you offer." 
 
 " Look here, Carter," said the squire, " I don't 
 mind telling you that I want the place for one of 
 my men— Brown. That is my only object in mak- 
 ing you an offer at all. He is the cousin of Mr. 
 Banks, my superintendent, and I rather think Banks 
 will find you something to do, if you will induce 
 your mother to sell the place." 
 
 " I can't do that," said Herbert, slowly. " I can't 
 consent to my mother making such a sacrifice. She 
 might as well give you three or four hundred dol- 
 lars as sell the place so much under price." 
 
 " You are a boy, and know nothing about busi- 
 ness. You think property must necessarily bring 1 
 its first cost, though, mind you, I don't admit that 
 yours cost anything like fifteen hundred dollars." 
 
?4 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 ''I am inexperienced," Herbert admitted, "but 
 I am sure it would be foolish to sell for eleven hun- 
 dred dollars." 
 
 " You may. have to sell for less." 
 
 "How is that?" 
 
 " If you are not prepared with the interest when 
 the time comes, I shall foreclose." 
 
 u You wouldn't be so hard on us as that, Squire 
 Leech," said Herbert, anxiously. 
 
 " I don't call it hard, it is only just and legal. 
 When that time comes, I don't promise to pay as 
 much as I offer to-day." 
 
 Herbert looked serious. He saw that the squire 
 meant just what he said; that, in fact, he was lying" 
 in wait till their need should put them fully in his 
 power. 
 
 " Well," said the squire, triumphantly, " you see 
 how the matter stands now? " 
 
 "I do," said Herbert. 
 
 " Then you will cease your foolish opposition to 
 what is best for you." 
 
 " I will speak to my mother about it." said Her- 
 bert, rising. " The place is hers, not mine, and she 
 must decide." 
 
 " Without your offering any foolish advice, I 
 hope." 
 
 " I can't say as to that, Squire Leech. I will bid 
 you good-morning." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 85 
 
 " Good-morning. If you change your mind, call 
 again, and we will see about the employment." 
 
 " Well," said James, as Herbert came out, " did 
 you get work? " 
 
 " Not yet ; your father is not sure whether he will 
 have any for me." 
 
 " When I am a man," said James, pompously, 
 " I dare say I may be able to throw something in 
 your way." 
 
 " Thank you," said Herbert, tempted to smile in 
 spite of his serious thoughts. 
 
 " I shall be richer than my father," added James, 
 " as his property is increasing every year." 
 
 '■ You have an excellent prospect before you," 
 said Herbert, half enviously. 
 
 " That's so. Wouldn't you like to change places 
 with me? " 
 
 " I am not sure about that." 
 
 u You are not sure about that ? " repeated James, 
 incredulously. 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Why, I am a rich man's son." 
 
 " I know that; but I have an excellent mother." 
 
 " She has got no money." 
 
 " I should not value her more if she were worth a 
 million," said Herbert, warmly. 
 
 " Of course," said James ; " but that won't save 
 you from being a day laborer." 
 
86 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " It is my great ambition just at present to become 
 a day laborer," said Herbert, smiling. 
 
 " Of course, there's a great difference between 
 us. But I say, Carter, can you help me with this 
 kite? There's something wrong about it. It won't 
 fly." 
 
 Herbert looked at it critically. 
 
 " The trouble is with the frame," he said. " It's 
 too heavy." 
 
 " I wish you'd help me about it." 
 
 Very good-naturedly our hero set to work, and in 
 the course of twenty minutes or so the difficulty was 
 obviated. The kite would fly. 
 
 ' You may stay and help me fly it," said James, 
 condescendingly. 
 
 " Thank you; I shall be needed at home." 
 
 " Oh, I forgot. Your time is valuable. Here, 
 take this." 
 
 James, with extraordinary liberality, held out five 
 cents to Herbert. 
 
 " What is that for ? " asked Herbert, puzzled, and 
 not offering to take the money. 
 
 " For your help about the kite." 
 
 " Oh, I wouldn't think of charging anything for 
 that," said Herbert, amused. 
 
 " Why not? You are poor, and I am rich." 
 
 " I know it, but I don't want money for a trifle 
 like that." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 87 
 
 " Just as you say," said James, returning the 
 money to his pocket, a little relieved, if the truth 
 must be told, that the coin was not accepted, for he 
 was naturally fond of money. 
 
 " Good-morning," said Herbert, turning to go. 
 " If the kite gets out of order, you can call upon me 
 any time." 
 
 " I wonder why he didn't take the money," 
 thought James. " He may be poor and proud ; I've 
 heard of such cases; but of course it would be ab- 
 surd for a boy in his position to be proud." 
 
 Herbert kept on his way with a very serious face, 
 It seemed as if they must lose their home, after all. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 MR. BANKS, THE SUPERINTENDENT 
 
 After his interview with Squire Leech, Herbert 
 walked home slowly and thoughtfully. He compre- 
 hended now all the danger of the situation. The 
 squire wanted their house, and was mean enough to 
 desire to get it at less than its value, though two or 
 three hundred dollars would have been of little ac- 
 count to him, while to the poor widow whom he 
 wished to defraud it was a great sum. 
 
 " How can a rich man be so mean ? " exclaimed 
 Herbert, indignantly. 
 
 That question has puzzled more than our hero. 
 Is there something in riches that dwarfs the man, 
 and makes him mean and ignoble? In too many 
 instances such appears to be the effect. 
 
 " Well, mother," said Herbert, when he returned 
 to the cottage, " I've been to see Squire Leech." 
 
 "What success did you meet with?" asked his 
 mother, anxiously. 
 
 " He will probably give me employment." 
 
 " You see, Herbert, you misjudged him, after 
 all," said the widow, her face brightening. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 89 
 
 " Wait and see if I did. There is a condition at- 
 tached." 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " That you will sell him the cottage." 
 
 "Did he mention that?" 
 
 " Yes ; he offered three hundred dollars over and 
 above the mortgage." 
 
 " Why, he offered more than that last year." 
 
 " I reminded him of that." 
 
 "What did he say?" 
 
 " He said he would have given three hundred and 
 fifty if we hadn't been so unreasonable as to refuse 
 then. Now, as you have been sick, he expects he can 
 get the place on his own terms." 
 
 "; I didn't think Squire Leech would be so un- 
 generous." 
 
 " He hinted, besides, that when the next interest 
 is due, he would foreclose, if the money were not 
 ready." 
 
 ■■: It won't be ready, I am afraid, Herbert," said 
 his mother, depressed. " What shall we do ? I am 
 afraid we shall be forced to sell the place, though it 
 would be hard to leave it." 
 
 " There's a month before the interest comes due, 
 mother," said Herbert, with energy. " Something 
 may turn up." 
 
 But his mother was not so hopeful as he. 
 
 " What can turn up? " she said. 
 
go HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I may get employment." 
 
 " Even if you do, a boy can earn little in the 
 country." 
 
 " That is true, mother, but somehow I feel hope- 
 ful." 
 
 " That is because you are young, Herbert. It is 
 natural for youth to be hopeful." 
 
 " Well, mother, isn't it better to be hopeful than 
 despondent? " 
 
 " But it won't alter wants." 
 
 " Suppose the worst to happen — suppose we do 
 leave the house — we shall have three hundred or 
 three and fifty dollars in cash, to keep us from starv- 
 ing." 
 
 "And when that is gone?" 
 
 " Before that is gone, I shall be earning good 
 wages somewhere. You see, mother, matters are 
 not as bad as they might be, after all." 
 
 In spite of her doubts, Mrs. Carter was cheered 
 by her son's hopeful tone. 
 
 " Perhaps you are right," she said. " Since God 
 orders all things, we ought not to be discouraged." 
 
 " Now you are sensible, mother. How much 
 money have you got left ? " 
 
 " Twenty-five dollars." 
 
 " Why, that's enough to pay the interest, and a 
 little over." 
 
 " But how are we to live for the next month? " 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 91 
 
 " I ought to earn money enough for that." 
 
 " If there were any chance of finding work." 
 
 " Well, I will go out again to-morrow." 
 
 Herbert spoke with a confidence which he did not 
 feel. Wrayburn was not a large village, and, in 
 general, boys were to be found in families where a 
 boy's work was required. In fact, the only one who 
 seemed likely to have work for a boy was Mr. Banks, 
 the squire's farm superintendent. His son, Tom, 
 might indeed have worked, had he been inclined; 
 but he was naturally indolent, and his father was too 
 indulgent to compel him to work. He was an only 
 child, and bade fair to be spoiled. Though only fif- 
 teen, he had already learned to smoke and drink, and 
 the only limit to either was his scanty pocket money. 
 
 As Herbert was walking up the street in perplex- 
 ity, he fell in with Tom, who was smoking a cheap 
 cigar with the air of an old smoker. 
 
 " Where are you bound, Herbert ? " he asked. 
 
 " Nowhere in particular. I wish I knew where 
 to go." 
 
 " Come fishing with me? " 
 
 " I haven't time." 
 
 " You said you were not going anywhere in par- 
 ticular." 
 
 " Because I don't know where to go." 
 
 " Then, why not go with me ? " 
 
 " I want to find work somewhere." 
 
92 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 Tom shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 " That's just what I am not anxious to find," he 
 said. " My father keeps thinking every day that 
 I ought to be at work, but I don't see it." 
 
 Tom winked here, and looked, or thought he 
 looked^ uncommonly sly. 
 
 " Then your father has work for a boy to do," 
 said Herbert, getting interested. 
 
 " Oh, yes, it is spring now, and the busy season 
 is beginning. But that sort of work don't suit me. 
 I will never be a farmer. When I get a little older, 
 I should like to go to the city, and enter a store. 
 That would be jolly." 
 
 " You might get tired of it." 
 
 " No, I wouldn't ; I'm sick of this stupid old town, 
 though. There's nothing going on." 
 
 " I say, Tom, as you don't want to work, do you 
 think your father would give me a chance ? " 
 
 " I don't know," said Tom. " I'll speak to him if 
 you want me to." 
 
 " I wish you would." 
 
 " There'll be one advantage about it. If he hires 
 you, he won't be at me to work all the time. I'll do 
 it. Come along, and I'll speak to him now." 
 
 " Thank you, Tom." 
 
 " Oh, you needn't thank me. It's for my own 
 sake I'm doing it as much as yours," said Tom, 
 who was at least frank in his selfishness. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 93 
 
 They went to the small house occupied, much 
 against his will, by Amos Banks. He was in the 
 field, with one of his men, when Tom and Herbert 
 came up, and, jumping over the stone wall, ' ap- 
 proached him. 
 
 " Well, Tom," said his father, " you have come 
 just in time. I want you to ride the horse to 
 plow." 
 
 " I can't, father; I don't feel well to-day." 
 
 "What's the matter?" 
 
 " Oh, I've got a headache." 
 
 " Riding will do you good." 
 
 " No, it won't," said Tom, confidently ; " but if 
 you want a boy to help you, here he is." 
 
 Mr. Banks turned to Herbert. 
 
 " You are Herbert Carter," he said. 
 
 " Yes, sir. I would very much like to get a chance 
 to work." 
 
 " You're the widow Carter's son ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Has your mother decided to sell her cottage ? " 
 
 " I don't think she has, Mr. Banks." 
 
 " Of course you know that Squire Leech wants to 
 buy it." 
 
 " Yes, sir. He told me that he wanted to pur- 
 chase it for your use." 
 
 " Just so," said the superintendent, stopping 
 work ; " I've taken a fancy to that house, and so has 
 
94 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 Mrs. Banks. You had better accept the squire's 
 offer." 
 
 " That would be too much of a sacrifice, Mr. 
 Banks. The squire wants to get the place consider- 
 ably below its value." 
 
 " Very likely you overvalue it." 
 
 " Mother is attached to it. She would rather 
 have it than a nicer house. Father built it, and it 
 was here they lived for nearly fifteen years." 
 
 " No doubt — no doubt," said Banks, impatiently; 
 " but poor folks can't afford to be sentimental. If 
 it's for your mother's interest to sell, then she'd 
 ought to sell, that's my opinion." 
 
 " We may have to sell some time, but as long as 
 we can hold on to the place, we mean to." 
 
 " I may as well say," said the superintendent, 
 " that the squire has authorized me to hire you to 
 work, in case your mother consents to sell." 
 
 " Is that the condition ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Then," said Herbert, turning away, " I am 
 afraid I must give up the chance." 
 
 " That's an obstinate boy," said Banks, looking 
 after him ; " but he'll come around after a while. 
 The squire says he'll have to, or be turned out for 
 not paying the interest." 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 Herbert's new undertaking 
 
 To be willing to work, and yet to be unable to find 
 an opportunity, was certainly a hardship. Her- 
 bert was a boy of active temperament, and, even had 
 he not needed the wages of labor, he would still 
 have felt it necessary to his happiness to do some- 
 thing. 
 
 In the course of his walks about the village, he 
 stopped at the house of a carpenter, who bore the 
 rather peculiar name of Jeremiah Crane. Mr. Crane 
 owned about an acre and a half of land, which might 
 have been cultivated, but at the time Herbert called, 
 early in April, there were no indications of this in- 
 tention. The carpenter was at work in a small 
 shop just beyond the house, and there Herbert found 
 him. 
 
 "Well, Herbert," said Mr.' Crane, in a friendry 
 manner, " what are you up to nowadays? " 
 
 " Nothing profitable, Mr. Crane; I am wandering 
 about in search of work." 
 
 " Can't you find any? " 
 
 " Not yet." 
 
 95 
 
96 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Have you been to Squire Leech ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I should think he might find something for you 
 to do." 
 
 " There is a little difficulty in the way." 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 Then Herbert told Mr. Crane about the squire's 
 wish to purchase their cottage, and his vexation be- 
 cause they were not willing to sell. 
 
 " Seems to me that's very unreasonable in the 
 squire. He acts as if it was your duty to oblige 
 him." 
 
 " I don't know but we shall have to come to his 
 terms," said Herbert, rather dejectedly. " We cer- 
 tainly shall if I don't find anything to do." 
 
 "I wish I could help you; but, if you were to 
 learn my trade, you wouldn't be worth any wages 
 for nigh a year, and you couldn't afford to work so 
 long without pay." 
 
 " No, I couldn't."- 
 
 " Besides, in a village like this, there isn't more 
 than enough work for one man. Why, there isn't 
 more than one new house built a year. If the squire 
 wants to provide Mr. Banks with a house, why 
 doesn't he build him one? He might just as well - 
 as not." 
 
 " It would cost him more than to buy our place at 
 the price he offers." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 97 
 
 ■■' So it would. Your place must have cost fifteen 
 hundred dollars, land and all." 
 
 " So it did, but the squire laughed at the idea. 
 All he offers is eleven hundred." 
 
 " Don't you sell at that price. It would be too 
 much of a sacrifice." 
 
 " We won't unless we are obliged to." 
 
 " I hope you won't be obliged to. A man as rich 
 as Squire Leech ought not to try to get it under 
 price." 
 
 " I suppose he wants to make a good bargain, no 
 matter if it is at our expense. I wish you had a 
 farm, Mr. Crane, so you could give me work on it." ■ 
 
 " I've got more farm now than I can take care of." 
 
 " Don't you have a garden? " 
 
 " I've got the land, but no time to work on it. 
 My wife often wishes we had our own vegetables, 
 instead of having to buy, but, you see, after working 
 in the shop, or outside, all day, I'm too tired to work 
 on land." 
 
 " How much land have you? " 
 
 " About an acre that I could cultivate, I suppose." 
 
 " Engage me to take care of it. I'll do all the 
 work, and your wife can have her own vegetables." 
 
 " Really, I never thought of that," said the car- 
 penter. " I don't know but it might be a good idea. 
 How much pay would you want? " 
 
 " I'll tell you," said Herbert, who had a business 
 
98 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 turn, and who had already matured the plan in his 
 own mind. " If you will pay for plowing, and 
 provide seed, I will do the planting, and gather it 
 when harvest time comes, for one-third of the crop." 
 ' You mean, you will take your pay in vege- 
 tables?" 
 
 ' Yes," said Herbert, promptly. " If there is 
 more than you need, I can sell the surplus. What 
 do you say? " 
 
 " It strikes me as a fair offer, Herbert. Just wait 
 a minute, and I'll go and ask my wife what she 
 thinks of it." 
 
 Mr. Crane went into the house, leaving Herbert 
 in the shop. He reappeared in five minutes. Her- 
 bert, to whom the plan seemed every minute more 
 desirable, awaited his report eagerly. 
 
 " My wife is all for your plan," he said. " She 
 says it is the only way she knows of likely to give 
 her the fresh vegetables she wants. Besides, she 
 thinks well of you. So, it's a settled thing, if you 
 say so." 
 
 " I do say so," Herbert replied, promptly. " Now, 
 when will you have it plowed? " 
 
 " I shall leave all that to you. I haven't time to 
 make arrangements. You can engage anybody you 
 like to do the plowing, and I will pay the bill." 
 
 " Then, as to the seed? " 
 
 " There, again, I trust all to you. You can buy 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 99 
 
 what you find to be necessary, and the bill may be 
 sent to me. You may ask Mrs. Crane what vege- 
 tables she wants." 
 
 " All right," said Herbert. 
 
 " Please understand," said the carpenter, " that 
 I will do what I have said, but I don't want to be 
 worried about the details. You are a boy, but I 
 shall trust to your judgment, as you are interested 
 in the result." 
 
 " Thank you," said Herbert, rather proud of the 
 confidence reposed in him. " I will do what I can 
 to justify your confidence. I'll go right off and see 
 about the plowing." 
 
 " Very well." 
 
 Whatever Herbert did was done promptly. He 
 knew of a man named Kimball, a farmer on a small 
 scale, who was accustomed to do work for neigh- 
 bors, not having enough work of his own to occupy 
 his whole time. He went to see him at once. 
 
 " Mr. Kimball," he said, " I want to know if I 
 can engage you to do some plowing for me." 
 
 " For you ! " repeated the farmer, opening his 
 eyes. " Why, you haven't taken a farm, have you ? " 
 
 " Not yet," said Herbert, smiling ; " but I've 
 agreed to cultivate a little land on shares." 
 
 " Sho! you don't say so! What land is it? " 
 
 " It's the field behind Mr. Crane's house." 
 
 " So he's engaged you, has he ? Well, I've often 
 
too HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 wondered why he didn't cultivate it. Might as well 
 as not." 
 
 " It's my idea. I proposed it to him. Now, when 
 can you come? " 
 
 "Wait a minute," said the farmer, cautiously; 
 " w T ho's a-going to pay me ? " 
 
 " Mr. Crane. He told me to engage somebody, 
 and he -would pay the bill." 
 
 " That's all right, then," said the farmer, in a 
 tone of satisfaction ; " Crane's a man that always 
 pays his bills." 
 
 " I hope I shall have the same reputation," said 
 Herbert. 
 
 " I hope you will, but you're only a boy, you 
 know, and I couldn't collect of a minor. That's the 
 law." 
 
 " I shouldn't think anybody would be dishonest 
 enough to bring that as an excuse.". 
 
 " Plenty would do it, so I have to be careful. 
 What time do you want me to do the work for 
 you?" 
 
 "As soon as you can." 
 
 " Let me see, I guess I can come to-morrow. 
 There ain't anything very pressing for me to do 
 then." 
 
 " That's good," said Herbert, with satisfaction. 
 "" You'll find me there, and I can ride the horse to 
 plow if you want me to." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 101 
 
 * f I should like to have you/' 
 
 " Well," thought Herbert, as he started for home 
 to tell his mother what he had done, " I've made a 
 beginning." 
 
 " I -suppose you haven't found any work yet, Her- 
 bert," said his mother, in a tone of resignation, as he 
 entered the little cottage. 
 
 " Yes, I have; though I shall have to wait some 
 time for the pay." 
 
 "What is it, Herbert?" 
 
 " I'm going to cultivate a garden on shares, 
 mother; so next fall and winter you can have all 
 the vegetables you want." 
 
 " How is that, Herbert? Tell me all about it." 
 
 When Herbert detailed the contract he had en- 
 tered into, he was glad to find that his mother ap- 
 proved of it. She declared that it would be very 
 satisfactory to her to have an abundant stock of 
 vegetables, but she said, doubtfully : " Do you think 
 you know enough of farming to attend to all the 
 work?" 
 
 " If I don't I can easily ask some farmer," said 
 Herbert, confidently. " I am not in the least afraid 
 to undertake the job." 
 
 He went to bed that night, feeling that at last he 
 had obtained something to do. 
 
 The reader will perhaps recall the statement in 
 our first chapter that there was a little land con- 
 
io2 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 nected with the cottage, which was used for the 
 growth of vegetables. This, in fact, supplied nearly 
 all that was required by the widow and her son, and 
 the probability was that Herbert would be able to 
 send to market nearly all his share of vegetables 
 obtained under his new contract, and thus obtain 
 payment in money, of which they were so much in 
 need. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE CRISIS APPROACHES 
 
 Herbert went to work in earnest. It took only 
 part of one day to plow the field which he was to 
 cultivate. He decided, after consultation with Mrs. 
 Crane, to appropriate two-thirds of the land to pota- 
 toes, and the remainder to different kinds of vege- 
 tables. He was guided partly by the consideration 
 of which would be most marketable. 
 
 On the third day, while at work, he heard his 
 name called. It must be explained that Mr. Crane's 
 house and land were on the corner of two streets, 
 so that he was in full sight, while in the field, from 
 the side street. Looking up, he recognized James 
 Leech, who was surveying him with evident curi- 
 osity. 
 
 " Good-morning, James," said Herbert, going oti 
 with his work. 
 
 " I see you've got a job," said James. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Has Mr. Crane hired you? " 
 
 " Not exactly." 
 
 " Then why are you at work in his field ? " 
 103 
 
io4 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Because I've agreed to work it on shares." 
 
 "How is that?" 
 
 " I am to have a third of the crops to pay me for 
 my services." 
 
 " What can you do with it ? " 
 
 " Part of the vegetables we can use at home, and 
 the balance I shall sell." 
 
 " T shouldn't think you'd like that arrangement." 
 
 " Why not?" 
 
 " Because you have so long to wait for your pay." 
 
 " That is true, but it's better than not working at 
 all, and I've tried all over the village in vain to get 
 employment." 
 
 " Do you think you'll make much out of it? " 
 
 " I don't think I shall make a fortune, but I shall 
 make something." 
 
 " Don't it tire you to work ? " asked James, with 
 some curiosity. 
 
 " Of course, if I work all day ; but I don't mind 
 that." 
 
 " I should." 
 
 " You are not used to work." 
 
 " I should say not," returned Jinnies, with pride. 
 " I never worked in my life." 
 
 It was a strange thing to be proud of, but there 
 are som.e who have nothing better to be proud of. 
 
 " I like to work," said Herbert 
 
 "You do?" 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 105 
 
 V Yes, only I like to get something for my labor. 
 You expect to work some time, don't you ? " 
 
 " Not with my hands," said James. " I shall 
 never be reduced to that." 
 
 " Do you think it so very bad to work with your 
 hands. Isn't it respectable ? " 
 
 "Oh, I suppose it's respectable," said James; 
 " but only the lower classes do it." 
 
 "Am I one of the lower classes?" asked Her- 
 bert, amused. 
 
 " Of course you are." 
 
 " But suppose I should get rich some day," said 
 Herbert. 
 
 " That isn't very likely. You can't get rich rais- 
 ing vegetables." 
 
 " No, I don't expect to. Still, I may in some other 
 way. Didn't you ever know any poor boys that got 
 rich?" 
 
 " I suppose there have been some," admitted 
 James. 
 
 " Haven't you heard of Vanderbilt? " 
 
 " Of course I have. .Father says he's worth forty 
 millions." 
 
 "Don't you consider him a gentleman?" 
 
 "Of course I do." 
 
 " Well, he was a poor boy once, and used to ferry 
 passengers across from Staten Island to New York." 
 
 " Did he ? I didn't know that." 
 
io6 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Suppose my uncle had left me all his fortune — ■ 
 a hundred thousand dollars — would I have been a 
 gentleman, then ? " 
 
 " Yes, but it isn't the same as if you had always 
 been rich." 
 
 " I don't agree with your ideas, James. It seems 
 to me something besides money is needed to make a 
 gentleman ; still, I hope to get on in the world, and 
 I shouldn't object to being rich, though I don't see 
 any prospect of it just at present." 
 
 " No," said James. " You will probably always 
 be poor." 
 
 " That's very encouraging," said Herbert, laugh- 
 ing. " How about yourself? " 
 
 " Oh, I shall be a rich man like father." 
 
 " That's very encouraging for you. I hope when 
 you are a man you'll give me work if I need 
 it." 
 
 "i I will bear it in mind," said James, with an im- 
 portant air. " Now I must be going." 
 
 That day, at dinner, James said to his father: 
 " That Carter boy has got a job." 
 
 "Has he?" asked the squire, not very well 
 pleased. 
 
 " Yes, he is working at Mr. Crane's." 
 
 "What is he doing?" 
 
 " Working in the garden." 
 
 *' What wages does Crane pay him? " 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 107 
 
 " None at all. He says he has agreed to work for 
 the third of the crops." 
 
 " Did he say that? " asked the squire, with satis- 
 faction. 
 
 " Yes, he told me so this morning." 
 
 " You are sure he gets no money? " 
 
 " Yes ; he is paid wholly in vegetables. He said 
 he couldn't find employment anywhere else in the 
 village, so he had to work that way." 
 
 " That boy stands very much in his own light," 
 said the squire. 
 
 "How is that, father?" 
 
 " I told him Mr. Banks would give him work if he 
 would agree to sell his cottage." 
 
 " He doesn't own it, does he? " 
 
 " His mother, of course, I mean. It's the boy that 
 keeps her from selling it." 
 
 "Why does he do that?" 
 
 " Oh, they've got a silly notion that no other place 
 would seem like home to them, and, besides, they 
 think I don't offer them enough." 
 
 " How much do you offer them ? " 
 
 " Eleven hundred dollars ; that is, I have a mort- 
 gage on the place for seven hundred and fifty. I 
 offer them three hundred and fifty dollars besides." 
 
 " Is that all the money they are worth ? " 
 
 " Yes ; they are very foolish to refuse, for they'll 
 have to come to it some time. In about a week the 
 
io8 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 inteiest comes due, and I'm very sure they won't be 
 able to meet it." 
 
 '* Suppose they don't? " 
 
 ' Then," said the squire, with a satisfied smile, 
 " I shall take possession, and they'll have to sell." 
 
 " Herbert says he hopes to be rich some time." 
 
 " I dare say," said the squire, laughing heartily. 
 *' Everybody does, so far as I know." 
 
 " Do you think there is any chance of it? " 
 
 " About one in a thousand." 
 
 " I shouldn't want the lower class to get rich," 
 said James, thoughtfully. " They'd think they were 
 our equals." 
 
 " Yes, no doubt." 
 
 James was not aware that his grandfather had 
 once been a poor mechanic, or rather he ignored it. 
 He chose to consider that he had sprung from a long 
 line of wealthy ancestors. His father heard with 
 pleasure that Herbert was not likely to realize any 
 money at present for his services. Already he felt 
 that the little cottage was as good as his. It was 
 only a week now to the time of paying interest, and 
 he was very sure that Mrs. Carter would be unpre- 
 pared to meet it. 
 
 " In that case," he decided, " I will certainly fore- 
 close. There will be no sense in granting them any 
 further indulgence. It will be for their interest to 
 sell the cottage, and get rid of the burden which the 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 109 
 
 interest imposes. Really, they ought to consider it 
 a favor that I am willing to take it off their hands." 
 
 We are very apt to think it is for the interest of 
 others to do what we greatly desire., and I don't sup- 
 pose the squire was singular in this. I think, how- 
 ever, that there are many who are less selfish and 
 more considerate of others. 
 
 Herbert, too, was thinking, and thinking seri- 
 ously, of the interest that was so soon coming due. 
 In spite of his own and his mother's economy, when 
 the preceding day arrived, all they could raise to- 
 ward the payment was thirteen dollars, and the sum 
 required was twenty-two dollars and a half. 
 
 " Mother," said Herbert, at dinner the day before, 
 " I see only one chance for us, and that is, to borrow 
 the money. If anyone would lend us ten dollars we 
 could pay the interest, and then we should be free 
 from anxiety for six months." 
 
 " I am afraid you will find that difficult," said his 
 mother. " The squire is the only rich man in the 
 village, and of course we can't apply to him." 
 
 " At any rate, I can try. Instead of going to 
 work this afternoon, I shall go and try to borrow the 
 money. If I can't, then I suppose we must give up 
 the house." 
 
 Certainly the prospect seemed far from cheerful. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 AN UNEXPECTED OFFER 
 
 It was with very little confidence in his ultimate 
 success that Herbert set out on his borrowing ex- 
 pedition. The number of those who could be called 
 capitalists in a small village like Wrayburn was very 
 small, and it happened very remarkably that all of 
 them were short of funds. One man had just bought 
 a yoke of oxen, and so spent all his available cash, 
 another had been shingling his barn; and still an- 
 other confessed to having money, but it was in the 
 savings bank, and he didn't like to disturb it. 
 
 So, at supper time, Herbert came in, depressed 
 and dispirited. 
 
 " Well, mother, it's no use," he said, as her anx- 
 ious look met his. 
 
 " I didn't much think you could borrow the 
 money," she answered, trying to look cheerful. 
 
 " There's only one thing remains to be done," 
 said Herbert. 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " To try to induce the squire to give us more 
 time." 
 
 no 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY in 
 
 " I don't think he will do that." 
 
 " Nor I. In that case we must come to terms ; 
 but it's a pity to sacrifice the property, mother." 
 
 "Yes, Herbert; I shall be sorry to leave the old 
 place," she sighed. " You were born here, and your 
 father was always very much attached to it. But 
 poor folks can't have everything they wish, and it 
 might be worse." 
 
 " Yes, it might be worse, and if the squire was 
 not so bent on getting the place into his hands, it 
 might be better." 
 
 " I suppose we ought not to blame him for look- 
 ing out for his own interest." 
 
 " Yes, we ought; when it seems that he is ready 
 to injure his poorer neighbors." 
 
 Mrs. Carter did not reply. She did not wish 
 further to incense her son against the squire, yet in 
 her heart she could not help agreeing with him. 
 
 The next day Herbert did not go to work as 
 usual. He did not feel like it, while matters were 
 in such uncertainty. He knew the squire would be 
 at the cottage a little before twelve o'clock, and he 
 wanted to be with his mother at that time, for he 
 felt that, if the place must be sold, he would be more 
 likely to get good terms for it than his mother, who 
 was of an easy and yielding disposition. 
 
 He took a little walk in the course of the forenoon, 
 not with any particular object in view, but in order 
 
ii2 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 to pass the time. As he was passing the hotel — for 
 there was a small hotel in the village — he heard his 
 name called. Turning round, he found that it was 
 the landlord who had called him. 
 
 " Come here a minute, Herbert," he said. 
 
 Herbert obeyed the summons. 
 
 " What are you doing nowadays ? " he asked. 
 
 " I have turned farmer," said our hero. 
 
 "Whom are you working for?" 
 
 " For myself." 
 
 " How is that? I don't understand." 
 
 " I am cultivating Mr. Crane's land on shares." 
 
 " Does it take up all your time? " 
 
 " No; I would only work part of the day if I had 
 anything else to do." 
 
 " I'll tell you what I have been thinking of. 
 There's a young man boarding with me from fche 
 city, a Mr. Cameron. He was a college student, but 
 his eyes gave out, and the doctor sent him out of the 
 city to get well. He wants someone to read to him 
 part of the time, and go about with him for com- 
 pany. He is from a rich family — the son of a 
 wealthy manufacturer — and he will be willing to pay 
 a fair price." 
 
 " Do you think I would suit him ? " asked Her- 
 bert, eagerly. 
 
 " Yes, I think you would. You are a gvod 
 scholar, and when I mentioned you to him, he said 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 113 
 
 he would like to see you. He said he would prefer 
 a boy, as he would be more ready to adapt himself 
 to his wishes." 
 
 " When can I see Mr. Cameron ? " asked our hero. 
 
 " Come in now. You will find him in his room. 
 Here, John, show Herbert up to number six." 
 
 Herbert was ushered into one of the best rooms 
 the hotel afforded. A young man, of pleasant ap- 
 pearance, was sitting at the window, with a green 
 shade over his eyes. He pushed up this, that he 
 might see Herbert. 
 
 " This is Herbert Carter, Mr. Cameron," said 
 John, unceremoniously. 
 
 " I am glad to see you, Herbert," said the young 
 man, smiling as he extended his hand. He was 
 secretly pleased with Herbert's open and manly 
 face. 
 
 " Did the landlord say why I might need your as- 
 sistance ? " 
 
 " He said your eyes were affected." 
 
 " Yes, they broke down a month since. I am a 
 student of Yale College, in the junior class. I sup- 
 pose I tasked my eyes too severely. At any rate, 
 they gave out, and I am forbidden to use them at 
 all." 
 
 " That must be a great loss to you," said Herbert, 
 with sympathy. 
 
 " It is. I am very fond of reading and study, and 
 
ii4 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 the time passes very heavily in the absence of my 
 usual employment." 
 
 " I don't know what I should do if I could not use 
 my eyes." 
 
 ' You would find it a great hardship. Now I 
 must tell you why I came here. The doctor told me 
 I should be better off in the country than in the city. 
 He said that the sight of the green grass would be 
 good for me, and the fresh air, in improving my 
 general health, would help my eyes also. I hadn't 
 much choice as to a place, but someone men- 
 tioned Wrayburn, and so I came here. But I soon 
 found that, unless I got some pleasant company and 
 someone who could read to me, I should die of 
 weariness. That brings me to my object in asking 
 you to call upon me. How is your time occupied ? " 
 
 " I have taken an acre of land to cultivate on 
 shares," answered Herbert. " It was because I 
 could find nothing else to do, and must do some- 
 thing." 
 
 " Does that keep' you pretty busy? " 
 
 " It is planting time now, but I could get along 
 with working there half a day." 
 
 " And could you place yourself at my disposal the 
 other half?" 
 
 " 1 should be glad to do it," answered Herbert. 
 
 " Suppose, then, that you work in the field in the 
 forenoon, and give me every afternoon." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 115 
 
 " All right," said Herbert, promptly. 
 
 " Now comes another question. What pay would 
 yoM expect for giving me so much of your time? " 
 
 " I shouldn't know what to charge, Mr. Cameron. 
 I leave that matter entirely with you." 
 
 " Would you be satisfied with five dollars a 
 week?" 
 
 Five dollars a week ! Herbert could hardly be- 
 lieve his ears. Why, he would have been well paid 
 if this had been given him for the whole of his time, 
 but for half it seemed munificent. 
 
 " I am afraid I can't earn that much," he an- 
 swered. " I would b£ willing to take less." 
 
 " You don't know how hard I shall make you 
 work," said the young man, smiling. " I insist 
 upon paying you five dollars a week." 
 
 " I don't seriously object," said Herbert, smiling; 
 H but if you think, after the first week, that it is too 
 much, you can pay me less." 
 
 " I see that we are not likely to quarrel on the sub- 
 ject of salary, then. When can you begin ? " 
 
 " This afternoon, if you wish." 
 
 " I do wish it, otherwise the afternoon would pass 
 very slowly to me." 
 
 " Then, I will be here at one o'clock." 
 
 " Half-past one will do." 
 
 " I will be on hand. Till then I will bid you 
 good-morning, as I shall be wanted at home." 
 
n6 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Very well, Herbert." 
 
 Herbert left the room and hurried home, for it 
 was nearly twelve. On the way he stopped at the 
 post office, and found a letter addressed to his 
 mother. He did not recognize the handwriting, nor, 
 such was his hurry, did he notice where it was post- 
 marked. He had no watch, but thought it must be 
 close upon twelve o'clock. So he thrust the letter 
 into his pocket, and continued his way homeward 
 on a half-run. He was in time, for, just as he reached 
 the front gate from one direction, the squire reached 
 it from the other. 
 
 " Good-morning," said the squire, a little stiffly. 
 " Is your mother at home ? " 
 
 " I presume she is. Won't you come in ? " 
 
 " I wonder if they've got the money ready," 
 thought the squire, as he followed Herbert into the 
 modest sitting room. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 WHAT THE LETTER CONTAINED 
 
 Leaving the squire in the sitting room, Herbert 
 went in quest of his mother. 
 
 " Squire Leech is here," he said. 
 
 " What shall we say to him ? " asked his mother, 
 soberly. 
 
 " Wait a minute and I will tell you," said Her- 
 bert, his face brightening - . 
 
 " I've had a stroke of luck, mother. I've been 
 engaged to work afternoons, at five dollars a week." 
 
 " Who has engaged to pay you such high 
 wages?" asked Mrs. Carter, astonished. 
 
 " A young man staying at the hotel, whose eyes 
 are weak. I am to read to him, and do whatever 
 else he requires. I got the, chance through the land- 
 lord." 
 
 " You are certainly fortunate," said his mother, 
 gratified. 
 
 " Now, what I am going to propose to the squire 
 is to wait two or three weeks for the balance of the 
 interest till I can make it up out of my wages." 
 
 " If he weren't so anxious to get possession of the 
 117 
 
n8 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 place he would; but I am afraid on that account he 
 will refuse. But we ought to go in." 
 
 Mrs. Carter removed the apron which she had 
 worn about her work, and entered the sitting room, 
 followed by Herbert. 
 
 " I hope you will excuse my keeping you waiting, 
 Squire Leech," she said. 
 
 " Certainly, ma'am, though I am rather in a 
 hurry." 
 
 " I suppose you have come about the interest ? " 
 
 " It is due to-day, as, of course, you know." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I suppose you have it ready," said the squire, 
 eying her shrewdly. 
 
 " I can pay you fifteen dollars of it," said the 
 widow, nervously. 
 
 Squire Leech felt exultant, but he only frowned. 
 
 " It amounts to twenty-two dollars and a half," 
 he said, sharply. 
 
 " I know that, and I shall be able to pay the re- 
 mainder if you will be kind enough to wait two or 
 three weeks." 
 
 Not knowing anything of Herbert's good fortune, 
 Squire Leech utterly disbelieved this. He knew no 
 source from which the widow could get the money. 
 
 " It is easy enough to make promises," he said, 
 with a sneer, " but that doesn't satisfy me. I want 
 my money." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 119 
 
 Now Herbert felt it time for him to take part in 
 the conversation. 
 
 " My mother can keep her promise," he said. 
 
 " Can she? Perhaps you will explain where you 
 expect to get the money." 
 
 " From my wages," answered Herbert, proudly. 
 
 " I wasn't aware that you received any," sneered 
 the squire. 
 
 " I have just made an engagement to work for 
 five dollars a week," said our hero, enjoying the 
 squire's look of surprise. 
 
 " Indeed ! Who pays you that ? " 
 
 " A gentleman boarding at the hotel has engaged 
 me to read to him, 'as his eyes are weak and he can- 
 not use them." 
 
 " A fool and his money are soon parted," said 
 Squire Leech, shrugging his shoulders. " You may 
 retain the position a week." 
 
 " I hope to keep it much longer. T feel sure that 
 I shall." 
 
 " I don't," said the squire, emphatically. 
 
 " Then are you willing to wait — say two weeks — 
 for the rest of the interest? " 
 
 " No, I am not, and you ought to have known I 
 shouldn't be. There is a way of arranging the 
 whole matter, as I have already told your mother." 
 
 " By selling the place, you mean? " 
 
 " Yes ; I mean just that. It is a folly for you to 
 
i2o HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 think of keeping the property, with such a heavy 
 mortgage upon it, on which you are unable to pay 
 the interest. If you couldn't sell the place, it would 
 alter the matter, but I have offered you a fair price 
 for it." 
 
 " You have offered us four hundred dollars less 
 than it cost." 
 
 " That is nonsense ! It never cost fifteen hundred 
 dollars." 
 
 " I have my husband's word for it," said the 
 widow. 
 
 " Then, he made some mistake about it, you may 
 be sure of that." 
 
 " I am sure father was right," said Herbert. 
 " Besides, we have his bills to prove it." 
 
 " That's neither here nor there," said Squire 
 Leech, impatiently. " Even if it cost ten thousand 
 dollars, it's only worth eleven hundred now, and 
 that I offer you; that is to say, three hundred and 
 fifty dollars over and above the mortgage." 
 
 ' You are hard upon me, Squire Leech," said 
 Mrs. Carter, despondently. 
 
 " You are a woman, '• ma'am, and women never 
 understand about business. Therefore, I make al- 
 lowance for you, but your son ought to know better 
 than to encourage you in your erroneous ideas." 
 
 " I wanted my mother to be treated fairly and 
 justly." ■ 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY iai 
 
 " Do you mean to imply that I would treat her 
 otherwise, young man?" demanded the squire, 
 angrily. " I advise you not to make an enemy of 
 one who might be of service to you." 
 
 Herbert looked sober. The squire might not be 
 right, but certainly he had the power to carry his 
 point, and that power-he was certain to exercise. 
 
 " Will you give my mother and myself a little 
 time to consult what is to be done? " he asked. 
 ' " Yes," said the squire, feeling that he had car- 
 ried his point. " I might refuse, of course, but 1 
 wish to be easy with you, and, therefore I will give 
 you till half-past twelve. I am going to the post 
 office, and will be back at that time." 
 
 He took his cane, and left the house. 
 
 His reference to the post office reminded Herbert 
 of the letter he had in his pocket for his mother. 
 
 " Here's a letter for you, mother," he said. 
 
 "A letter!" repeated Mrs. Carter, examining it 
 curiously. " Who can it be from ? " 
 
 " It's postmarked at Randolph," said Herbert, 
 looking over her shoulder. 
 
 " Perhaps it's from Aunt Nancy," suggested the 
 widow. " I don't know anyone else in Randolph 
 that would be likely to write to me." 
 
 She opened the envelope, and uttered a cry of sur- 
 prise as two bills dropped out and fluttered down- 
 ward to the floor. 
 
122 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 Herbert picked them up eagerly, and cried: 
 " Why, mother, they are ten-dollar bills. Twenty 
 dollars in all!" 
 
 " Twenty dollars ! " repeated Mrs. Carter, in 
 amazement. 
 
 "Hurrah! now we can pay the interest!" ex- 
 claimed Herbert. " Won't the squire be mad ! " and 
 he laughed joyously. " Read the letter aloud, 
 mother." 
 
 Mrs. Carter read as follows : 
 
 " My Dear Niece : I have thought of you often, 
 and wish we were not so far distant from each other. 
 I should enjoy seeing you and that good son of 
 yours often. I am afraid you have had a hard time 
 getting along. I wanted my brother to leave you a 
 good, handsome sum; but he was peculiar, you 
 know, and not easily influenced. I feel grateful that 
 he left me so well off. My wants are few, and I 
 have more than enough to supply them. I inclose 
 twenty dollars in this letter, which I hope will help 
 you along, so that you may be comfortable. I shall 
 not need them, for an old woman like me can live 
 on very little. 
 
 " I wish you would write to me sometimes, or ask 
 Herbert to. I feel lonely, and it would be a great 
 favor to me. If it were not so far, I would ask you 
 and Herbert to come over and spend a day or two 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 123 
 
 with me. Perhaps you can manage to do it some 
 time. Only don't delay too long, for I am getting 
 old, and can't expect to live much longer. 
 " Your affectionate aunt, 
 
 " Nancy Carter." 
 
 " How good of Aunt Nancy ! " said Mrs. Carter, 
 folding up the letter. " If her brother had possessed 
 her kind heart, we should be better off to-day." 
 
 '' It came just in the nick of time, mother. How 
 lucky!" 
 
 " Say, rather, how providential, my son. We 
 owe this good fortune to the kindness of God. He 
 will not see us want." 
 
 " Of course you are right, mother ; but I am 
 thinking the squire won't regard it in the same light. 
 He will be terribly disappointed, for he thinks he 
 has got us in his power." 
 
 " I am thankful that this is to be our home for 
 six months more." 
 
 " Longer than that, mother. I am earning some- 
 thing now, you know, and before I do anything else 
 I will save up money to pay our next interest." 
 
 " Squire Leech is coming back," said Mrs. Car- 
 ter, who had been looking out of the window. 
 
 " See how briskly he walks ! " said Herbert. " I 
 don't think he'll be so cheerful when he leaves the 
 house." 
 
i2 4 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I don't think we ought to exult in his disap- 
 pointment, Herbert." 
 
 " I can't help it, mother," said Herbert, laugh- 
 ing; "and I'm not ashamed of it, either. You are 
 carrying benevolence too far." 
 
 Here the squire's knock was heard, and Herbert 
 went to admit him. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 HOW THE SQUIRE WAS CIRCUMVENTED 
 
 The squire was in very good spirits. AH the 
 way back from the post office he had been congratu- 
 lating himself on the elegant bargain he was about 
 to make. There was a feeling of satisfaction also 
 at the personal triumph he had achieved. The 
 widow and her son had been obliged to yield up to 
 him, notwithstanding their unwillingness. Squire 
 Leech thought more of Herbert in the matter than of 
 his mother, for he was convinced that but for him 
 he could have talked over Mrs. Carter six months 
 before. 
 
 " Serves the boy right," he said to himself. " It 
 was preposterous in him to oppose my wishes. He 
 might have known I would advise what was best." 
 
 Probably the squire meant what was best for him. 
 He had not given much thought to what would be 
 best for Mrs. Carter. 
 
 " Some men would take advantage of their situ- 
 ation and reduce their offer," thought the squire, 
 virtuously, " but I won't be hard on them. They 
 shall have the three hundred and fifty dollars." 
 
 125 
 
126 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 This was the thought that was passing' through 
 his mind as he knocked at the door for the second 
 time. 
 
 " Well," said he, cheerfully, as Herbert opened 
 the door, " I have returned. I believe I have given 
 you the time I agreed upon." 
 
 " Yes, sir," said Herbert. " Please walk in." 
 
 The squire expected to find him sober and de- 
 pressed, but in spite of himself Herbert could not 
 help looking in good spirits. This puzzled the 
 squire a little, but he said to himself : " Probably 
 they have decided that my offer wasn't so bad a one, 
 after all." 
 
 Squire Leech walked again into the little sitting 
 room, where Mrs. Carter was awaiting him. 
 
 " Well," said the village magnate, clearing his 
 throat ; " well, Mrs. Carter, now that you have had 
 time to think over my proposal, you have probably 
 seen its advantages." 
 
 " I should not be willing to give up the house, sir. 
 My husband built it, and " 
 
 The squire's brows darkened. What a perverse, 
 obstinate woman she was ! 
 
 56 That ain't the question," he exclaimed, pound- 
 ing his cane on the floor in his excitement. " There 
 are many things we don't want to do that we've got 
 to do. You stand in your own light, ma'am, but it's 
 of no use. I have my rights, let me observe." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 127 
 
 " We don't, deny that, sir," interposed Herbert, 
 who enjoyed the squire's excitement, knowing - how it 
 must end. 
 
 " I am glad to hear it," said the squire ; " but it 
 appears to me you think you and your mother are 
 the only persons to be considered in this matter." 
 
 " I think my mother is entitled to some consider- 
 ation." 
 
 "Haven't I considered her? Haven't I offered 
 her in a most liberal price for the place ? " 
 
 " We don't call it liberal." 
 
 " Then you are. unreasonable. Many men in my 
 position would offer less. Indeed, I don't think I 
 ought to offer more than three hundred dollars, .but 
 as a favor to your mother I keep to my old offer." 
 
 " We would thank you, Squire Leech, if we could 
 •see any favor in offering three or four hundred dol- 
 lars less than the house is worth." 
 
 " We have had enough of this nonsense," said the 
 squire, angrily. " It is not too late to withdraw 
 my offer." 
 
 " You had better withdraw it," said Herbert, 
 composedly, " for mother and I have decided to re- 
 fuse it." 
 
 " Refuse it ! " gasped the squire, looking almost 
 apoplectic with surprise and rage. " What do you 
 mean by such outrageous impudence ? " 
 
 " I don't see how it can be considered impudence 
 
128 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 to refuse an offer. We are not obliged to accept 
 every offer made us." 
 
 "You are obliged to accept this!" cried Squire 
 Leech, stamping his cane upon the floor again. 
 " You know there is no help for it." 
 
 " How do you make that out, sir? " inquired our 
 hero, calmly. 
 
 " You can't pay the interest." • 
 
 " I beg your pardon, sir ; we are ready to pay the 
 interest." 
 
 " I mean the whole of the interest." 
 
 " So do I." 
 
 " It must be paid at once." 
 
 " It shall be paid at once, Squire Leech. Please 
 make out a receipt."^ 
 
 Squire Leech was never more astonished in his 
 life. He was not convinced till Herbert produced 
 what he could distinguish as two ten-dollar bills and 
 one five. 
 
 ■' There will be two dollars and a half change," 
 said Herbert, in a business-like manner. 
 
 "Where did you get this money?" gasped the 
 squire. 
 
 " It belongs to us, sir. Don't be afraid to take 
 it." 
 
 " Did you bo row it? " 
 
 " No, sir." 
 
 " What did you mean by telling me you could 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 129 
 
 fiot pay the interest when I was here at twelve 
 o'clock?" 
 
 " We could not then, or thought we could not." 
 
 " Then how can you pay me now ? " 
 
 " We received some money in a letter this morn- 
 ing. The letter had not been opened when you 
 were here, so we didn't know we could meet your 
 claims." 
 
 Squire Leech was very angry. He felt that he 
 had been defeated, and that triumph had slipped 
 over to the other side. But he resolved to make 
 one more attempt. 
 
 " I have the right to refuse this money," he said. 
 " It comes too late. It should have been paid at 
 twelve." 
 
 " I beg your pardon, Squire Leech ; you your- 
 self gave us time to consult what to do." 
 
 " Because," said the squire, unguardedly, " I 
 thought you could not pay the interest." 
 
 Herbert could not help smiling. 
 
 " We have nothing to do with what you thought," 
 he said. " The fact is, you gave us a little time, 
 and we have decided to pay you the interest. Be 
 kind enough to sign the receipt." 
 
 The squire frowned and bit his lips with vexa- 
 tion. He tried to think of some way of getting 
 over the difficulty, but none presented itself. As he 
 dashed off the signature, and took the money, he 
 
130 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 said, angrily: " You think you have got the better 
 of me, but the time will come when I will have this 
 place yet. Your convenient letters won't always 
 come just in the nick of time." 
 
 " I hope to be prepared for you next time, with- 
 out having to depend on that." 
 
 Still the squire lingered. The fact was that, 
 though very angry, he was anxious to know from 
 whom Mrs. Carter had received this opportune help. 
 
 " Who sent you this letter?" he asked. 
 
 /' I don't think we need to tell you that," said 
 Herbert. 
 
 " I have no objection to tell," said Mrs. Carter. 
 " It was my aunt, Nancy Carter, of Randolph, who 
 so kindly remembered us." 
 
 " I wish she'd kept back her letter a day or two," 
 thought the squire. 
 
 " Is she rich? " he asked, abruptly. 
 
 " No ; she has a very modest income left by her 
 brother ; but her wants are few, and she thought we 
 might need help. She has a good heart." 
 
 " Confound her good heart! " thought the squire. 
 
 " Well, ma'am, as my business is over, I will 
 leave you," said the squire, sulkily. " As for that 
 boy of yours," pointing his finger at Herbert, " I 
 advise you to teach him better manners. He won't 
 gain anything by his impertinence. If he had acted 
 differently I would have given him employment, or 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 131 
 
 got my superintendent to do so. Now, of course, 
 that is out of the question." 
 
 " I should have been unable to accept it, Squire 
 Leech," said Herbert. " I have made an engage- 
 ment already." 
 
 The squire had forgotten this, and it was mortify- 
 ing to learn that his patronage was of no impor- 
 tance to the boy whom he detested. 
 
 " Good-morning ! " he said, abruptly, and left the 
 •room. 
 
 " I am afraid, Herbert, you treated the squire 
 disrespectfully," said Mrs. Carter, when the great 
 man had left the house. 
 
 " I don't think so, mother, unless to oppose his 
 wishes is to be disrespectful." 
 
 " He spoke as if he thought you did." 
 
 " I know that, but he wouldn't if he hadn't been 
 unreasonable. But, mother, you know I've got to 
 go to the hotel in fifteen minutes. Just give me a 
 bite, for I'm awful hungry." 
 
 So the day which Herbert had so much dreaded in 
 advance was marked by two pieces of good luck. 
 No wonder Herbert's heart was light, and the future 
 looked -brighter to him than at any time since his 
 father's death. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 HERBERT BECOMES A PROFESSOR 
 
 When Herbert reached the hotel, he went up at 
 once to Mr. Cameron's room. 
 
 "I believe I am a little late," he said, apologeti- 
 cally ; " but I was detained at home by a matter of 
 business." 
 
 : ' You are young to have your time occupied by 
 matters of business," said the young man, smiling. 
 
 "Yes," said Herbert; "if my father were alive 
 it would not devolve upon me, but my mother gen- 
 erally consults with me." 
 
 " I hope your business was arranged satisfac- 
 torily." . 
 
 " Yes, but it came near turning out otherwise, 
 If it were not intruding upon your time I would like 
 to tell you about it." 
 
 " Do so," said Mr. Cameron, kindly. " I shall 
 be interested in whatever affects you." 
 
 Herbert gave an account of Squire Leech's at- 
 tempts to get possession of their cottage, an account 
 which need not be repeated here. 
 
 " But for that letter of Aunt Nancy's," he con- 
 132 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 133 
 
 eluded, " we should have been obliged to part with 
 our house/' 
 
 " And all for the paltry sum of twenty-two dol- 
 lars and a half? " 
 
 " It wasn't paltry to us." 
 
 " No, to be sure. Why didn't .you tell me this 
 morning? I would have lent you the money." 
 
 "You would?" exclaimed Herbert. 
 x " With pleasure." 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Cameron," said our hero, grate- 
 fully; "but I shouldn't have dared to ask such a 
 favor of a stranger." 
 
 " I must tell you that this Squire Leech has prob- 
 ably taken advantage of your ignorance of business. 
 I don't know exactly how the law is in this State, 
 but I presume that, so far as the squire being au- 
 thorized to take immediate possession of your place, 
 he would be obliged to give legal notice of sale, on 
 foreclosure of mortgage, by advertisement in some 
 weekly paper. This would allow of sale at auction, 
 at which it would, of necessity, go to the highest 
 bidder." 
 
 " I didn't know that," said Herbert. " I sup- 
 posed the squire could order us out immediately, 
 and take possession at his own price." 
 
 " Squire Leech certainly knew better than that, 
 but he evidently wanted to frighten your mother 
 into selling to him at a sacrifice." 
 
134 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " That was mean," said Herbert, indignantly, 
 " and he a rich man, too." 
 
 " I quite agree with you," said Mr. Cameron, 
 " If you have any further difficulty with this grasp- 
 ing capitalist, come to me, and I will give you the 
 best advice I can." 
 
 " I will, Mr. Cameron, and thank you for your 
 advice. You have relieved my mind. I will tell 
 mother what you say. What would you like to 
 have me read first? " 
 
 ■■ We will put off the reading for a short time. I 
 want to ask you a few more questions about yourself, 
 not out of curiosity, but because I may, if I under- 
 stand your circumstances, some time have it in my 
 power to serve you." / 
 
 " Thank you, sir. I shall be very glad to tell you 
 anything. I was afraid you would not feel inter- 
 ested in our affairs." 
 
 " You are my private secretary now, and that in- 
 sures my interest. How long since did your father 
 die?" 
 
 " A little over a year." 
 
 " What was his business ? " 
 
 " When he was a young man he was employed in 
 a manufactory near Providence, but the confinement 
 injured his health, and he learned the carpenter's 
 trade. It was an out-of-door business, and much 
 better for him." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 135 
 
 " I shouldn't think ' there would be much for a 
 carpenter to do in a small village like this." 
 
 " My father managed to make a comfortable liv- 
 ing, but that was all. At the time he died, he con- 
 sidered that our house was mortgaged for only half 
 its value, but Squire Leech thinks otherwise." 
 
 " Squire Leech wants to get possession of your 
 place, and that warps his judgment unintentionally, 
 I presume. So that was all your father was able to 
 leave you ? " 
 
 'Yes, sir; no, not quite all," said Herbert, cor- 
 recting himself ; " there was something else which 
 father seemed to think was worth something, but I 
 am afraid it will never do us any good." 
 
 " What is that? " asked Mr. Cameron, with some 
 interest. 
 
 " He was at work in his leisure for the last two 
 years of his life on an invention." 
 
 "An invention! Of what nature?" 
 
 " You know I told you he was employed in a cot- 
 ton manufactory when a young man. This made 
 him familiar with the process of spinning and weav- 
 ing. He thought he could make an improvement in 
 some of the machinery used, and he worked out his 
 idea in a wooden model. He had just completed 
 it before he died." 
 
 " Have you the model? " asked Cameron,, with 
 interest. 
 
336 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 li Yes, sir, and also a written paper describing 
 the invention. A few days before he died father 
 called me to his bedside, and told me that he wanted 
 me some day to show his invention to a manufac- 
 turer, and get his opinion of it. He said that he 
 hoped some time it would be a source of profit t© 
 mother and myself." 
 
 " Have you ever done as he advised ? " asked 
 Cameron. 
 
 " I have never had an opportunity," said Herbert. 
 " There is no manufacturing town near here, and I 
 cannot afford to travel." 
 
 " I am myself the son of a cotton manufacturer,'* 
 said Cameron, " and, though I have never been em- 
 ployed in the business, I have from my boyhood 
 been accustomed to visit my father's factory. My 
 opinion may be worth something, therefore. If 
 you are willing to let me see this model of your 
 father's " 
 
 " I shall be very much obliged to you if you will 
 look at it," said Herbert. " I have been afraid that 
 father exaggerated its value, and that it might have 
 defects which would prevent its being adopted any- 
 where." 
 
 " I will give you my opinion when I have seen it. 
 And, now, suppose we set to work. Here is a 
 treatise on logic. You may begin, and read it vepy 
 slowly, pausing at the end of every paragraph, till 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 137 
 
 I tell you to go on. I may need to have some para- 
 graphs read over two or three times." 
 
 Herbert began to read as he had been requested. 
 I am obliged to say that for the first two or three 
 times he took very little interest in his subject, and 
 privately thought it very dry. In fact, it was not 
 till he began to read the earlier portions by way of 
 review, that he could comprehend much of it. 
 
 " Now," said Cameron, after he had read half an 
 hour, " I have something else for you to do. You 
 are not only my reader, but I must make you my 
 teacher, too." 
 
 Herbert laughed. 
 
 " I think you'll have to get somebody that knows 
 more than I, then," he said. " I wouldn't venture to 
 teach a college student." 
 
 " I mean that you shall hear my lessons. I want 
 you to imagine yourself a college professor, and ask 
 me questions on what you have just read." 
 
 " Do you think I can ? " 
 
 :i You may bungle a little at first, but you'll im- 
 prove. If you do well, when I get through with you 
 I will try to get you a professor's chair at some col- 
 lege." 
 
 " I should like that, if professors get well paid." 
 
 " They generally get more than five dollars a 
 week ; but that is all that I can afford to pay at pres- 
 ent." 
 
138 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I'm only an apprentice," said Herbert, smiling, 
 " and am quite satisfied." 
 
 According to directions, Herbert began to ques- 
 tion Cameron on what he had been reading. He 
 did not find it altogether easy, partly from want of 
 practice, partly because the subject was one he knew 
 nothing about. But whenever blunders were made 
 Cameron laughed good-naturedly, and the young 
 professor joined in the merriment. 
 
 " We'll take political economy next," said the stu- 
 dent. " You won't find that so dry as logic." 
 
 This proved to be so. Though political economy 
 is generally studied in the junior or senior year at 
 college, its principles, if familiarly illustrated, are 
 not beyond the comprehension of a boy of fifteen. 
 He found himself reading with interest, and when 
 he came to act the role of professor, and question 
 his pupil, he acquitted himself more creditably than 
 with logic. 
 
 " I think," said Cameron, " I shall recommend 
 you for the chair of political economy. You seem 
 more familiar with it than with logic." 
 
 " I like it much better," said Herbert. 
 
 " So do I. Still, logic is important in its way. 
 To-morrow I must try you on Latin." 
 
 " I am afraid it won't be much use," said our 
 hero. " I have studied it a little two winters, when 
 we had a college student keeping our winter school, 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 139 
 
 but I only translated through the life of Joseph in 
 ' Andrews' Latin Lessons.' " 
 
 " If you know as much as that you will answer 
 my purpose better than I anticipated. Now, if you 
 don't object, we'll vary our programme, and take a 
 walk. You shall show me the houses of Wray- 
 burn." 
 
 " The houses of Wrayburn are four in number," 
 said Herbert ; " two churches, the town hall, and 
 Squire Leech's house." 
 
 " There's another walk which I prefer to either 
 of these four; I mean to Prospect Pond. Suppose 
 we walk over to it." 
 
 " I shall be glad to," said Herbert. 
 
 " You are a very accommodating professor," 
 said Cameron. " You are willing to let me off from 
 Study when I feel lazy." 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 PROSPECT POND 
 
 It was a beautiful afternoon, and Herbert was 
 very well satisfied to lay books aside and walk over 
 to Prospect Pond. 
 
 This pond was about a mile from the village, and 
 probably about a mile and a half in circuit. At the 
 further end was a small hill crowned with forest 
 trees. 
 
 " That would be a fine situation for a house," said 
 Mr. Cameron, pointing to the hill opposite. 
 
 ' Yes," said Herbert, " but it would be hard to 
 get at." 
 
 " Oh, of course a road would have to be built con- 
 necting with the highway. Perhaps you will build 
 a house there when you are a rich man." 
 
 " Then I shall have to wait a few years," said 
 Herbert, smiling. 
 
 " You wouldn't be the first poor boy that has 
 grown rich. I needn't go far for an example. My 
 own father is accounted rich now, but when he was 
 of your age he was only a poor bobbin boy, work- 
 
 140 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 141 
 
 mg at scanty pay in the factory of which he is now 
 owner." 
 
 " I should like to be rich, for my mother's sake," 
 said Herbert. 
 
 " With money one can do a great deal of good, 
 though not all rich men choose to apply their riches 
 worthily. How smooth the water is to-day! Isn't 
 there a boat somewhere that we can use? " 
 
 " There's one a few rods from here, but it be- 
 longs to James Leech." 
 
 " You mean Squire Leech ? " 
 
 " No, I mean his son." 
 
 " Would it do to take it, do you think? " 
 
 " It might do for you, but not for me." 
 
 " Why not for you ? " 
 
 " James and I are not very good friends." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " He looks down upon me because I am poor." 
 
 " So he is inclined to put on airs, on account of 
 his father's money?" 
 
 " I should say he is." 
 
 " Let us go and see the boat, at any rate." 
 
 Herbert led the way through a meadow to a 
 clump of trees, where a small rowboat floated upon 
 the water, fastened by a rope to the trunk of one of 
 the trees. 
 
 " That's the boat, is it ? " asked Cameron. 
 
 « Yes." 
 
142 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Does Leech often go out in it ? " 
 
 " Two or three times a week." 
 
 " It is just about large enough for two, though it 
 would easily accommodate one more." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "If I thought your friend would not be round I 
 should be tempted to try it for half an hour." 
 
 " I think you might venture." 
 
 " Jump in, then, and we'll push out. Here are 
 the oars." 
 
 Herbert shook his head. 
 
 " If the boat belonged to anyone but James Leech 
 I would go; but I don't like him well enough to take 
 any liberty with anything of his." 
 
 " Perhaps you are right. Would you mind sit- 
 ting down under the tree, and waiting for me twenty 
 minutes, or half an hour? " 
 
 " Oh, no; it will be pleasant." 
 
 " Then here goes." 
 
 Cameron jumped into the boat, pushed off, and 
 began to row in a style that showed he was accus- 
 tomed to the exercise. The pond was so small that 
 it was not easy for him to get out of sight. 
 
 Herbert sat down under the trees, and looked 
 after him, not without a secret longing to be in the 
 boat also ; but he did not care to place himself under 
 any obligations to James, and was not sorry he had 
 declined to go. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 143 
 
 Suddenly he heard a hasty step behind him. 
 Looking up, he saw the owner of the boat close at 
 hand. 
 
 James Leech looked for his boat, and saw that it 
 was gone. Then his gaze fell upon our hero. 
 
 " What have you done with my boat, Carter ? " 
 he demanded, peremptorily. 
 
 " What makes you ask such a question, Leech ? " 
 answered Herbert. 
 
 " Why do you call me Leech ? " said James, an- 
 grily. 
 
 " For the same reason you call me Carter, I sup- 
 pose." 
 
 " There's a great difference between us," said 
 James, haughtily. 
 
 " That's true," assented Herbert. 
 
 ' ; And you ought to treat me with proper 
 respect." 
 
 " I treat you wfch all the respect you deserve," 
 said Herbert, not permitting himself to be over- 
 awed by the young patrician. 
 
 1 You haven't answered my question," said 
 James, finding that he had gained nothing in the 
 discussion of their relative positions. 
 
 "What question?" 
 
 "Where is my boat?" 
 
 " Out on the pond. Look in that direction, and 
 you will see it." 
 
144 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 James looked where Herbert pointed, and dis- 
 covered the boat. 
 
 "Who is that in that boat?" he demanded, an* 
 grily. 
 
 "Mr. Cameron." 
 
 " Who's he?". - 
 
 " A boarder at the hotel." 
 
 " Is it the young man from Yale College ? My 
 father was speaking of him this morning," said 
 James, moderating his tone very considerably. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Then I don't mind. My father says he is very 
 rich. I suppose I shall be introduced to him soon," 
 said James, complacently. 
 
 " If you will wait a few minutes till he comes 
 ashore, I will introduce you," said Herbert. 
 
 " You ! What do you know of him ? " sneered 
 James. 
 
 " I passed the afternoon with him," said Herbert. 
 "We came down here together." 
 
 " He must be -hard up for company," said James, 
 with another sneer. 
 
 "Look here, James Leech," said Herbert, his 
 eyes .flashing ; " I've had enough of that kind of 
 talk. I don't intend to submit to your impudence. 
 When you speak to me, keep a civil tongue in your 
 head." 
 
 " I never heard such impudence," °*M Tames, as- 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 145 
 
 tonished. "What do you mean by addressing me in 
 that style ? " 
 
 " What do I mean ? I mean to warn you to be 
 civil." 
 
 " Look here, Carter ! I'll tell my father of this, 
 and he'll turn you out of house and home," ex- 
 claimed James, furiously. 
 
 " He hasn't the power, fortunately," said Her- 
 bert, coolly. 
 
 " Hasn't "he got a mortgage on your place? " 
 
 " Yes ; but the interest was paid to-day and no 
 more will be due for six months." 
 
 " Where did you get the money to pay the in- 
 terest? " asked James, who had not seen his father 
 since morning. 
 
 " That's no business of yours. It is enough for 
 you to know that it is paid, and that your father 
 has no more control over us than we have over 
 him." 
 
 James was disappointed. He had expected, from 
 what his father told him, that the interest would not 
 be paid, and that Mrs. Carter and Herbert would 
 be at his father's mercy. It was certainly surpris- 
 ing that they had raised the necessary money. 
 
 He decided to change the subject. 
 
 " Are you waiting here for Mr. Cameron? " asked 
 James. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
146 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I don't think you need to. He probably is not 
 anxious to retain your company." 
 
 " As you don't even know him, I don't think your 
 opinions as to his wishes of much importance." 
 
 " I wouldn't thrust myself upon him, if I were 
 you." 
 
 " Thank you, I don't intend to." 
 
 " Did you say you spent the afternoon with 
 him?" 
 
 " Yes, at his invitation." 
 
 " I suppose you fell in with him by accident. He 
 probably don't know who you are." 
 
 " Oh, yes, he does. He knows all about me. I 
 am going to spend to-morrow afternoon with him 
 also," said Herbert, delighting to mystify his com- 
 panion. 
 
 " He won't care to have you call much longer," 
 said James. " My aunt knows him. She has 
 written to my father about him, and he will invite 
 Mr. Cameron to call at our house often." 
 
 " I have no objection," said Herbert, " but I don't 
 think it will make any difference to me, as I am 
 Mr. Cameron's private secretary." 
 
 " What ? " exclaimed James, in surprise. 
 
 Herbert repeated his assertion. 
 
 " Private secretary ! What do you do ? " 
 
 " I read to him, as his eyes are poor, and I sup- 
 pose I shall write for him when he needs it." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 147 
 
 " What does he pay you? " 
 
 " I don't know as that concerns' you particularly. 
 Still, I don't mind telling you. He pays me five 
 dollars a week." 
 
 " That's a good deal more than you're worth," 
 said James, bluntly. • 
 
 " I think so myself, especially as I only spend the 
 afternoon with him." 
 
 James was quite annoyed to find that the boy he 
 disliked was prospering so well. He was about to 
 make another unpleasant remark, when Herbert 
 suddenly exclaimed : 
 
 " He's turned the boat and is rowing in. 
 Doesn't he row beautifully?" 
 
 The young collegian was impelling the boat to- 
 wards its mooring place with easy but vigorous 
 strokes. 
 
 The same thought sprang up in the minds of both 
 boys : " I wish I could row like that." 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 ROWING 
 
 The little boat touched its moorings and Cam- 
 eron jumped out. 
 
 " Mr. Cameron," said Herbert, " allow me to in- 
 troduce to you the owner of the boat, Mr. James 
 Leech." 
 
 " Mr. Leech," said Cameron, " I have to apolo- 
 gize for taking your boat without leave. I am fond 
 of rowing and there was no other to be had. I hope 
 I haven't kept you waiting for it." 
 
 If the young collegian had not been the son of a 
 Wealthy man whose social position was higher than 
 his own. James would not so readily have accepted 
 the apology- As it was. he said, graciously: "Oh, 
 it's no matter. I'm glad you took the boat. How 
 beautifully you row ! " 
 
 " Thank you for the compliment. I have rowed 
 a good deal. - Last year I belonged to the Sopho- 
 more crew at Yale." 
 
 " I wish I could row as well as you." 
 
 " It is a matter of practice. If I can give you 
 any hints I shall be glad to do so." 
 
 148 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 149 
 
 " Thank you," said James, eagerly. " Would 
 you have time this afternoon?" 
 
 " Yes, I have an hour to spare. If you and my 
 friend Herbert will get into the boat, and row out 
 a little way, I shall get an idea of your style of row- 
 ing, and will tell you how you can improve." 
 
 This did not suit James. 
 
 " I would rather row out alone," he said, haugh- 
 tily, with a disparaging look at Herbert. 
 
 " Unfortunately that won't do as well. You 
 must learn to row with one oar first." 
 
 " Then suppose you get into the boat with 
 me." 
 
 " That won't do as well. I am much heavier 
 than you. Now you and Herbert are, I should 
 think, about the same weight." 
 
 " Very well, then," said James, and turning to 
 Herbert he said, ungraciously : " Will you row with 
 me?" 
 
 " If you desire it," said Herbert. 
 
 " Get in, then." 
 
 They both got into the boat, and took up the 
 oars. \ 
 
 Neither was a good rower, nor was there any 
 particular superiority on either side. 
 
 When they returned, Cameron made some criti- 
 cisms upon their rowing, and gave them some coun- 
 sel. They started out again, but Herbert profited 
 
iSo HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 better by the instructions he had received, and the 
 young collegian said so when they returned. 
 
 James was far from liking this, and when Cam- 
 eron asked him if he would try another row, he an- 
 swered : " No, I am tired of it." 
 
 " If you get tired so soon," said Cameron,,." I am 
 afraid you will have to strengthen your arms by 
 gmnastic exercises." 
 
 " Oh, I am not tired in that way ! I don't feel 
 like rowing any more." 
 
 " Then suppose we walk back to the village. 
 Does your way lie with ours? " 
 
 " Nearly all the way," said James, proceeding to 
 fasten the boat. 
 
 He enjoyed the idea of walking with the collegian, 
 but it was rather a drawback that Herbert was to 
 share that pleasure with him. Still he could not 
 very well suggest that Herbert should leave them, 
 and so resigned himself to circumstances. 
 
 "Have you seen my father's house?" asked 
 James. 
 
 " Perhaps I may have done so, without knowing 
 whose it was." 
 
 " You couldn't help knowing it. It is the best 
 in the village," said James, pompously. 
 
 Cameron looked at "him curiously. 
 
 " If he comes to Yale," he thought, " and puts on 
 these airs, he'll be taken down without ceremony." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 151 
 
 " Oh, indeed ! " he said, aloud, dryly. 
 
 " Are you going to stay here long? " asked James. 
 
 ■' I can't say how long. I am here for my 
 health." 
 
 " You must come and see us. My father will be 
 very glad to see you. His sister, my aunt, has 
 written us about you." 
 
 " Indeed ! May I ask your aunt's name ? " 
 
 " Her name is Davenport — Mrs. John Daven- 
 port. She lives in New Haven." 
 
 " Oh, yes, I have met her." 
 
 Cameron smiled to himself. The lady referred 
 to was not unlike her brother and nephew, being 
 pompous and presuming — one, indeed, whom he 
 secretly disliked. 
 
 " I don't know but my aunt will make us a visit 
 this summer," said James, unconscious of his new 
 acquaintance's thoughts-. 
 
 " No doubt she will find it pleasant," said the col- 
 legian, politely. 
 
 " She wants me to prepare for Yale," said James. 
 
 "Do you think of doing so?" 
 
 " Yes, I think so." 
 
 " I think you would like it. Of course we Yale 
 men are biased, but we think no student can do bet-, 
 ter than to come to Yale." 
 
 " My father wants me to be a professional matt 
 —a lawyer." 
 
152 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " A good profession. Do you think you should 
 like it?" 
 
 " Yes," said James, complacently. " It's a very 
 genteel profession. Besides, most of our public 
 men are lawyers. I might stand a chance to get 
 into public life." 
 
 "Should you like it?" 
 
 u Yes, I should like to be a member of Congress. 
 My father has a good deal of influence, and I am 
 his only son, so I should have a very good chance; 
 don't you think so?" 
 
 " It would seem so," said Cameron, with a quiet 
 smile. " I think you had better come to Yale. 
 You would be improved in many ways." 
 
 He referred to the possibility of James having 
 some of the self-conceit taken out of him, but then 
 the squire's son did not know that, and interpreted 
 the remark as a compliment to himself. It was only 
 natural that Cameron, so he thought, should desire 
 to secure a young man of his social position as an 
 accession to his Alma Mater. 
 
 " Have you ever thought of going to college, Her- 
 bert? " asked Cameron, turning to our hero. 
 
 " I always thought I should like to go," answered 
 Herbert, " but I never -thought there was any chance 
 of it." 
 
 James laughed scornfully. 
 
 " No, I should think not," he said. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 153 
 
 "Why?" asked Cameron, meaning to draw him 
 out. 
 
 " He's too poor," said James. 
 
 "You, I suppose, have no trouble in that way?" 
 
 " My father is the richest man in Wrayburn," 
 said James, pompously. 
 
 " That is lucky for you," said the collegian. 
 
 " I shouldn't like to be as poor as Carter," con- 
 tinued James, fancying that he had produced in 
 Cameron an idea of his personal consequence. 
 
 " That is where I agree with you," said Herbert, 
 quietly. " It isn't pleasant or convenient to be poor, 
 I don't mean always to be poor." 
 
 " You probably will be," said James. 
 
 " How does that follow ? " 
 
 " You are a poor boy." 
 
 " Poor boys don't always stay poor." 
 
 " There isn't much chance for you to rise." 
 
 " I don't know why," said Herbert. 
 
 " Then it seems, Herbert," said Cameron, smil- 
 ing, " there is not much chance of my welcoming 
 you at Yale." 
 
 " I wish there was." 
 
 " So you will have to be content with serving as 
 my professor here." 
 
 . James did not understand this allusion, but pri- 
 vately wondered how Cameron could talk so inti- 
 mately with a boy in Herbert's low social position. 
 
154 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I turn off here," he said, presently. " That is 
 our house." 
 
 " Is it? " said Cameron, indifferently. 
 
 " I hope you will call on us." 
 
 " Thank you." 
 
 " Your friend seems to have a very vain idea of 
 his high position," said Cameron, when James was 
 out of hearing. 
 
 " And a very low idea of mine," added Herbert. 
 
 " Does that disturb you? " 
 
 " A little, sometimes. He carries it so far as to 
 be annoying." 
 
 " Circumstances may change with you both," 
 said Cameron. 
 
 " I hope they may with me," said Herbert. " I 
 don't want James to come down in the world, but I 
 hope to rise." 
 
 The next day Cameron was honored by a special 
 call from Squire Leech, who left an invitation for 
 the young collegian to take tea with him the fol- 
 lowing afternoon. This invitation Cameron ac- 
 cepted. 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 ANDREW TEMPLE 
 
 About half-past four o'clock one afternoon a tall 
 dark-complexioned man, wearing a white hat, in- 
 scribed his name in the register of the Wrayburn 
 Hotel. 
 
 "Can you tell me where Mr. Leech lives?" he 
 inquired of the landlord. 
 
 " Squire Leech ? " 
 
 " I dare say he is the one I mean." 
 
 " He lives about a quarter of a mile from here. I 
 can send someone with you to show you the house." 
 
 " I wish you would." 
 
 Just then Herbert came downstairs from Mr. 
 Cameron's room. 
 
 . Herbert," said the landlord, " here is a gentle- 
 man wants to go to Squire Leech's. Would you 
 mind showing him the way ? " 
 
 " I will do so with pleasure," said our hero, 
 politely. " Are you ready to go now, sir ? " 
 
 : ■ Yes," said the stranger. " Landlord, please 
 assign me a room and have my bag carried up." 
 
 M All right, sir." 
 
 155 
 
156 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Now, my lad, I am ready. It isn't far, is it? n 
 ■ " About five minutes' walk — that is all, sir." 
 
 " I never was in Wrayburn before — much going 
 on here? " 
 
 " Not much, sir. It is a quiet town." 
 
 " Any manufacturers ? " 
 
 " No, sir; not of any account." 
 
 " Mr. Leech — Squire Leech, I think you call him 
 - — was an old schoolmafe of mine. We went to the 
 Brandon Academy together. It is many years since 
 we met. I suppose he is rich, eh? " and the stranger 
 looked inquiringly at Herbert. 
 
 " He is the richest man in Wrayburn," answered 
 Herbert. 
 
 " I am glad to hear it," said the other, in a tone 
 of satisfaction. " What do you think he is worth ? " 
 
 " Some say seventy-five, others a hundred thou- 
 sand dollars." 
 
 " Very good ! " commented Andrew Temple, for 
 this was the name he had inscribed in the hotel 
 register — " for the country, I mean. In the city 
 that wouldn't make a rich man." 
 
 " Wouldn't it ? " asked Herbert, who had sup- 
 posed a man worth a hundred thousand dollars 
 would be rich anywhere. 
 
 " No, to be sure not. It costs a great deal more 
 to live. Why, I myself am worth something like 
 that ; but in New York nobody regards me as rich.'* 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 157 
 
 " I should feel rich with ten thousand," said Her- 
 bert. 
 
 " That would about pay my expenses for a year," 
 said Temple, condescendingly. 
 
 " Squire Leech doesn't spend anywhere near that. 
 I don't believe it costs him two thousand dollars a 
 year." 
 
 " Very likely. There's a great deal of differ- 
 ence between the country and the city." 
 
 " Is it easy to make money in the city? " asked 
 Herbert, interested. 
 
 " Yes, if a man is sharp, and has some money to 
 start with. Do you think of going there ? " 
 
 " I am afraid it would be of no use. I have no 
 money to start with, and I am afraid I am not 
 smart." 
 
 " Wait a while, and I may give you a lift. 
 Here's my card." 
 
 " Thank you, sir," said Herbert, as he read on the 
 bit of pasteboard : " Andrew Temple, No. — ■ 
 Nassau Street, Room 12." 
 
 " That's my office," said the stranger. " I specu- 
 late in stocks." 
 
 " Is that a good business ? " 
 
 " Capital, if you know the ropes. If you ever 
 come to the city, call at my office." 
 
 " Thank you, sir. Here we are at Squire Leech's 
 
 house." 
 
 13 - - 
 
158 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I am much obliged to you. Allow me to com- 
 pensate you for the trouble." Mr. Temple thrust 
 his thumb and forefinger into his vest pocket. 
 
 " Oh, no, sir, I don't want pay," said Herbert, 
 hurriedly. 
 
 " But I have put you to trouble." 
 
 " No, I was on my way home." 
 
 Mr. Temple didn't insist on payment. He had 
 made the offer as a matter of form and was relieved 
 to find it declined. He said " good-night" gra- 
 ciously, and advanced to the front door. 
 
 " Is Squire Leech at home? " he inquired of the 
 servant.. 
 
 " Yes, sir; I believe so. Won't you walk in? " 
 
 " Thank you. Please hand your master that 
 card." 
 
 Squire Leech speedily presented himself. He did 
 not immediately recall Mr. Temple's name, and 
 greeted him distantly. Not so Mr. Temple. He 
 rose, and shook the squire's passive hand energetic- 
 ally. 
 
 " Why, Leech, it seems like old times seeing you 
 again," he said. 
 
 " You have the advantage of me," said the squire, 
 in a puzzled tone. 
 
 " You don't mean to say you've forgotten Tem- 
 ple — Andrew Temple? Why, we were at the 
 Brandon Academy together." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 159 
 
 " I suppose I ought to remember you," said Squire 
 Leech. 
 
 " To be sure you ought. ^\¥e were very good 
 friends in the old days." 
 
 One reason of the squire's distant manner was 
 that Mr. Temple, though a rich man according to 
 his own account, had a somewhat seedy, look. In 
 fact, he looked. in poor circumstances. The squire 
 was afraid he intended to ask for help on the score 
 of old friendship. It was with a hesitating voice, 
 therefore, that he asked : " How has the world 
 treated you ? " 
 
 " I have nothing to complain of," said Temple, 
 cheerfully. " I am not rich, to be sure. Probably 
 I am not worth more than a hundred thousand dol- 
 lars, at the outside; but before five years roll over 
 my head, I see my way clear to half a million." ■ 
 
 Squire Leech's manner changed instantaneously. 
 His old schoolmate, instead of being an applicant 
 for help, was quite as rich as himself, and hoping 1 
 to be much richer. 
 
 " I am glad to see you," he said, cordially. 
 " How long have you been in town ? " 
 
 " Only just arrived. I inquired my way here 
 just as soon as I found out that you were living 
 here." 
 
 " Are you at the hotel ? " 
 
 " Yes. I left my luggage there " 
 
160 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " You must come up and stop with me. We will 
 talk over old times." \ 
 
 " Thank you ; it would be much pleasanter for me, 
 of course. In fact, I came to Wrayburn on account 
 of ) r our being here. I happened to be in the neigh- 
 borhood on business, and, though time is precious, 
 I said, ' I must see Leech at any rate.' So here I 
 am. But I haven't asked after you. Fortune has 
 smiled on you, I hope? " 
 
 " Yes," said the squire, " I am comfortable." 
 
 " The boy that guided me here said that you were 
 the richest man in Wrayburn." 
 
 " I believe I am," said the squire, complacently. 
 " I am worth somewhere about the same as you." 
 
 " That's very fair ; in fact, it is more for you 
 than for me. Wliy, it costs me ten thousand dol- 
 lars a year to live in the city." 
 
 "Does it?" inquired Squire Leech, with con- 
 siderable respect. 
 
 " I've sometimes thought of going to the country, 
 where my expenses would be much less ; but, after 
 all, you can make more money in the city." 
 
 " You think there are opportunities of making 
 money rapidly there?" asked his companion, with 
 marked interest. 
 
 " No doubt of it." 
 
 " I should like to talk with you on that subject 
 after supper. Now, I will go and tell Mrs. Leech 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 161 
 
 you are here. We will send for your carpetbag after 
 supper." 
 
 Squire Leech was a covetous man. He had a 
 passion for money-making, and he had availed him- 
 self of all the opportunities which the country af- 
 forded, and until this moment he had fancied him- 
 self successful. But Temple's talk about the large 
 amounts he had made in the city inflamed his imagi- 
 nation. Why might not he, too, rise to half a mil- 
 lion in five years ? He had about as much property 
 as his friend, and might avail himself of the same 
 means. He began to think he had been plodding 
 along in a very slow, unsatisfactory manner. He 
 would make careful inquiries, and perhaps Temple 
 would put him in the way of doubling his money. 
 Upon the whole, therefore, he was very glad to see 
 Mr. Temple, and introduced him to his wife and son 
 as an old schoolmate with whom he had once been 
 very intimate; though, in fact, the intimacy was 
 something which he could not recall, and only ac- 
 cepted on the authority of Temple himself. How- 
 ever, it is safe to acknowledge intimacy with a pros- 
 perous and successful man, and such Temple ap- 
 peared to be. 
 
 m 
 
\ 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 TEMPLE THE TEMPTER 
 
 *' This is my son, James, Mr. Temple," said the 
 squire as that young gentleman came in to supper a 
 little late. 
 
 " Indeed ! He is quite a young man," said Tem- 
 ple. " How old are you, James? " 
 
 James took in at a glance the visitor's appearance, 
 which did not give the impression of prosperity, and 
 answered, haughtily, " I am sixteen." 
 
 " I congratulate you, Mr. Leech," said Temple. 
 '■ I am not blessed with a son. I would gladly give 
 twenty thousand dollars could I have a son of your 
 boy's age." 
 
 James pricked up his ears. Temple spoke as if 
 he had the twenty thousand dollars to give. He 
 must be a man of property, and so entitled to respect. 
 
 "What are you going to do with your boy?" 
 asked Temple. 
 
 " I have not decided. Perhaps he may go to col- 
 lege." 
 
 " I think I shall be a>lawyer," said James, in a tone 
 of importance. 
 
 162 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 163 
 
 " A good profession. Some of our New York law- 
 yers make great incomes." 
 
 " Do you live in New York? " asked James. 
 
 "Yes; that is my residence. You must establish 
 yourself in the city when you are ready to practice." 
 
 " That is just what I want to do," said James, 
 eagerly. " I don't want to bury myself in a one- 
 horse country town like this." 
 
 " And be a one-horse lawyer," suggested Temple, 
 laughing. " Quite right, my young friend. In the 
 city alone you will find a broad field of action. In 
 the city alone Can you grow into professional emi- 
 nence." 
 
 That's just the way I think," said James, de- 
 ciding that Temple was a very desirable acquaint- 
 ance. 
 
 " I needn't say, of course, that I would do all 
 in my power to push you," said Temple; " and I 
 flatter myself I have some influence." 
 
 " You are very kind, Mr. Temple," said Mrs. 
 Leech ; " but I hoped that James could still continue 
 to live with us." 
 
 " You can't expect me to live at home all my life," 
 said James, impatiently. 
 
 " Perhaps your husband may be persuaded him- 
 self to remove to the city," said Temple. "I really 
 think h/yStands in his own light in staying in a small 
 place lite this." 
 
i6 4 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Just so," said James, who would have liked noth- 
 ing better than to live in New York. " There is no 
 society here. I have no boys to associate with in my 
 own position. Why won't you move to New York, 
 father?" 
 
 " That is an important move, and requires con- 
 sideration," said Squire Leech. " It costs much 
 more to live in New York than here. Of course, if 
 it were to my advantage to go, probably I might 
 consent." 
 
 " I should like to talk with you on that subject 
 after supper," said Temple. " Mrs. Leech, may I 
 ask for another cup of tea? " 
 
 When supper was over, Squire Leech led the way 
 into the sitting room, and his guest followed. The 
 vista of future wealth which his visitor had opened 
 to him had not been without its effect, and he began 
 to make inquiries on the subject. 
 
 " I suppose," he said, " there are ways of invest- 
 ing money to good advantage in New York? " 
 
 " Most certainly — many ways." 
 
 "Real estate?" 
 
 " That may do sometimes, but it is too slow for 
 me. I once owned a house uptown, but I soon got 
 rid of it. I found I could use the value of it to much 
 better advantage. I sold for thirty thousand dollars. 
 I took the money, and in six weeks made twenty 
 thousand more out of it." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 165 
 
 " Is it possible? " ejaculated the squire. " Twenty 
 thousand, did you say? " 
 
 " To be sure. Of course that was extra good luck. 
 You can't expect to do as well often, but there are 
 always ways of turning over capital." 
 
 " May I ask in what way you made this large 
 sum ? " asked the squire, fairly dazzled. 
 
 " To be sure. I speculated in Erie. It is all the 
 time fluctuating, you know. I made inquiries, and 
 became convinced that it was on the rise. I went in, 
 and the event justified my action." 
 
 Temple spoke quietly, as if it were no great matter, 
 after all. His host was very much impressed, and 
 felt like a man who has discovered a gold mine. 
 He had succeeded in saving up about two thousand 
 dollars a year for some years ; but what was that to 
 twenty thousand dollars made in six weeks? Still, 
 prudence led him to suggest : " But isn't there dan- 
 ger of losing heavily? " 
 
 " Not if you are judicious," said Temple, " and. 
 are acquainted with the stock market. It is the ig- 
 noramuses that get bit." 
 
 " I know very little of the stock market myself," 
 confessed Squire Leech. " I own some bank stocks, 
 but that is all." 
 
 Temple shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 " No-money to be made in bank stocks," he said. 
 
 " They pay good dividends." 
 
166 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 V 
 
 " No doubt; but there is little or no variation irr 
 
 value. It's fluctuation that gives a man a chance." 
 
 " I should be as likely to lose as gain, knowing as 
 little as I do of the market." 
 
 " True; but I should be happy to place my knowl- 
 edge at your disposal. As an old friend and school- 
 mate I naturally feel interested in your prosperity." 
 
 "You are very kind," said the squire; "but 
 wouldn't it be too much trouble? " 
 
 " Not at all. In fact, it's my business, and 
 wouldn't inconvenience me in the least. By the way, 
 how is your property invested ? " asked Temple, care- 
 lessly. 
 
 " Mostly in real estate." 
 
 " Here in Wrayburn? " 
 
 " Yes, considerably." 
 
 " It must pay you very little." 
 
 " That is true. After deducting taxes and repairs, 
 there is very little left." 
 
 " So I supposed. ■ It would pay you to mortgage 
 your property, or sell it, and use the money in Wall 
 Street." 
 
 " I have about twenty thousand dollars in bank 
 stock," said the squire. 
 
 " That could readily be sold." 
 
 " Suppose I sell it, what investments would you 
 suggest ? " 
 
 " I couldn't tell you on the moment; but I think 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 167 
 
 favorably of a mining stock lately put on the market. 
 I have private advices that it is likely to develop 
 extraordinary richness, and if that is the case the 
 stock may double, or even treble, in three months." 
 
 " Where is the mine? " asked the squire, eagerly. 
 
 " Out in Nevada. A friend of mine has just re- 
 turned from there, and he has given me strictly con- 
 fidential information in regard to it. He has so 
 much faith in it that he has bought fifteen thousand 
 dollars' worth of shares." 
 
 " Could I get any? " asked Squire Leech. 
 
 " I think you could if you go to work quietly. If 
 you went into the market openly, they would sus- 
 pect something, and raise the price on you." 
 
 " Yes, I see. Do you think that is better than 
 Erie?" 
 
 " At present, nothing is to be made in Erie. It is 
 likely to go down before it goes up. I have studied 
 into the matter, and know. The time may come 
 when you can buy to advantage, but not now." 
 
 Temple spoke like an oracle, and Squire Leech 
 never thought of questioning the accuracy of his 
 knowledge or of his statements. He began to enter- 
 tain a high respect for his old schoolmateias a man 
 of extensive information, who had it injsjl^power to 
 put mop?y into his coffers. / 
 
 " I have a great mind to go up to the city\with 
 you, and investigate the matter," said the squire. 
 
i68 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Do so, by all means. I shall be delighted to have 
 your company, and will cheerfully render you all the 
 assistance in my power. But, my friend, let me give 
 you one piece of advice." 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " Say as little as possible to your wife on the sub- 
 ject. Women don't understand business. They are 
 frightened at risks, and don't understand specula- 
 tion." 
 
 " I think you are correct," said his host. " Men 
 must judge for themselves. It is a weak man who 
 would be guided by his wife." 
 
 " So I say. Why, my wife happened to learn that 
 I had gone into Erie on the occasion I mentioned. 
 She remonstrated in great alarm; but when I an- 
 nounced that I had cleared twenty thousand dollars, 
 she had no more to say." 
 
 This is only a sample of the conversation that took 
 place between Squire Leech and Temple. The next 
 day they went to New York together, and within a 
 week the squire had bought largely in the Nevada 
 mine. He subscribed to a financial paper, and was 
 fully embarked on the dangerous sea of speculation. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 JAMES IS SNUBBED 
 
 In accordance with the invitation which he had 
 accepted, Cameron walked over to take supper with 
 Squire Leech. His social position as the son of a 
 rich manufacturer insured him a cordial welcome, 
 and great attention from the whole family. 
 
 " You must find our village very dull, Mr. 
 Cameron," said his host. 
 
 " ©h, no, sir," he replied; " I think I shall enjoy 
 it very well." 
 
 " We have very little good society, I am sorry to 
 say." 
 
 " That's so, father," broke in James. " I wish 
 you would move to the city." 
 
 " That may come some day," said his father, 
 thinking of Mr. Temple and his operations. 
 
 " There ain't any boys I care to associate with," 
 said his son. 
 
 " How do you occupy your time, Mr. Cameron? ■* 
 asked Cjfrs. Leech. 
 
 " I walk about in the forenoon. In the afternoon. 
 169 
 
170 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 I am occupied with my professor," answered the 
 young man. 
 
 ' Your professor ! " repeated the lady, in surprise. 
 " Is one of your college professors staying here? " 
 
 " No; they are too busy to leave New Haven. I 
 refer to my young reader, Herbert Carter." 
 
 " Herbert Carter ! " repeated James, scornfully. 
 
 " Yes," said Cameron, ignoring the scorn ; " he 
 reads my lessons to me, and then questions me upon 
 them. That is why I call him my professor." 
 
 " I should hardly think you would find him com- 
 petent," said the squire. 
 
 " He don't know much," said James, contemptu- 
 ously. 
 
 " On the contrary, I find him very intelligent. He 
 reads clearly and distinctly, and I congratulate my- 
 self on obtaining so satisfactory an assistant." 
 
 Squire Leech shrugged his shoulders and had too 
 much wisdom to continue detracting from Herbert's 
 merits, seeing that his guest seemed determined to 
 think well of him. Not so James. 
 
 " He is from a low family," he said, spitefully. 
 
 " Low ? " interrogated Cameron, significantly. 
 
 " His mother is very poor." 
 
 " That's a very different thing," observed Cam- 
 eron, quietly. 
 
 " Mrs. Carter is a very respectable person," said 
 the squire, condescendingly. " I feel for her, as she 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 171 
 
 must have a hard time to get along. Indeed, I have 
 offered, to relieve her by taking her house at a high 
 valuation; but, under a mistaken idea of her own 
 interest, she refuses to sell." 
 
 "But you'll get it finally, father, won't you?" 
 asked James. 
 
 " I shall probably have to take it in the end, as I 
 have a mortgage on it for nearly its value." 
 
 Cameron looked down upon his plate, and said 
 nothing. He did not care to express an opinion on 
 this subject. 
 
 " My son will be happy to accompany you about 
 the neighborhood, Mr. Cameron," said Squire Leech, 
 with the air of one conferring a favor. 
 
 " I can go round with you 'most any time," said 
 James. 
 
 " Thank you both. You are very kind," said 
 Cameron, politely, but without expressing any pleas- 
 ure at the proposal. 
 
 " I think I may send James to Yale," observed his 
 host. " I have a high idea of your college, Mr. 
 Cameron." 
 
 " Thank you. I thmk your son could hardly fail 
 of deriving benefit 'irom a residence at Yale," re- 
 turned '•"he young collegian. 
 
 " James is my only child, and I intend him to enjoy 
 the greatest educational advantages. I should like 
 to have him become a professional man." 
 
172 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I should like to be a "lawyer; that's a very gentle- 
 manly profession," said James. 
 
 " You might rise to be a judge," said Cameron, 
 with a smile. 
 
 " Very likely," said James, in a matter-of-course 
 way, that amused the young man exceedingly. 
 
 " What an odious young cub ! ". he said to him- 
 self, as he wended his way back to the hotel at ten 
 o'clock. " I never met such a combination of pride 
 and self-conceit." 
 
 James, meanwhile, had thought that Cameron had 
 taken a fancy to him. 
 
 . " He must get awfully tired of that low-bred Her- 
 bert Carter," he said to himself. " I guess I'll go 
 round to-morrow morning, and take a walk with 
 him." 
 
 He met Cameron on the steps of the hotel. 
 
 " I thought I'd come and walk with you," he said. 
 
 " Very well," said Cameron. " Do you know the 
 way to Mr. Crane's? " 
 
 " The carpenter's ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " There's nothing to see there," said James. 
 
 •" I beg your pardon. I want to see Herbert at his 
 work." 
 
 " Oh, well, I'll show you the way," said James, 
 privately wondering at his companion's poor taste. 
 
 Herbert was hard at work when the two came up. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 173 
 
 " How are you getting along, professor ? " asked 
 Cameron. 
 
 " Very well, Mr, Cameron. How are you, 
 James ? " 
 
 " I'm well enough," answered James, who always 
 found it hard to be decently civil to our hero. " Don't 
 you get tired of working? " 
 
 " I haven't worked long enough this morning for 
 that. I dare say I shall be pretty tired before 
 noon." 
 
 " Then your other work will begin," said Cam- 
 eron. 
 
 " That kind of work will be a rest to me, it's so 
 different." 
 
 " If you had an extra hoe I would help you a lit- 
 tle," said the young collegian. " It would be as 
 good as exercise in the gymnasium." 
 
 " Perhaps I could borrow two, and so employ both 
 of you," remarked Herbert, with a glance at James, 
 who was sprucely dressed, and wore a flower in his 
 buttonhole. 
 
 " None for me, thank you," said James, with a 
 look of disgust. " I don't intend to become a la- 
 borer." 
 
 ' Yc ..'11 have to labor if you study law," said 
 Cameron. 
 
 " That's genteel ; besides, I don't call it labor* 
 Shall we go on, Mr. Cameron ? " 
 
174 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Not just yet. I want to watcft Herbert a little 
 longer." 
 
 So he lingered for half an hour, much to the dis- 
 satisfaction of James, who wondered what interest 
 he could feel in watching a farm laborer. 
 
 "Won't you go out rowing?" he asked, when 
 they were walking away. 
 
 "I have no objection," said Cameron; and they 
 spent an hour on the pond. 
 
 The young collegian undertook to give some in- 
 struction to his companion in the art of rowing, but 
 there was a difficulty in the way, since James already 
 regarded himself a good rower, and was reluctant 
 to admit faults. 
 
 " Do you think I can get into the boat crew if I 
 go to Yale ? " he asked, complacently. 
 
 " I should say not, unless you improve in rowing." 
 
 " Don't I row well ? " 
 
 " There is considerable room for improvement. 
 However, you have time enough for that." 
 
 They were cruising near the shore when a boy of 
 ten came down to the bank, and called out to 
 them. 
 
 " James," he said, " will you let me go across in 
 the boat with you? " 
 
 " Why should I ? " demanded James, not very 
 amiably, for the boy belonged to what he termed the 
 lower classes. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 175 
 
 " Do let me," urged the boy. " I left mother very 
 sick, and went for the doctor. She was all alone, 
 and I want to get back as soon as I can." 
 
 By the road the boy would have to walk about a 
 mile and a quarter, while, he could be rowed across 
 the pond in six or seven minutes. 
 
 " I can't take anybody and everybody in my 
 boat," said James, disagreeably. " Go ahead and 
 walk." 
 
 " How can you refuse the boy when he wants to 
 get home to his sick mother ? " said Cameron, indig- 
 nantly. " Jump in, my boy, and we'll take you 
 over." 
 
 " I don't know about that," said James, in a sul- 
 len way. 
 
 " Look here ! " said Cameron, shortly. " You can 
 take your choice. Refuse this boy, and I shall get 
 out of the boat immediately, and refuse hereafter to 
 be seen in your company." 
 
 James was disagreeably surprised at being ad- 
 dressed in this style, but he was inwardly conscious 
 of Cameron's superiority, and didn't want to break 
 with him, so he gave a reluctant assent. 
 
 " Jump in, my boy," said Cameron, kindly. 
 " Wrll set you across in five minutes." 
 
 " Thank you, sir," said the boy, gratefully. James 
 was not a little mortified at the snubbing he had re- 
 ceived, but he did not venture to expostulate. 
 
176 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 Cameron was fond of boating, but did not care to 
 be indebted to James for the loan of his boat. 
 
 " I'll have a boat sent on to me," he secretly de- 
 termined, " and when I leave Wrayburn I'll give it 
 to Herbert." 
 
CHAPTER XXV 
 
 THE NEW BOAT 
 
 Herbert worked steadily every forenoon on his 
 farm, as he styled it, and then had a chance to rest. 
 Cameron then proposed that they should take the 
 forenoon for their studies, and walk out or exercise 
 in some other way in the afternoon. To this Her- 
 bert very willingly agreed. 
 
 One afternoon, about the time this new arrange- 
 ment commenced, Cameron said : " Let us take a 
 walk to Prospect Pond ; I think I should enjoy a little 
 rowing." 
 
 " I will accompany you with pleasure, Mr. Cam- 
 eron," said Herbert, " but don't ask me to go out in 
 the boat with you." 
 
 " Why not? " asked the young man. " Are you 
 afraid I will upset you? " 
 
 " No," answered Herbert ; " I have confidence in. 
 your skill. Besides I can swim." 
 
 "What is your objection, then? " 
 
 " If the boat belonged to anyone but James Leech 
 I would not mind." 
 
 " Why should you mind that ? " 
 177 
 
178 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I met him last evening, and he told me not to 
 get into his boat again. He said he was perfectly 
 willing you should use it, but he didn't choose to 
 have me." 
 
 " It appears that I am a greater favorite with 
 James Leech than you are," said Cameron, smiling. 
 
 " He looks down upon me as a poor boy. With 
 you the case is different." 
 
 " Well, I suppose James is entitled to his preju- 
 dice; but if you can't use the boat, I won't." 
 
 " Don't let that interfere with your pleasure, Mr. 
 Cameron," said Herbert, eagerly. " I don't trouble 
 myself in the least about the way James treats me." 
 
 " You like boating, don't you? " 
 
 " Oh, yes, I like nothing better." 
 
 " Let us go down to the pond, at any rate. We 
 can sit down on the bank, if nothing better." 
 
 "All right." 
 
 An easy walk brought them to the edge of the 
 pond. Herbert naturally looked for James Leech's 
 boat. He thought at first something was the matter 
 with his eyes, for where there should be but one boat 
 there were now two. 
 
 " Why, there's another boat ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 " Is there ? " asked Cameron, indifferently. 
 
 " Yes, don't you see it ? " 
 
 " Well, it does look like a boat, I admit. I should 
 say it was nicer than the other." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 179 
 
 " I should say it was. Isn't she a regular beauty ? " 
 exclaimed Herbert, enthusiastically. " I wonder 
 whose it is? James wouldn't want two." 
 
 There was a smile on Cameron's face that at- 
 tracted Herbert's attention. 
 
 " Is it yours ? " he asked. 
 
 " No," answered the collegian ; " I know who 
 owns it, though." 
 
 " It isn't the landlord, is it ? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Then I can't imagine whose it is/' said Herbert, 
 puzzled. 
 
 "Can't you?" 
 
 " No," said Herbert, puzzled by the young man's 
 peculiar manner. " Will you tell me ? " 
 
 " It is yours ! " 
 
 " Mine ! " exclaimed our hero, in the utmost sur- 
 prise. 
 
 " Yes ; I bought it, and had it sent here. I in- 
 tended at first not to give it to you till I went away ; 
 but, on the whole, I may as well give it now, on one 
 condition — that you let me use it whenever I please." 
 
 " How kind you are ! " said Herbert, gratefully. 
 " I never received such a splendid present in my life. 
 I have done nothing to deserve it." 
 
 " Let me be the judge of that. Now, with your 
 consent, we will try her." 
 
 With the utmost alacrity Herbert followed Cam- 
 
180 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 eron aboard the new craft, and, after pushing off, 
 took the oars. Smoothly and easily the boat glided 
 off on the surface of the pond. 
 
 " I like it much better than James','' said Herbert, 
 radiant with pleasure. 
 
 " It's a better model. His is rather clumsy. Be- 
 sides, this is new, and he must have had his for some 
 time." 
 
 " He has had it three years." 
 
 "it needs painting." 
 
 " Even if it were painted it wouldn't come up to 
 this." 
 
 " I agree with you," said Cameron. " I am really 
 afraid James will be stirred with envy when he sees 
 your boat and compares it with his own." 
 
 " I am afraid so, too. He won't believe it is mine 
 at first." 
 
 " It may be your duty, out of a delicate regard to 
 his feelings, to give it up, or exchange," suggested 
 Cameron. 
 
 " That's a little further than I carry my delicate 
 regard to his feelings," responded Herbert, with a 
 smile. 
 
 After half an hour's rowing, Cameron said, sud- 
 denly : " I must go back to the hotel. I came near 
 forgetting an important letter, which must be sent 
 off by this afternoon's mail." 
 
 Herbert was a little disappointed, for he wanted to 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 181 
 
 remain out longer, still he said, cheerfully : " All 
 right, Mr. Cameron; we'll put up the boat." 
 
 " Don't you cease your rowing," said the col- 
 legian. " There's no occasion for you to leave off." 
 
 " I thought you might not like to walk back 
 alone." 
 
 " I don't mind that. I shall hurry back, and 
 should be poor company. We will meet to-morrow 
 morning as usual." 
 
 Cameron set out on his return home. He had gone 
 less than a quarter of a mile, when he met James 
 Leech. 
 
 " Good-afternoon, Mr. Cameron," said James, 
 who was always polite to the young collegian, the 
 rich manufacturer's son. 
 
 " Good-afternoon, James." 
 
 " Won't you turn back" and go out in my boat, Mr. 
 Cameron ? " 
 
 " Thank you, I have just returned from the pond. 
 I am obliged to go back to the hotel to write a 
 letter." 
 
 " I should have been glad of your company," said 
 James, politely. 
 
 You won't be alone," said Cameron, mischie- 
 vously. " I left Herbert Carter at the pond." 
 
 " Was he out in the boat? " asked James, hastily. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 Without a word, James walked abruptly away. 
 
i»2 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 He was very angry with Herbert, who, he naturally 
 concluded, was out in his boat. 
 
 " He's the most impudent and cheeky boy I ever 
 met ! " he said to himself. " Last evening, I posi- 
 tively forbade his getting into my boat, and he don't 
 take the slightest notice of- it. He needn't thin 1 ! he 
 can take such liberties. It'll be the last time he med- 
 dles with anything of mine." 
 
 Cameron smiled, as he read James' feelings in his 
 face. 
 
 " I should like to hear James reprimand Herbert 
 for the liberty he thinks he has taken. But I must 
 hurry on." 
 
 Just before reaching the pond there was rising 
 ground, from which James could take a general sur- 
 vey of the miniature lake. He did not have long to 
 look before he discovered the object of his indigna- 
 tion. Herbert was cruising about only a few rods 
 from the shore, and had not yet seen James. 
 
 " He don't think I'm so near," thought James, 
 with indignant exultation. " He thinks I won't 
 know anything about his impudence. I'll soon make 
 him draw in his horns and apologize." 
 
 In his excitement, James did not notice the boat 
 particularly. If he had done so, he would have seen 
 that he was mistaken, and that it was not his boat 
 But, so far as he knew, there was no other boat on 
 the pond. Indeed, there was no boy whose father 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 183 
 
 could afford to buy him one, and James had come to 
 think himself sole proprietor of the pond, as well as 
 of the only craft that plied on its surface. 
 
 He stood still a minute and watched Herbert 
 previous to his attack, somewhat as a cat stays her 
 paw when she knows the mouse is in her power. 
 
 " I wonder," he thought, " whether I couldn't 
 have Herbert fined for taking my property without 
 leave, especially after I have expressly forbidden 
 him to do it. I must ask my father this evening. 
 It would bring down his pride a little to be taken 
 before a justice." 
 
 It was rather singular that James should think so 
 much of Herbert's pride, when it was his own most 
 prominent fault. However, he felt that he was jus- 
 tified by his position in being proud, while in Her- 
 bert it was simply ridiculous. 
 
 Herbert had got tired of cruising, and made a 
 vigorous stroke, as if to cross the pond. James 
 thought it time to interfere. Accordingly he put up 
 his hand to his mouth, and shouted at the top -of his 
 voice : " Come right back, Herbert Carter ! " 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 THE RIVAL BOATMEN 
 
 Herbert, bending over his oars, heard the per- 
 emptory order of James to come back, and smiled to 
 himself as he instantly -comprehended the mistake 
 which the latter had made. From James' standpoint 
 his own boat was not visible, and it was not surpris- 
 ing that he should suspect our hero of having ap- 
 propriated his boat. 
 
 •" I won't undeceive him," he thought. " I'll par- 
 ley with him, and find out what he thinks of 
 me." ' 
 
 "What do you want?." he asked, resting on his 
 oars, and looking back at James. 
 
 " You know what I want," said James, provoked. 
 
 " How should I know? " 
 
 " I want you to come right back, at once," said 
 James, with emphasis. 
 
 "What's happened? What am I wanted for?" 
 asked Herbert, coolly. 
 
 " You'll be wanted by the constable," retorted 
 James, furiously. 
 
 " I don't understand you," said Herbert, shrug- 
 184 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 185 
 
 ging his shoulders. " You appear to be mad about 
 something." 
 
 " So I am, and I have a right to be." 
 
 " Well, I'm sure I have no objection, if you like 
 it." 
 
 James had never been so openly defied, and he was 
 pale with rage. 
 
 " Bring that boat back here," he said. 
 
 " If you'll give me a good reason, perhaps I will ; 
 but I don't think it necessary to obey, you with- 
 out." 
 
 " You are a thief." 
 
 " Say that again," said Herbert, sternly, " and I 
 will come ashore and give you a whipping." 
 
 " You can't do it." 
 
 " I can try." 
 
 " Don't you know I can have you arrested for 
 stealing my boat, you loafer? " 
 
 '"'Who's been stealing your boat, you loafer?" 
 retorted Herbert. 
 
 " You have." 
 
 " Are you sure of it? " 
 
 " Am I sure of it ? Why, you are in my boat 
 this very minute." 
 
 " I think you are mistaken," said Herbert, quietly. 
 
 " Don't you call that a boat you are in ? " 
 
 :< Yes, I do ; but there's more than one boat in the 
 world, and this isn't your boat." 
 
1 86 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 He rowed near the shore as he spoke, and James, 
 his attention drawn to the boat, saw that it wasn't 
 his. At the same time, walking nearer the edge of 
 the pond, he caught sight of his own boat moored 
 at its usual place. 
 
 " I guess I made a mistake," said James, rather 
 confused. 
 
 " I think you have," returned Herbert, quietly. 
 " I wouldn't be in such a hurry next time." 
 
 "Where did that boat come from?" demanded 
 James. 
 
 " I don't know." 
 
 :i You don't ? Then you've taken it without 
 leave," said James, returning to the charge. 
 
 " Oh, the owner won't object to my using it," said 
 Herbert, with a queer smile. 
 
 " How do you know? " 
 
 " He's an intimate friend of mine." 
 
 "The owner?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I suppose it belongs to Mr. Cameron, then ? " 
 
 " He bought it." 
 
 " Do you call him your intimate friend ? He'd be 
 proud if he heard it," said James, with a sneer. 
 
 " Would he? " said Herbert, with the air of one 
 seeking for information. 
 
 " I should think he would, considering your high 
 position in society." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 187 
 
 " I think he's a pretty good friend of mine, but I 
 have never called him an intimate friend." 
 
 " Yes, you have. You said the owner of that boat 
 was an intimate friend of yours." 
 
 " So he is. I'm with him all the time." 
 
 " Then why do you deny that you called Mr. Cam- 
 eron your intimate friend ? " 
 
 " Because Mr. Cameron doesn't own the boat." 
 
 " Just now you said he bought it." 
 
 " So he did, but he doesn't own it." 
 
 " Then who does ? " t 
 
 " I do," was the unexpected reply. 
 
 " You— own — that — boat? " ejaculated James, in 
 astonishment. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Did Mr. Cameron give it to you? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I don't believe it. That boat must have cost 
 sixty or seventy dollars. I don't believe he would 
 give you such a present as that." 
 
 " I don't know as it makes any difference what 
 you think, as long as the boat is mine." 
 
 "When did he give it to you?" James con- 
 descended to inquire. 
 
 " This afternoon. I'll row in. Perhaps you 
 would like to examine it." 
 
 He rowed ashore, and jumped out. 
 
 James surveyed with envious eyes the neat, grace- 
 
188 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 ful boat, for he saw at a glance that his own boat, 
 even when new, was by no means its equal. 
 
 " How do you like it? " asked Herbert, not with- 
 out pride. " Isn't it a beauty? " 
 
 : ' Very fair," answered James, condescendingly. 
 " Did you ask Mr. Cameron to give it to you? " 
 
 " I never ask for gifts," said Herbert, with em- 
 phasis. " What makes you ask such a question as 
 that?" 
 
 " I thought it queer that he should have given you 
 such a handsome present." 
 
 " It was certainly very generous in him," said 
 Herbert. 
 
 " I shouldn't think you'd want to accept it, 
 though." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " Because you are a poor boy, and it don't corre- 
 spond with your position." 
 
 " Perhaps not; but that don't trouble me," said 
 Herbert, laughing. 
 
 " A less expensive boat would have been more ap- 
 propriate." 
 
 " Perhaps it would ; but you wouldn't have me re- 
 fuse it on that account ? " 
 
 James did not answer, and Herbert asked : " Are 
 you going out in your boat this afternoon ? " 
 
 " I should like to try yours," said James, more 
 graciously, for he was asking a favor. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 189 
 
 " I shall be glad to have you," said Herbert, po- 
 litely. 
 
 " And you may take mine," said James, with un- 
 wonted politeness. 
 
 " All right." ■ 
 
 The two boys got into the boats, and pulled out 
 from the shore. James was charmed with the new 
 boat. He could not help seeing that in every way it 
 was superior to his own boat, apart from its being 
 newer. It was certainly very provoking to think that 
 a boy like Herbert Carter, poor almost to beggary, 
 should own such a beautiful little boat, while he, a 
 rich man's son, had to put up with an inferior one. 
 Until to-day he had felt satisfied with his own boat; 
 now he felt very discontented. 
 
 " I say, Herbert," he began, when they returned 
 from their short trip, " don't you want to exchange 
 your boat for mine? " 
 
 "Not much," answered Herbert; " I should be a 
 fool to do that." 
 
 " I don't mean even, for I know your boat is bet- 
 ter. I'll give you five dollars to boot." 
 
 "No, thank you; there's a good deal more than 
 five dollars' difference between your boat and mine." 
 
 " Five dollars would come handy to a poor boy 
 like you," said James, in his usual tone of insolent 
 condescension. 
 
 " I don't want it enough to exchange boats." 
 
i 9 o HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Well, I'll give you ten dollars," said James. 
 " That's an offer worth thinking about." 
 
 " I shan't need to think about it," said Herbert. 
 " I say no." 
 
 " You've got an extravagant idea of your boat. 
 Mine is nearly as good, but I've taken a fancy to 
 yours. How will you trade, anyway? " 
 
 " I don't feel at liberty to trade at all. Mr. 
 Cameron gave me the boat, but he is to have the use 
 of it while he is here. He wouldn't be willing to 
 have me exchange." 
 
 " He can have the use of it all the same if it is 
 mine." 
 
 " It won't do, James," said Herbert, shaking his 
 head. " The boat is mine, and I would rather keep 
 it than take any other in exchange." 
 
 " You are very foolish, then," said James, disap- 
 pointed. 
 
 " I may be, but that is my answer. Would you 
 like to go out in it again? " 
 
 " No; I'm tired of boating for this afternoon." 
 
 James walked away. He made up his mind, since 
 he could not have Herbert's boat, to tease his father 
 to buy him a new one that would, if possible, exceed 
 in elegance Herbert Carter's. As to rowing in an 
 inferior one, his pride would not permit it. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 THE RACE 
 
 James broached the subject which was uppermost 
 in his mind as soon as he got home. 
 
 " I wish you'd buy me a new boat, father," he 
 said. 
 
 " What's the matter with the boat you have 
 now? " asked his father. 
 
 " It's getting old." 
 
 " Isn't it perfectly sound ? " 
 
 " Ye-es," James admitted, reluctantly. 
 
 " Then what do you want of a new one ? " 
 
 " I don't want to be outdone by a boy like Her- 
 bert Carter." 
 
 " T don't see how that can be." 
 
 " He's got a beautiful new boat, twice as hand- 
 some as mine ever was." 
 
 " He has ! " exclaimed the squire, in amazement. 
 " How can he have, without any money? " 
 
 "'Mr. Cameron gave it to him." 
 
 " I don't believe it. Probably the boat belongs to 
 Mr. Cameron, and he has only let Herbert use it." 
 
 James shook his head. 
 
 191 
 
i 9 2 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " No," he said, " Mr. Cameron gave it to him. 
 Herbert told me so." 
 
 " Perhaps he has not told the truth," suggested 
 the squire. 
 
 " He wouldn't tell a lie — that is, about that," said 
 James, modifying his first assertion, lest it might be , 
 a compliment to Herbert. In reality he had implicit 
 confidence in Herbert's word, much as he disliked 
 him. 
 
 ' You wouldn't want me to be rowing around in 
 a poor boat, while that beggar has a new one," said 
 James, artfully appealing to his father's pride. 
 
 " Well, the fact is, my son," said the squire, rather 
 embarrassed, " it would not be convenient for me to 
 buy you a new boat just now." 
 
 " Why not, father? I thought you had plenty of 
 money." 
 
 " So I have; but I have made some investments 
 under the advice of Mr. Temple, and so my funds 
 are locked up." 
 
 James looked disappointed. 
 
 " If you can arrange to exchange boats by paying 
 a little boot, you may do so." 
 
 " I have proposed it, but Herbert is very stiff about 
 it. He wants the pleasure of outshining me." 
 
 " Humph ! " said the squire, clearing his throat ; 
 " I think you will have to wait a while." 
 
 " How long? " asked James, dissatisfied. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 193 
 
 " I'll tell you what I'll do," said his father. " If 
 things go well, I expect to make a good deal of 
 money within twelve months. Instead of a rowboat, 
 I'll buy you a beautiful little sailboat next sea- 
 son." 
 
 " Will you? " exclaimed James, delighted. 
 
 ' s Yes; won't that be much better than a rowboat, 
 which, after all, would only put you on a level with 
 young Carter? " 
 
 " You are right, father ; I wish I could have it 
 this year." 
 
 " I can't promise it so soon. Next spring I hope 
 to get it for you." 
 
 This promise restored James' good spirits. Cer- 
 tainly a sailboat would be far better than a rowboat, 
 and there was very little chance of Herbert's having 
 one given him. So he went out rowing contentedly 
 the next afternoon, although Herbert was out also 
 in the new boat. 
 
 " Your boat is better than mine," said James, con- 
 descendingly. " However, it's hardly worth while 
 for me to get a new one, as I am to have an elegant 
 yacht next year." 
 
 " Are you? " said Herbert, interested. 
 
 " Father has promised to get me one. He would 
 get me one this season, but it would be some time 
 before it could be got ready, and I can have it the 
 first thing next spring." 
 
294 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I congratulate you," said Herbert. " I should 
 like a sailboat myself." 
 
 " I dare say you would," said James, pompously, 
 " but of course you cannot expect to have one." 
 
 " I don't think there is much chance myself, un- 
 less somebody leaves me a fortune," said Herbert, 
 good-naturedly. " I am satisfied with this boat." 
 
 " Of course it is more than a boy in your circum- 
 stances could expect." 
 
 Herbert smiled. He was used to references to his 
 circumstances. James never allowed him to forget 
 that he was a poor boy. He thought it hardly worth 
 noticing, and changed the subject. 
 
 " Shall we have a race? " he asked. 
 
 " Just as you say," said James. 
 
 Privately, James Leech thought himself the better 
 rower of the two, or he would not have consented. 
 It was arranged to row across the pond. 
 
 " Are you ready? " asked Herbert. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Give way, then." 
 
 Both bent to their oars and rowed their best. But 
 it was not long before Herbert began to draw away 
 from his antagonist. He had not had as much prac- 
 tice as James, but he was stronger in the arms, and 
 had paid more attention to Cameron's instructions. 
 He came in more than a dozen lengths ahead of his 
 competitor. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 195 
 
 " I've won the race, James," he said, with a good- 
 natured smile. 
 
 " You ought to," said James, in a surly tone. 
 
 " I haven't had as much practice as you." 
 
 " What if you haven't ? You've got a new boat, 
 while mine is old and clumsy." 
 
 " If you think that makes any- difference, I'll row 
 back with you, changing boats." 
 
 " Agreed," said James, who really believed that it 
 was the difference in the boats that led to the result. 
 
 The change was soon effected, and they started 
 back. But the result was about the same; James 
 brought up the rear at about the same distance. 
 
 " Beaten again," said Herbert, pleased with his 
 success. 
 
 " There's nothing to crow about," said James, 
 crossly. " Your boat is a good one, but I'm not used 
 to it, that's all." 
 
 " I am not much used to ft myself. I only rowed 
 in it yesterday for the first time." 
 
 " That's long enough to get the hang of it. After 
 all, there isn't much fun in rowing. I'd a good deal 
 rather sail." 
 
 " I like both. There's more exercise in rowing." 
 
 " Don't you get exercise enough in hoeing pota- 
 toes ? " asked James, with a sneer. " I shouldn't 
 think laborers would need any extra exercise." 
 
 " There's some advantage in varying your exer- 
 
i 9 6 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 cise," answered Herbert, with good temper. " There 
 isn't much fun in hoeing." 
 
 " No, I should think not." 
 
 "Are you going in?" asked Herbert, noticing 
 that James was proceeding to fasten his boat. 
 
 " Yes, I've g it tired of the water." 
 
 Herbert was not to be alone, however, for. just 
 then Mr. Cameron appeared on the bank. 
 
 " I think I'll go out with you," he said. 
 
 " All right," said Herbert, with alacrity, as he 
 rowed the boat to shore. 
 
 " Mr. Cameron," said our hero, " mother has 
 asked me to invite you to take tea with us this even- 
 ing if you have no better engagement." 
 
 " I shall be very glad to come," said the young 
 collegian, promptly. 
 
 " We live in humble style, you know," said Her- 
 bert, " but I told mother you wouldn't mind that." 
 
 " Thank you for saying so. I shall be very glad to 
 meet your mother, and expect to enjoy myself better 
 than at Squire Leech's table. It isn't the style, but 
 the company, that gives the pleasure." 
 
 Herbert was pleased at the manner in which the 
 invitation was accepted, and decided that Mr. Cam- 
 eron was a real gentleman, while the squire and his 
 son were only poor imitations. 
 
 "Why is James going away so soon?" asked 
 Cameron. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 197 
 
 " I have beaten him in two races," said Herbert. 
 " Very likely that doesn't suit him." 
 
 " I am not surprised to hear of your success. You 
 are really gaining very fast." 
 
 " I am glad of it. I want to be a good rower." 
 
 " It is a good thing to do well anything you under- 
 take, whether it be rowing or anything else." 
 
 " James thinks I don't need to row for exercise." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " He thinks I shall get enough exercise in hoeing 
 potatoes," answered Herbert, with a" smile. 
 
 " It wouldn't do him any harm to get exercise in 
 the same way." 
 
 " The very idea would shock him." 
 
 They rowed about for an hour, and then Cameron 
 went back to the hotel, oromising to reach the 
 widow's cottage at five o'clock. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 MRS. CARTER'S GUEST 
 
 At five o'clock Mr. Cameron' knocked at the door 
 of Mrs. Carter's cottage. It was opened by Herbert 
 himself. 
 
 " Walk in, Mr. Cameron," he said, cordially. 
 " My mother is in the next room." 
 
 Mrs. Carter was already prepossessed in favor of 
 Cameron from what her son had told her of him, and 
 this feeling was strengthened by the easy yet deferen- 
 tial manner in which the young collegian greeted 
 her. In worldly advantages he was her superior, yet 
 with the instinct of a true gentleman he seemed 
 wholly unconscious of any such difference, and did 
 not exhibit the least trace of condescension, as many 
 well-meaning but really ill-bred persons would have 
 done. 
 
 " I have wanted to see you for some time, Mrs. 
 Carter," he said. " As the mother of my professor, 
 the desire was only natural." 
 
 " Herbert tells me he has learned a good deal since 
 he has been reading to you. He has often spoken of 
 his good fortune in meeting you." 
 
 198 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 199 
 
 " I feel equally fortunate in meeting him," said 
 the collegian. " Not every boy of his age would 
 adapt himself to the duties of his position as readily 
 and intelligently as he has done." 
 
 " I am very glad if you find Herbert of service to 
 you," said Mrs. Carter. " In all ways the engage- 
 ment has been of advantage to him.^' 
 
 " Squire Leech was kind enough to offer me the 
 services of his son, James," said Cameron, smiling; 
 " but I fancy the arrangement would have suited 
 neither of us." 
 
 " James would hardly have been willing to sacri- 
 fice so much of his time," said Herbert, " though he 
 might be willing to try it a day or two to supersede 
 me." 
 
 " I think I shall have to worry along with my 
 present professor," said Cameron, " and allow James 
 to devote his superior talents to seme other business." 
 
 The table was already spread, and they sat down 
 to supper. In honor of the guest, there was provided 
 a greater variety than usual, and both Herbert and 
 Mrs. Carter were gratified to find that the young 
 collegian did ample justice to the meal. 
 
 " I feel almost ashamed of my appetite," said 
 Cameron; " but the change from the stereotyped bill 
 of fare at the hotel is pleasant, and gives the food 
 an increased relish*"" 
 
 " I am glad to hear you say so, Mr. Cameron," 
 
200 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY - 
 
 said the widow. " I could hardly expect to compete 
 with the hotel in point of variety, but the change no 
 doubt helps to make up my deficiencies. Let me give 
 you another cup of tea." 
 
 '' Thank you. I don't often venture on a third 
 cup, but I think I will make an exception of to- 
 night." 
 
 " Dr. Johnson sometimes got up to a dozen, I 
 believe," said Herbert. 
 
 " He exceeded that number at times ; but we must 
 remember that the cups in his day barely contained 
 a third as much as ours, so he was not so immoderate, 
 after all. His excesses in eating were less pardon- 
 able." 
 
 " Was he a very large eater? " asked the widow. 
 
 " He actually gorged himself, if we are to believe 
 the accounts that have come down to us," said Cam- 
 eron. " I am afraid, Mrs. Carter, you would have 
 found him a very unprofitable boarder." 
 
 " I read somewhere the other day that Victor 
 Hug® is an enormous eater," said Herbert. 
 
 " I saw the paragraph you refer to. He is a very 
 hard worker, and his intellectual labors, no doubt, 
 are a heavy draft on his physical system." 
 
 " Perhaps it was so with Dr. Johnson." 
 
 " I suppose it was. On second thought, there- 
 fore, we wil-1 pardon him for his appetite, and hope 
 that ours may have as good an excuse." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 201 
 
 " You mean that we may emulate Dr. Johnson 
 and Victor Hugo? " 
 
 "Yes; or, rather, I will limit myself to Victor 
 Hugo, and you may model yourself upon the author 
 of ' The Rambler.' " 
 
 "Thank you," said Herbert; "but there is one 
 of Dr. Johnson's labors I shall not seek to imitate. 
 I shall never attempt to write a dictionary." 
 
 " It must.be a monotonous and wearisome labor. 
 Besides, I don't think we could either of us improve 
 upon Webster or Worcester." 
 
 They rose from the table, and Mrs. Carter, who 
 could not afford. to keep a servant, herself cleared 
 away the tea table. 
 
 - Herbert," said the young collegian, " you men- 
 tioned one day that your father was an inventor." 
 
 " He made one invention, but whether it will 
 amount to anything, I don't know. He had high 
 hopes of it, but died before he had any opportunity 
 of testing its value." 
 
 " Will you show it to me? " 
 
 "With pleasure." 
 
 Herbert led Cameron upstairs into his own cham- 
 ber, where, since his father's death, the work which 
 had cost his father so many toilsome hours had been 
 kept. I do not propose to gr:e a detailed account 
 of the invention. It would not prove interesting to 
 my young readers, who will only care to know how 
 
202 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 far its value was likely to help the fortunes of our 
 hero. 
 
 Cameron examined it carefully, and in silence. 
 Herbert waited anxiously for his verdict. At length 
 he spoke. 
 
 " As far as I am qualified to judge," he said, 
 " your father's invention seems to embody ah im- 
 provement upon that which it is intended to super- 
 sede. But you must not rely too much upon my 
 opinion. My knowledge of the details of manufac- 
 turing is superficial. I should like to show it to my 
 father." 
 
 :< There is nothing that I would like better," said 
 Herbert, " if you think he would be willing to ex- 
 amine it." 
 
 " He would be glad to do so. It is for his interest 
 to examine anything which will facilitate the details 
 of his business. I am intending to go home next 
 Friday afternoon, and, with your permission, will 
 carry this with me." 
 
 " I shall feel very much obliged to you if you 
 will," said Herbert. " It may be worth nothing, but 
 it will be a relief to know that, at least. I know 
 it would have been my father's wish to have it ex- 
 amined by one who is qualified to judge of it." 
 
 " It is a pity your father could not have lived to 
 enjoy the benefit of his invention, if it succeeds." 
 
 " He was a great loss to us," said Herbert. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 203 
 
 " There were but three of us, and he was at an age 
 when we might hope to have him with us for a 
 good many years yet. If I had been a few years 
 older, I should have been better able to make up his 
 loss to my mother." 
 
 " She is fortunate in having a son who is so will- 
 ing to do his best for her," said Cameron, kindly. 
 " We don't know what the future may have in store" 
 for us, Herbert; but you may rely upon my con- 
 tinued friendship. I hope to have many chances of 
 serving you." 
 
 Herbert pressed the hand of the young collegian 
 warmly, for he knew that the offer of service was 
 no empty compliment, but made in earnest sincerity. 
 
 The evening passed pleasantly, and at nine o'clock 
 Cameron took his leave. Herbert took his hat, and 
 proposed to accompany him as far as the hotel. He 
 was walking leisurely back, when he heard his name 
 called, and, turning, saw that it was James Leech 
 who had accosted him. 
 
 " Where have you been, Carter? " inquired James, 
 in his usual unceremonious manner. 
 
 " I am returning from the hotel." 
 
 " Been to see Mr. Cameron, I suppose ? Doesn't 
 he get enough of your company in the daytime?" 
 
 " You must ask him that. He has been taking 
 tea at our house, and I accompanied him home." 
 
 " He took supper at yorr house? " 
 
2o 4 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "Did you invite him?" 
 
 " Of course. What makes you ask ? " 
 
 " He seems very fond of keeping- low company." 
 
 "What do you mean?" demanded Herbert, his 
 eyes flashing - with indignation at this insolence. 
 
 " I mean what I say," answered James, doggedly. 
 
 " Then I advise you hereafter to keep your im- 
 pudence to yourself," retorted Herbert; "and for 
 fear you may forget it, I give you this as a re- 
 minder." 
 
 An instant later James Leech found himself lying" 
 on his back on the sidewalk, with Herbert bending 1 
 over him. 
 
 He got upon his feet, pale with rage and morti- 
 fication. 
 
 " I'll be revenged upon you yet, you brute ! " he 
 shrieked, in his fury, and walked off, leaving our 
 hero victor of the field. 
 
 " I wouldn't have touched him if he hadn't spoken 
 against my mother," said Herbert, as he watched 
 the receding form of his young enemy. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 A BITTER PILL 
 
 James Leech was furious at the humiliation he 
 had suffered. What! he, a gentleman's son, to be 
 knocked down and triumphed over by a boy who was 
 compelled to work for a living! Why, it was al- 
 most a sacrilege, and no punishment could be too 
 severe for such a flagrant outrage. 
 
 How should he be revenged? First of all, he 
 would get Herbert discharged from his present em- 
 ployment. Surely Mr. Cameron would not continue 
 to avail himself of the services of a common bully. 
 To attain this, he decided to reveal the matter to 
 his father, and get him to speak to the young col- 
 legian. Such a powerful appeal could hardly be 
 withstood. 
 
 " That boy actually knocked you down ! " ex- 
 claimed the squire, when James had told his story. 
 " But why did you permit him to do it? " 
 
 " He took me by surprise," said James. 
 
 " And what did you do on getting up? Did you 
 knock him over? " 
 
 " I would," said James, " but he went off, and I 
 205 
 
2o6 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 didn't care to pursue him. I thought I would wait 
 and tell you." 
 
 " And what do you want me to do? " 
 
 " To get Mr. Cameron to turn him off. I want 
 him to starve," said James, bitterly. 
 
 " You express yourself too strongly, James ; but, 
 under the circumstances, I can't blame you much. 
 The boy is evidently a ruffian." 
 
 ' Yes, he is a ruffian and a brute, and I don't see 
 what Mr. Cameron sees about him to like, I am 
 sure." 
 
 " He don't know him. Probably the boy makes 
 him think he is a model of excellence. Such boys 
 are apt to be deceitful." 
 
 " He's deceitful enough. You'd think butter 
 wouldn't melt in his mouth." 
 
 " Well, my son, you have done right to speak to 
 me on the subject," said the squire, pompously. " I 
 shall make such representations to Mr. Cameron as, 
 I flatter myself, will dispose of the case of this young 
 rascal, and make him repent his brutal and unpro- 
 voked assault. I'll go over to-morrow forenoon to 
 the hotel and speak to him on the subject." 
 
 " Thank you, father. Put the case as strong as 
 you can." 
 
 " I will, you may be assured of that," 
 
 " If I can only get him turned off, I won't mind 
 his hitting me," thought James. " I hope to see him 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 207 
 
 in the penitentiary some day. It would do him 
 good." With this charitable wish, he awaited his 
 father's return. 
 
 It so happened that Cameron had met Herbert in 
 a walk he took before breakfast, and had been in- 
 formed of the occurrence of the evening - previous. 
 
 " I don't know whether I ought to have struck 
 James," said Herbert, in conclusion; "but when he 
 called my mother and myself low, I couldn't help 
 it." 
 
 " I am glad you did it," said the young- collegian. 
 " The boy is a disagreeable cub, and deserves more 
 than one lesson of that sort. Didn't he offer to hit 
 you back? " 
 
 "No." ' 
 
 "So I supposed. I don't approve of fighting; 
 but if he had shown a little courage to back his in- 
 solence, I should have despised him less. What do 
 you think he will do about it? " 
 
 " He will injure me, if he can," said Herbert. " I 
 don't know how, but I know his disposition well 
 enough to anticipate some retaliation." 
 
 " We will see what comes of it. Meanwhile, in 
 this matter, you may count upon my support." 
 
 Herbert thanked his friend, not realizing how 
 likely he was to be called upon to redeem his promise. 
 
 Shortly after breakfast, Cameron was told that 
 Squire Leech wished to see him. 
 
2o8 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 He met him in the parlor of the inn. 
 
 " Good-morning, Mr. Cameron," said the squire. 
 " This is an early call." 
 
 " Not too early, sir," said the young collegian, 
 courteously. 
 
 " The fact is, I have called on unpleasant busi- 
 ness." 
 
 " Really, sir, I am sorry to hear it." 
 
 "It is about the Carter boy who is in your em- 
 ploy." 
 
 " By the Carter boy, you mean my young friend, 
 Herbert Carter, I suppose," said Cameron, with 
 significant emphasis. 
 
 " Of course, he is the one, if you choose to re- 
 gard him as a friend." 
 
 " I certainly do." 
 
 " I don't think you will look upon him in that 
 light when you hear that last evening he brutally 
 assaulted my son James, without provocation, in the 
 village street, taking him by surprise and knocking 
 him over.". 
 
 Cameron did not seem as much surprised or 
 shocked as the squire anticipated. Indeed, he took 
 the revelation very coolly. 
 
 You say he did this without provocation? " he 
 inquired. 
 
 " Yes, Mr. Cameron." 
 
 " Did James tell you this? " 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 209 
 
 " He did, and he is a boy of truth." 
 
 " It may be so ; but perhaps he did not look upon 
 it as a provocation when he called Herbert and his 
 mother low." 
 
 " He didn't say anything about that." 
 
 " I dare say not." 
 
 " And even if he did use the word, it would not 
 justify Carter in brutally assaulting him.", 
 
 " I confess I don't agree with you there, Squire 
 Leech. I hate brutality as much as anyone, and an 
 unprovoked assault I certainly look upon as brutal. 
 But for a boy to resent an insult directed against 
 his mother, is quite a different matter ; and if Her- 
 bert had not acted as he did, I should have been 
 ashamed of him." 
 
 Squire Leech flushed all over his face. This cer- 
 tainly was plain speaking. 
 
 " You have probably been misled by Carter's state- 
 ments," he said. " I don't believe my boy did any- 
 thing, or said anything, that he had a right to com- 
 plain of." 
 
 " From what I have observed of your son, I re- 
 gret to differ with you." 
 
 " You are prejudiced against James," said the 
 squire, who unexpectedly found James the defendant 
 instead of the plaintiff. 
 
 " I was not to begin with ; but what I have seen 
 of him, certainly, has not prepossessed me in his 
 
2io HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 favor. He seems disposed to be insolent to those 
 whom he fancies beneath him in social position." 
 
 " If you refer to the Carter boy," said the squire, 
 pompously, " I should say that James is right in re- 
 garding him as a social inferior." 
 
 " I won't argue that point,, or consider how far 
 the possession of money, which is certainly the only 
 point in which Herbert is inferior, justifies your 
 son in looking down upon him. I will onfy say that 
 lie has no right to insult his social inferiors." 
 
 The discussion had assumed such a different char- 
 acter from what the squire had anticipated, that he 
 found it difficult to come to the request he had in 
 view. But he did it. 
 
 " I am certainly astonished, Mr. Cameron, to find 
 you so prejudiced against my son. If you should 
 find you had done him an injustice, and that the 
 Carter boy was really the aggressor last evening, 
 will you be willing to discharge him from your em- 
 ployment? " 
 
 " I thought you were coming to that," said Cam- 
 eron to himself. 
 
 He said aloud : 
 
 " If I find Herbert justifies your denunciations, 
 and that his assault was unprovoked, I will then dis- 
 charge him." 
 
 " Then you can do it at once. You have my son's 
 word for it." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 211 
 
 " And I have Herbert's word for the contrary." 
 
 " Between the two, I believe James." 
 
 " Does James deny that he called Herbert and his 
 mother low ? " 
 
 " I have not asked him." 
 
 " If you will do so, and bring me his assurance 
 that he said nothing of the kind, I will examine Her- 
 bert again, and try to get at the truth." 
 
 " Very well ; I will put the question to him im- 
 mediately." 
 
 Squire Leech did so on his return home. 
 
 " I d6n't know but I called him something of the 
 kind," James admitted, sullenly; "but it's true, isn't 
 it?" 
 
 " As to that, the boy certainly acted in a very low 
 manne \ But then you shouldn't have called him 
 so. 
 
 " I couldn't help it, when I heard him boasting 
 of Mr. Cameron's having taken supper at his house. 
 Won't Cameron discharge him?" 
 
 "No," said the squire, shortly; "he is infatuated 
 about that boy." 
 
 " Suppose we cut both of them ? " 
 
 " It won't do, James. Mr. Cameron's father is a 
 wealthy manufacturer — much richer than I am. 
 We must keep on good terms with him, but we 
 needn't notice the Carter boy. Some day he and his 
 mother will be in my power." 
 
2i2 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I hope so, father. I want to bring him to his 
 knees, the proud beggar ! " 
 
 It was a bitter pill for James to swallow, seeing 
 his^rival high in the favor of the~young collegian; 
 but there was no help for it. 
 
CHAPTER XXX 
 
 OUT OF WORK AGAIN 
 
 Mr. Cameron went home on Friday afternoon, as 
 he proposed. 
 
 " I shall be back Monday night," he said to Her- 
 bert at parting-. 
 
 But Monday night did not bring him. Herbert 
 didn't think much of it, however, as it was easy 
 to imagine that some engagement had delayed the 
 young collegian. Tuesday morning, however, he re- 
 ceived a letter from Cameron, which contained un- 
 expected and unwelcome intelligence. It ran thus: 
 
 " My Dear Herbert : When I left you, I fully 
 expected to return on Monday, but an unexpected 
 proposal has been made to me, which I think it ex- 
 pedient to accept. The physician whom I consulted 
 about my eyes recommends a sea voyage as likely 
 to benefit me, and advises me to start at once. A fel- 
 low student is intending to sail on Saturday, next for 
 Rio Janeiro, and I have decided to go with him. 
 While I hope to reap advantage from the voyage, I 
 regret that our pleasant intimacy should terminate 30 
 
 213 
 
a 14 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 suddenly. I ought not to use the word ' terminate/ 
 however, as I fully intend to keep track of you, if I 
 can, in your future plans. I may be gone some 
 months, perhaps a year, but when I return I shall 
 manage to meet you. 
 
 " I have submitted your father's invention to my 
 father, who will examine it when he has leisure, 
 and communicate with you. There may be some 
 delay, as he is obliged to go to Europe for three 
 months on business. 
 
 " I am owing you five dollars, but inclose fifteen, 
 which I beg you to accept, with my thanks for your 
 services, and my best wishes for your happiness and 
 prosperity." 
 
 This was the letter which Herbert read with feel- 
 ings of regret almost bordering on dismay. He 
 missed the daily companionship of Cameron, for 
 whom he had formed an attachment almost broth- 
 erly, and, besides, he was forced to regard the de- 
 parture of his friend in its bearing upon his material 
 interests. The income upon which he chiefly de- 
 pended was suddenly withdrawn, and, look where he 
 might, he could not see where he was to supply the 
 deficiency. The fifteen dollars which Cameron had 
 so considerately sent him would, indeed, last some 
 time; but when that was spent what was he to do? 
 This was a question which cost him anxious thought. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 215 
 
 It was not till the day afterward that James Leech 
 heard of Cameron's departure. It is needless to say 
 that he took a malicious satisfaction in the thought 
 that his enemy would now be deprived of his main 
 income. He hastened to inform his father. 
 
 " What ? Cameron gone away ? That is unex- 
 pected," said the squire. 
 
 " Yes; it is sudden." 
 , " Where is he gone ? " 
 
 " They told me at the hotel that he was going to 
 sail to South America. His eyes are weak, you 
 know, and the doctor thinks the voyage will do him 
 good." 
 
 " I wonder he didn't take the Carter boy with 
 him; he seemed infatuated with him." 
 
 " He don't care anything about Carter. At any 
 rate, he will forget all about him, now he is away. 
 The beggarly upstart will have to draw in his horns 
 now. He won't put on so many airs, I'm thinking." 
 
 " How much did Cameron pay him for reading 
 to him ? " 
 
 " Five dollars a week." 
 
 " A perfectly preposterous price." 
 
 " So I think. But he won't get it now." 
 
 " They'll find it hard to get along." 
 
 " Of course they will. They can't pay you in- 
 terest on the mortgage now." 
 
 " I don't see how they can." 
 
ti6 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " And you can take possession of the house, can't 
 you?" 
 
 " I certainly shall if the interest isn't paid 
 promptly." 
 
 " Perhaps Carter will sell his boat now. He was 
 pretty stiff about it before." 
 
 " I wouldn't make him an offer." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " If he succeeded in selling the boat he might be 
 able to pay the interest, and delay my getting pos- 
 session of the property."" 
 
 " That is true," said James. " I didn't think of 
 that. Besides, you have promised me a sailboat next 
 spring." 
 
 " If business is good, as I hope it may be, you shall 
 have one. At present I am rather short of money." 
 
 " I thought you always had plenty of money, 
 father," said James, in surprise. 
 
 " I have been buying stock in the city, James, and 
 that has tied up my money. However, I shall prob- 
 ably make a very handsome profit when I sell out. 
 My friend assures me that I stand a chance of mak- 
 ing twenty thousand dollars," concluded the squire, 
 complacently. 
 
 " That's a big pile of money," said James. " Are 
 you pretty sure of making it ? " 
 
 " The chances are greatly in my favor. Of 
 course, it depends on the turn of the market." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 217 
 
 " If you succeed, will you move to New York, 
 father?" 
 
 " Very probably." 
 
 " I hope you will. This village is awfully slow. 
 New York is the place to see life." 
 
 " There are some kinds of life it is not profitable 
 to see," said the squire, shrewdly. 
 
 " I don't want to be cooped up in a little country 
 village all my life," grumbled James. 
 
 ".You won't be. Don't trouble yourself on that 
 score." 
 
 " It will do well enough for Carter. He isn't fit 
 for anything but a country bumpkin, but it don't 
 suit me." 
 
 " Well, James, you must be patient, and things 
 may turn out as you desire." 
 
 At the same time Herbert was holding a consulta- 
 tion with his mother. 
 
 " My prospects are not very bright here, mother," 
 he said, rather despondently. " I am ready enough 
 to work, but there is no work to be had, so far as I 
 can see." 
 
 " You forget your garden, Herbert." 
 
 " Yes; that will help us a little; but I can't expect 
 to clear more than twenty dollars out of it, and 
 twenty dollars won't go a great way." . 
 
 " It is something, Herbert." 
 
 " It isn't enough to pay our next interest bill." 
 
ai8 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 Mrs. Carter looked troubled. 
 
 " If I could sell the property for what it cost your 
 father I should be tempted to do it." 
 
 " You mean for fifteen hundred dollars ? " 
 
 " Yes ; that would give us seven hundred and fifty 
 dollars over the mortgage." 
 
 " I should be in favor of selling it, too, in that 
 case ; but Squire Leech only offers eleven hundred at 
 the outside." 
 
 " He ought to be more considerate." 
 
 " He wants to make a bargain at your expense, 
 mother. That isn't all. He is provoked to think 
 you haven't accepted his offer before, and, of course, 
 his disappointment won't incline him to be any more 
 liberal." 
 
 " I am afraid we shall have to part with our 
 home," said the widow, with a sigh. 
 
 " There is one hope, mother. I don't like to 
 think of it too much, for fear it won't amount to 
 anything ; but father's invention may prove valuable. 
 You know Mr. Cameron's father has agreed to ex- 
 amine it." 
 
 " If we could only get two or three hundred dol- 
 lars for it, it would be a great help." 
 
 " If we get anything at all we shall get more. I 
 am afraid we shall have to wait, though, for Mr. 
 Cameron writes me his father is going to Europe for 
 a few months." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 219 
 
 " Everything seems against us, Herbert," said his 
 mother, in a despondent tone. 
 
 But Herbert was more hopeful. 
 
 " If we can only manage to keep along and pay 
 the next interest, I think we'll be all right, mother," 
 he said. " I mean to try, anyway. If there's any 
 work to be had anywhere within five miles, I'll try 
 to obtain it. How much mone^r have you got left, 
 mother ? " 
 
 " Ten dollars and a half." 
 
 " And here are fifteen that Mr. Cameron sent me. 
 No chance of the poorhouse for a month, mother. 
 Before that has gone by something may turn up." 
 
CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 A NEW START 
 
 Harvest came, and for the time Herbert was 
 busy. He could not afford to hire assistance and was 
 obliged to do all the work himself. When all was 
 finished, and his share of the vegetables sold, he sat 
 down to count up his profits. 
 
 " Well, mother," he asked, " how much money do 
 you think I have made by farming? " 
 ' You expected to make twenty dollars." 
 
 " I have cleared twenty-one dollars and a half, be- 
 sides the vegetables I have brought home and stored 
 in the cellar." 
 
 " That is doing very well," said Mrs. Carter. 
 
 " I have had to work very hard for it," said Her- 
 bert, thoughtfully, " and for a good many days. 
 After all, it isn't quite enough to pay our interest." 
 
 " The interest doesn't come due for six weeks yet." 
 
 " That is true, mother ; but six weeks hence we 
 shall be poorer than we are now. We shall have to 
 use some of this money for current expenses, and I 
 know of no way to replace it." 
 
 " You may earn some more.'* 
 220 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 221 
 
 " I don't see any chance — that is, here. There's 
 nothing doing in Wraybtirn. If there were any 
 factories or workshops, I might stand a chance of 
 getting something' to do." 
 
 Mrs. Carter did not reply. She knew that Her- 
 bert was right, and she had nothing to suggest that 
 would better things. 
 
 "I have thought of something," said Herbert; 
 " but you may not like it at first." 
 
 " What is it? " asked his mother, with interest. 
 
 " Would you have any objection to my going to 
 New York and trying my fortune there? "z 
 
 Mrs. Carter uttered a little cry of dismay. 
 
 ' You go to New York — a boy of your age ! " she 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " I am old enough to take care of myself," said 
 Herbert, sturdily. 
 
 " A great city is a dangerous place." 
 
 " It won't be dangerous for me. I shall be too 
 busy — that is, if Fget work — to fall into temptation, 
 if that is what you mean." 
 
 " I should miss you so much, Herbert, even if I 
 knew you were doing well," said his mother, pathet- 
 ically. 
 
 "I know you would, mother; and I should miss 
 you, too ; but I can't live here always. If I do well 
 in the city, you can come and join me there." 
 
 This w?s the first time Herbert broached the sub- 
 
222 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 ject of going to New York. He resumed the attack 
 the next day, and the next, and finally won his moth- 
 er's consent to go for a week, and see whether he 
 could find anything to do. 
 
 His mother's consent obtained, Herbert took but a 
 day to make his preparations. The next day, after 
 an early breakfast, he started for the great city, ex- 
 cited with the idea of going, but hardly able to re- 
 press the tears as he saw the lonely look upon his 
 mother's face. 
 
 " He was her only son, and she was a widow." 
 
 " I must send her good news as soon as possible," 
 he thought. " That will cheer her up." 
 
 About noon Herbert reached the city. He had 
 formed no particular plan, except to find Cornelius 
 Dixon, who would doubtless be able to advise him 
 about getting a place, perhaps would have influence 
 enough to procure him one. He did not know where 
 to look for Cornelius, but concluded that his name 
 would be in the city directory. He entered a small 
 liquor store, which he happened to pass, and walked 
 up to the counter. 
 
 " Good-morning," said he, politely, addressing a 
 young man behind the bar. 
 
 This young man had coarse red hair, and a mot- 
 tled complexion, and. looked as if he patronized 
 freely the liquors he sold. He turned his glance upon 
 Herbert, who stood before him with his fresh, in- 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 223 
 
 quiring face, holding under his arms a small bun- 
 dle of clothing tied up in a paper. 
 
 " Hello, yourself ! " he answered. " Want some 
 bitters?" 
 
 " Thank you," said Herbert, innocently, " I don't 
 require any medicine." 
 
 "Medicine?" repeated the other, with a frown. 
 " Do you mean to compare my drinks to medicine ? " 
 
 " You said bitters," returned Herbert. 
 
 " You're from the country, ain't you ? " asked the 
 bartender. 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " So I thought. You haven't cut your eyeteeth 
 yet. When a gentleman takes a drink he takes his 
 bitters. Now, what'll you have ? " 
 
 " Nothing, thank you." 
 
 " Oh, you needn't thank me. I didn't offer to 
 give you a drink. What do you want, anyhow ? " 
 
 " Have you got a directory? " 
 
 " No ; we don't keep one. We don't care where 
 our customers live. All we want is their money." 
 
 Herbert did not fancy the bartender's tone or man- 
 ner, but felt that it would be foolish to get angry. 
 So he explained : " I have a cousin living in the city; 
 I thought I could find out where he lived in the di- 
 rectory." 
 
 " What's your cousin's name ? " 
 
 " Cornelius Dixon." 
 
22 4 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Never heard of him. He don't buy his bitters 
 at this shop." 
 
 It was clear that no satisfaction was to be found 
 here, and Herbert looked further. Finally, at a 
 druggist's he found a directory, and hopefully 
 looked for the name. But another disappointment 
 awaited him. There were several Dixons, but Cor- 
 nelius was not among them. 
 
 " I must give him up, and see what I can do by 
 myself," thought Herbert. " I wish I could come 
 across him." 
 
 It seemed strange to him that one who was so 
 prominent as Cornelius claimed to be, and who had 
 been living for years in the city, should have been 
 overlooked by the compilers of the directory. He 
 was not discouraged, however ; he expected to en- 
 counter difficulties, and this was the first one. 
 
 He kept on his way, attracting some attention as 
 he walked. The city arab knows a stranger by in- 
 stinct. 
 
 "Carry your bundle, mister?" asked a ragged 
 urchin. 
 
 " No, thank you. I can carry it myself." 
 
 " I won't charge you much. Take you to any 
 hotel in the city." 
 
 " I don't think I shall go to any hotel. I can't 
 afford it. Can you show me a cheap boarding 
 house? " 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 225 
 
 " Yes," said the boy. " What'll you give ? " 
 
 " Ten cents." 
 
 " That ain't enough. It wouldn't keep me in 
 cigars an hour." 
 
 " Do you smoke? " asked Herbert, surprised. 
 
 ' In course I do. I've smoked for four or five, 
 years." 
 
 " How old are you? " 
 
 " The old woman says I'm ten. She ought to 
 know." 
 
 " It isn't good for boys to smoke," said Herbert, 
 gravely. 
 
 "Oh, bosh! Dry up! All us boys smoke." 
 
 Herbert felt that his advice was not called for, and 
 he came to business. 
 
 "I'll give you fifteen cents,"' he said, "if you'll 
 show me a good, cheap boarding house." 
 
 " Well," said the arab, " business is poor, and 
 I'll do it for once. Come along." 
 
 Herbert concluded from the boy's appearance that 
 he would be more likely to know of cheap than of- 
 f ashionable boarding houses ; but it did not occur to 
 him that there was such a thing as being too cheap. 
 He realized it when the boy brought him to the door 
 of a squalid dwelling in a filthy street, and, pointing 
 to it, complacently remarked : " That's the place you 
 want — that's Rafferty's." 
 
 Herbert stared at it in dismay. Accustomed to 
 
226 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 the utmost neatness, he was appalled at the idea of 
 lodging in such a place. 
 
 '' Gimme them fifteen cents, mister," said the boy, 
 impatiently. 
 
 " But I don't like the place. I wouldn't stay 
 here." 
 
 " It's cheap," said the young arab. " Rafferty'll 
 give you a lodging for ten cents, meals fifteen. You 
 can't complain of that, now." 
 
 " I don't complain of the price. It's dirty. I 
 wouldn't stay in such a dirty place." 
 
 " Oh, you're a fine gentleman, you are! " said the 
 boy, sarcastically. " You'd better go to the Fifth 
 Avenoo Hotel, you had." 
 
 " I won't stop here. I want some decent place." 
 
 Meanwhile, Mrs. Rafferty herself had come to the 
 door, and caught the meaning of the conference. 
 She took instant and decided umbrage at Herbert's' 
 last words. 
 
 " Dacent, do ye say? " she repeated, with flaming 
 eyes and arms akimbo. " Who dares to say that 
 Bridget Rafferty doesn't keep a dacent house? " 
 
 " He does," said the arab, indicating Herbert, 
 with a grin. 
 
 " And who are you, I'd like to know? " demanded 
 Mrs. Rafferty, turning upon Herbert angrily. 
 " Who are you, that talks agin' a poor widder that's 
 tryin' to earn an honest living ? " 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 227 
 
 " I beg your pardon, madam," said Herbert, anx- 
 ious to get out of the scrape. " I meant no offense." 
 
 " Lucky for you, thin ! " said Mrs. Rafferty, in 
 a belligerent tone. " Be off wid you both, thin, or 
 I'll call a cop." 
 
 Herbert turned to go, nothing loath, but his guide 
 followed him. 
 
 " Gimme them fifteen cents," he demanded. 
 
 " You haven't shown me a good boarding place." 
 
 " Yes, I did." 
 
 " You don't seem to know what I want. I'll give 
 you five cents, and look out for myself." 
 
 The young arab tried for ten; but Herbert was 
 firm. He felt that he had no money to waste, and 
 that he had selected a poor guide. It was wiser to 
 rely upon himself. 
 
CHAPTER XXXII 
 
 OPENING THE CAMPAIGN 
 
 Not knowing his way, but wandering wherever 
 Che fancy seized him, Herbert finally came to Wash- 
 ington Square, and took a seat on one of the benches 
 provided for the public. He looked around him with 
 interest, surveying the groups that passed him, 
 though without the expectation of recognizing any- 
 one. But, as good fortune would have it, the very 
 person he most desired to see strolled by. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius Dixon looked like a cheap swell. In 
 his dress he "caricatured the fashion, and exhibited 
 a sort of pretentious gentility which betrayed his 
 innate vulgarity. He stared in wonder when a hoy 
 with a bundle under his arm started from his seat, 
 and hurried toward him with the greeting: "How 
 do you do, Mr. Dixon ? " 
 
 " Really," drawled Cornelius, " you have the ad- 
 vantage of me." 
 
 "Don't you remember me? I am your cousin, 
 Herbert Carter." 
 
 " What.! the boy the old fellow left his old clothes 
 to? " asked Cornelius. 
 
 228 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 229 
 
 " The same one," answered Herbert, smiling. 
 
 " You haven't got any of 'em on, have you ? " 
 asked Mr. Dixon, surveying him with curiosity. 
 
 " Yes ; this coat was made from my uncle's 
 cloak." 
 
 " Shouldn't have thought it. It looks quite re- 
 spectable, 'pon my honor. When did you come to 
 the city?" 
 
 " Only this morning." 
 
 " On a visit ? " 
 
 " No.; I want to fi \4 a place." 
 
 " Humph ! " muttered Cornelius, thoughtfully. 
 " Places don't grow on every bush. Where are you 
 hanging out? " 
 
 " I haven't found a place yet. I want to find a 
 cheap boarding house." 
 
 " You might come to mine." 
 
 " Perhaps you pay more than I could afford," sug- 
 gested Herbert, who w r as not aware that Cornelius 
 had a very limited income, and occupied a room on 
 the fourth floor of a Bleecker Street boarding house, 
 at the weekly expense of five dollars. 
 
 " You can come into my room for a day or two, 
 and then we'll see what arrangement we can make. 
 I'm going there now. Will you come along? " 
 
 Herbert gladly accepted the invitation. He was 
 tired of wandering about the great city, not knowing 
 where to lay his head; accordingly he joined this 
 
2 3 o HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 genteel cousin, and they walked toward Bleecker 
 Street. 
 
 " Have you got any money? " queried Cornelius, 
 cautiously. 
 
 " Not much. If I don't find something to do in 
 a week, I must go back to the country." 
 
 " A week's a short time to find a place. But hold 
 on ! We want a boy in our store. I guess I could 
 get you in." 
 
 " What wages would I get? " 
 
 " Two dollars a week, to begin with." 
 
 " I couldn't live on that, could I? " 
 
 " I guess not. Four dollars a week would be the 
 least you could get boarded for." 
 
 " Then it would be better for me to go home than 
 to stay here, and get into debt." 
 
 " Perhaps it would," said Cornelius, who was 
 afraid Herbert might want to borrow of him. 
 
 "Can't I get something better? How. much pay 
 do you get? " 
 
 " Ahem ! only twenty dollars a week," answered 
 Mr. Dixon, who really got about half that. 
 
 " Why, that's splendid ! " said Herbert. 
 
 " So it would be if I only got it," thought Cor- 
 nelius. " I can't save anything," he answered. " I 
 have to dress in the fashion, you know, on account 
 of my position in society." 
 
 Herbert privately thought, from an inspection of 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 231 
 
 his cousin's wardrobe, that the fashion was a queer 
 one, but he did not say so. 
 
 " It's a shame the old man didn't leave us more," 
 said Mr. Dixon, in an aggrieved tone. 
 
 " It would have been convenient," Herbert ad- 
 mitted. 
 
 " He ought to have left us ten thousand dollars 
 apiece." 
 
 " What would you have done with so much 
 money ? " 
 
 " Gone into business on my own account. If I 
 had a store of my own I might have offered you a 
 place." 
 
 " But suppose I had received ten thousand dollars 
 too?" 
 
 " Then I would have taken you into partnership. 
 It would be a grand thing for you to be junior part- 
 ner in a New York firm." 
 
 Herbert thought so, too, though it is doubtful 
 whether a firm of which Mr. Dixon was the head 
 would have occupied so proud a position as some 
 others. 
 
 " I suppose you have spent all your legacy? " said 
 Herbert. 
 
 " I should say so. What's a hundred dollars? I 
 bought a new suit of clothes, a dozen pair of kids, 
 and a box of cigars, and that took up about all of it. 
 You don't smoke, do you ? " 
 
232 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Oh, no," answered Herbert, surprised at the 
 question. 
 
 " Better not. It's expensive. Wait a minute. I 
 want to buy a cigar." 
 
 Mr. Dixon dove into a cigar store, and emerged 
 with one in his mouth. 
 
 Soon they reached the boarding house. It was a 
 five-story brick building, rather shabby outwardly. 
 
 Cornelius opened the door with a night key, and 
 bade Herbert follow. So he did, up to the fifth floor, 
 where his guide opened a door and admitted him 
 into a room about ten feet square, in a bad state of 
 disorder. In the corner was a bed, not very inviting 
 in appearance. It looked very different from the 
 neat little bed which Herbert slept in at home. The 
 furniture was of hair, and had evidently seen better 
 days. There were two chairs, both of them covered 
 with portions of Mr. Dixon's wardrobe. Cornelius 
 cleared off one, and invited Herbert to be seated. 
 
 " This is my den," he said. 
 
 " Den " seemed to be the right word, though 
 Herbert did not say so. He wondered why a man 
 with so large an income did not live better. 
 
 " You can brush your hair if you want to," said 
 Cornelius. " The supper bell will ring right off. I'll 
 take you down with me." 
 
 "Will there be room?" asked Herbert. 
 
 " Oh, yes ; I'll arrange about that. If you like you 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 233 
 
 can room with me, and I guess I can fix it so you 
 needn't pay more than four dollars a week, getting 
 your lunch outside." 
 
 " I wish you would," said Herbert, who felt that, 
 dirty as the room was, it would be more like home 
 to him than where he was wholly unacquainted. 
 
 At the table below, Herbert found a seat next to 
 Cornelius. There were other clerks at the table 
 whom Mr. Dixon knew, also two or three married 
 couples, and two extra ladies. 
 
 " That lady is an actress," whispered Cornelius, 
 pointing to a rather faded woman, of about thirty, 
 on the opposite side of the table. 
 
 "Is she?" returned Herbert, examining her 
 with considerable curiosity. " Where does she 
 play?" 
 
 " At the Olympic," said Mr. Dixon. " She is Ro- 
 salie Vernon." 
 
 " That's a pretty name." 
 
 " It's only her stage name. Her real name is 
 Brown." 
 
 "What makes her change her name? " 
 
 " It sounds better. There's nothing like a high- 
 sounding name, you know." 
 
 " Did you ever see her play ? " 
 
 "Often; she's good." 
 
 " She looks very quiet." 
 
 "She don't say much here;' but on the stage she 
 
! 34 
 
 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 has enough to say for herself. Do you see that man 
 with gray hair and spectacles ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " He's an Italian count. He lost his property 
 somehow, and is obliged to give lessons in French 
 and Italian. Quite a come-down, isn't it ? " 
 
 Herbert was interested. In Wrayburn he saw the 
 same faces from one year's end to the other. There 
 were no actresses or members of the nobility to be 
 seen there. He had no idea of the variety of people 
 to be met with in the great world. His ideas were 
 enlarged, and he found a great deal to think of. He 
 resolved to write a letter to his mother that very 
 night. Though he had been but a few hours in the 
 city, there would be plenty to write about. 
 
 The dinner was quite a fair one for a cheap board- 
 ing house. Of course, those who occupied the best 
 rooms paid much more than Cornelius — some three 
 times as much — and the landlady felt obliged to 
 provide fare that would satisfy all. Herbert was 
 very hungry, and did full justice to the meal. 
 
 In the evening he discussed his plans with Cor- 
 nelius. 
 
 " Can't I get more than two dollars a week in a 
 store ? " he asked. 
 
 " I am afraid not ; though you might be fortunate 
 enough to stumble on a place where they would give 
 three." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 235 
 
 " Even that would not be enough to live upon. I 
 must take that, at any rate, and I hoped to be able 
 to save something." 
 
 " There are some newsboys who make a dollar a 
 day," suggested Cornelius. 
 
 " A dollar a day ? That's six dollars a week," 
 said Herbert, hopefully. 
 
 " Exactly." 
 
 " Do you think I could go into that? " 
 
 " Of course you can, if you've got money enough 
 to buy a stock of papers to start with. You'll be 
 you own boss. Then there's bootblacking ; but that 
 ain't genteel." 
 
 " I should prefer selling papers." 
 
 " Then you'd better try it. I've spoken to the 
 landlady, and she'll take you for four dollars a 
 week." 
 
 Herbert closed the day in good spirits. He 
 thought he saw his way clear to supporting himself 
 in the city. Before he went to bed he wrote a cheer- 
 ful letter to his mother, and deposited it in a post- 
 office box at the corner of a street. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 HERBERT AS A NEWSBOY 
 
 The next morning, by advice of his roommate, 
 Herbert got up early, and made his way downtown 
 and obtained a supply of morning papers. 
 
 The first day was not a success, chiefly on account 
 of his inexperience. He was " stuck " on nearly 
 half his papers, and the profits were less than noth- 
 ing. But Herbert was quick to learn. The second 
 day, though he still had some papers left, he cleared 
 twenty-five cents. The third day he netted seventy- 
 five. He felt now that he had passed the period of 
 experiment, and that he would, at any rate, be able 
 to pay his board. Of course, he hoped for some- 
 thing better, and indeed felt confident of it. 
 
 Three weeks later, about eleven o'clock in the fore- 
 noon, as he stood in front of the Astor House, with 
 his last paper in his hand, he heard his name called 
 in a familiar voice : 
 - " Hello, Carter ; are you here ? " 
 
 He did notTieed to turn around to recognize James 
 Leech. 
 
 " Good-morning, James," he said, politely. 
 336 
 
HERBEki CARIES LEGACY 237 
 
 " So you're a newsboy," said James. 
 
 " Yes; anyway to make a living." 
 
 " Do you make much ? " inquired his old foe, 
 curiously. 
 
 " I haven't made enough to retire upon yet ; but 
 I can manage to pay my board." 
 
 " How much do you pay for your board ? " 
 
 Herbert, hesitated about gratifying his curiosity, 
 but finally did so. 
 
 .: Four dollars," repeated James, scornfully. " It 
 can't be much of a boarding house." 
 
 " An Italian count boards there," said Herbert, 
 knowing James' respect for rank. 
 
 '' You don't say so ! " returned James, rather im- 
 pressed. "Did he ever speak to you? " 
 
 " He spoke to me this morning." 
 
 "What did he say?" 
 
 " ' Will you pass ze butter? ' " 
 
 " I mean, did you have any conversation with 
 him?" 
 
 " No; he can't speak English very well." 
 
 " Do you save up any money? " inquired James. 
 
 Herbert penetrated his motive in asking the ques- 
 tion, and did not mean to give too definite informa- 
 tion. But James was bent on learning all he could. 
 
 " How much do you make a day? " he asked. 
 
 " Sometimes more, sometimes less, just as it hap- 
 pens." 
 
a 3 8 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I can't tell anything from that." 
 
 "Why do you want to know?" asked Herbert, 
 pointedly. 
 
 " Curiosity, I suppose." 
 
 " So I thought. If it was from interest in me, I 
 would tell you ; but I don't care to gratify your (furi- 
 osity." 
 
 ' You don't expect me to feel any interest in a 
 common newsbo)'", do you?" 
 
 " No; I don't. I know you too well for that." 
 
 " I don't see what object you have in refusing to 
 answer my questions." 
 
 " If you are thinking of going into the business 
 yourself, I'll tell you." 
 
 "la newsboy? I sell papers in the street? You 
 must be crazy ! " returned James, haughtily. 
 
 " I suppose you feel above it," said Herbert, smil- 
 ing. 
 
 " To be sure I do. Haven't I a right to? " 
 
 " Oh, you must settle that question for yourself. 
 Papers, sir? " 
 
 The gentleman addressed purchased the last re- 
 maining paper, and Herbert was free till afternoon. 
 
 " How do you like the" city? " asked James. 
 
 " Very much. I should like to have my mother 
 here; then I would be contented." 
 
 " We may come to live here," said James. " Of 
 course, we shall live in a brownstone front, uptown." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 239 
 
 " I live in a brick house," said Herbert, smil- 
 ing. 
 
 " Fashionable people live in brownstone fronts," 
 said James. 
 
 " I suppose I am not fashionable, then." 
 
 " I should say not," said James. " The idea of a 
 fashionable newsboy ! It's ridiculous." 
 
 '■ I may be rich sometime." 
 
 " Then you'll have to go into some other business. 
 But there isn't much hope for you. You'll be a poor 
 man." 
 
 " You seem very confident of it." 
 
 " You've got no chance, you know. But I must 
 be going." 
 
 " Good-morning, James." 
 
 " Morning." 
 
 " Who do you think I met this morning, father ? " 
 asked James, later in the day. 
 
 " I don't know." 
 
 " The Carter boy." 
 
 " Where did you meet him ? " 
 
 " He was selling papers in front of the Astor 
 House." 
 
 " He won't get rich very fast in that business. 
 What did he have to say for himself? " 
 
 " He wouldn't tell me how much money he was 
 making. He pays four dollars a week for his 
 board." 
 
24Q HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " He probably finds it hard to pay that. It isn't 
 likely he lays up anything. He would do better to 
 stay in Wrayburn." 
 
 " Do you think so? " 
 
 " I have no doubt of it/' 
 
 u Then you think he can't send any money to his 
 mother? " 
 
 ■'. No ; he will find it hard to pay his own ex- 
 penses.'' 
 
 ' Then she won't be able to pay the interest on the 
 mortgage? " 
 
 " I don't see how she can." 
 
 " And you will seize the house ? " 
 
 " I fully intend to do so." 
 
 " Good ! That'll bring down Carter's pride. He's 
 as cheeky as ever.". 
 
 " He hasn't much to be proud of." 
 
 " That don't seem to make any difference with 
 him. He talks as if he were my equal." 
 
 " That don't make him so." 
 
 " When are you going to move to the city, 
 father?" 
 
 " I don't know," said the squire, shortly. 
 
 " I've got tired of Wrayburn." 
 
 " You'll have to stay there till my business will 
 allow me to move." 
 
 The fact was. Squire Leech had just had an un- 
 satisfactory interview with Mr. Andrew Temple. 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 241 
 
 Under the advice of that gentleman he had invested 
 a very considerable sum of money in some mining 1 
 shares, in the assurance that he would be able in a 
 very short time to sell at a large profit. But from 
 the time he bought, they began to drop. He asked 
 an explanation of Mr. Temple. 
 
 " My dear sir," said the financier, " there's no 
 being sure of the market. So many trivial circum- 
 stances affect it, that the wisest of us cannot abso- 
 lutely predict anything. We can only calculate 
 probabilities." 
 
 " You told me there was no doubt about the stock 
 rising," grumbled the squire. 
 
 " Nor is there any, if you only have patience t& 
 wait. Rome was not built in a day, you know," said 
 Temple. 
 
 " It seems to me there is a good deal of uncer- 
 tainty and risk in these stock operations," objected 
 the squire, very sensibly. 
 
 " Not under discreet guidance; if you only have 
 pluck and patience, you are morally sure of a fortune 
 in the end. Fortunes are made every day. Why, 
 there's old Jenkins, a grocer on Sixth Avenue — * 
 you've heard of his luck, haven't you? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Made fifty thousand dollars in six months from 
 an original investment of ten thousand. At first, 
 things went against him, but he was bound to see 
 
242 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 the thing through, and he did, and he's forty thou- 
 sand better off for it." 
 
 "What did he invest in?" asked the squire, 
 eagerly. 
 
 Mr. Temple told him, but I regret to say that the 
 whole thing was a fiction, intended to encourage his 
 dupe. He succeeded in influencing the squire to put 
 another large sum into his hands, and sent him away 
 hopeful. To raise this sum Squire Leech was obliged 
 to sell or mortgage most of his real estate to parties 
 whom Mr. Temple found for him. The prices real- 
 ized were less than his valuation of the property; 
 but Temple told him this was not so important, as 
 he was sure to double his money in twelve months 
 by investments in Wall Street. 
 
 So Squire Leech gave himself up to dreams of 
 sudden wealth. He subscribed to two financial 
 papers, and spent many hours in studying their col- 
 umns. He was soon able to talk glibly of stocks and 
 bonds, and the Wrayburn people thought he was on 
 the highroad to becoming a millionaire. 
 
 " Depend upon it, the squire's a long-headed 
 man," said old Tom Cooper, in the village tavern. 
 " It wouldn't surprise me a mite if he died worth a 
 million." 
 
 Such, indeed, was the general talk ; but we, who 
 know Andrew Temple better than the villagers, may 
 seriously doubt whether it was a lucky day for 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 243 
 
 Squire Leech when he put his property into his 
 hands. 
 
 About this time Herbert met a gentleman who 
 was destined to exert an influence upon his fortunes. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIV 
 
 HERBERT S LEGACY 
 
 The weeks slipped rapidly away. Herbert suc- 
 ceeded in maintaining himself at his new business, 
 and never failed to have ready the four dollars which 
 he had agreed to pay for his board. It was lucky lie 
 did, for he soon found that there would be no chance 
 of borrowing from his roommate. Cornelius was al- 
 ways hard up. As he only paid a dollar more board 
 than Herbert, the latter wondered what he did with 
 his twenty dollars a week. But the fact was, Air. 
 Dixon at present received but half that sum, though 
 pride induced him to represent otherwise. And 
 what, I ask, are ten dollars a week to a young man 
 of fashionable tastes? No wonder he was always 
 short of funds. How could it be otherwise? 
 
 Of course it was satisfactory to Herbert to feel 
 that he was paying his way. But still he had a 
 source of anxiety. He felt that he ought — indeed, 
 it was absolutely necessary — to contribute to his 
 mother's support. Moreover, the dreaded day on 
 which the semi-annual interest came due was close 
 at hand. So far as he could judge, his mother 
 
 344 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 245 
 
 would have nothing to meet it. It seemed inevitable 
 that she should submit to the squire's demand, and 
 sacrifice the house. It was a sad thing to think of, 
 yet there was this consolation: the three or four 
 hundred dollars cash which the squire would pay 
 would tide over the next year or two, until Herbert 
 was older and could earn more. 
 
 But, after all, was it certain that he would earn 
 more ? Could he sell more papers two years hence 
 than now? That was hardly likely. If he wanted 
 to advance his income, it must be in some other busi- 
 ness. Yet, to a boy situated as he was. there was 
 little chance of getting .any employment that would 
 make as good immediate returns as selling papers 
 insured him. 
 
 So, thinking over these things, our hero was nruch 
 perplexed, and could see no way out of the difficulty. 
 He had never read " David Copperfield," and had 
 not accustomed himself to expecting something to 
 turn up. He was sensible enough, indeed, to know 
 that it is idle to wait for such chances. Yet, when 
 one does his duty faithfully, things will occasionally 
 turn up, and this was precisely what happened to 
 Herbert. 
 
 He was standing at his accustomed post one day, 
 when a pleasant-looking gentleman of fifty, or per- 
 haps a little more, accosted him, inquiring for a par- 
 ticular morning paper. 
 
»46 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I haven't got it, sir; but I will get you one," 
 said Herbert. 
 
 "Will you be long?" 
 
 " No, sir ; I know where I can get one for you at 
 once." 
 
 " Very well, then, I will wait here till you re- 
 turn." 
 
 Herbert was as good as his word. As the gentle- 
 man paid him, he asked, pleasantly : " How is busi- 
 ness, my young friend? " 
 
 " Pretty good, sir." 
 
 " Can you make money enough to support your- 
 self?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 " Then I suppose you are contented? " 
 
 " I should be, sir, if I had only myself to look 
 after." 
 
 " You haven't a wife and family, I presume," said 
 the gentleman, smiling. , 
 
 Herbert laughed. 
 
 " I hope not yet, sir," he answered. " But I have 
 a mother whom I ought to assist." 
 
 " And you cannot? " 
 
 " I have not been able to yet. It takes all I can 
 earn to pay my own expenses." 
 
 " Does your mother live in the city? " 
 
 " No, sir ; in the town of Wrayburn, fifty or sixty 
 miles from here." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 247 
 
 " Wrayburn ? " repeated the gentleman, in sur- 
 prise. 
 
 ''Yes, sir; it is a small village. I dare say you 
 never heard of it." 
 
 " But I have heard of it. My son passed a few 
 weeks there during the last summer." 
 
 It was Herbert's turn to be surprised. He ex- 
 amined the gentleman's face attentively, and it 
 dawned upon him who he was. 
 
 " Are you Mr. Cameron ? " he asked. 
 
 " How is it that you know me ? " inquired the 
 other. 
 
 " My name is Herbert Carter. I was employed 
 to read to your son. Have you heard from him ? " 
 
 " We are expecting a letter daily, but the distance 
 is considerable, and we may have to wait for some 
 time yet. So you are Herbert Carter ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " My son was very much interested in you. He 
 has spoken often of you." 
 
 " He was very kind to me." 
 
 " Your father was an inventor." 
 
 " That was not his business, but he devoted his 
 leisure to invention." 
 
 " My son placed in my hands, for examination, a 
 model of his, just before he went away." 
 
 " Have you examined it ? What do you think of 
 it, sir? " asked Herbert, eagerly. 
 
248 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " I only recently returned from Europe, and have 
 not thoroughly examined it. So far as I have done 
 so, I am inclined to think favorably of it." 
 
 Herbert's heart bounded with hope. 
 
 " Do you think we can get anything for it? " he 
 asked. 
 
 " I think you can. Indeed, if further examina- 
 tion bears out my first favorable impressions, I will 
 myself make you an offer for it." 
 
 " I should be so glad, for mother's sake ! " ex- 
 claimed Herbert. 
 
 " My young friend," said Mr. Cameron, " I like 
 your feeling toward your mother. I sincerely hope 
 I may be able to make you a satisfactory offer. By 
 the way, how are you situated? Can you leave the 
 city this afternoon? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Then come home with me. You shall be my 
 guest for a week. During that time we will examine 
 and decide about the model." 
 
 " Thank you, sir; you are very kind," said Her- 
 bert, hesitating. 
 
 " What makes you hesitate? " 
 
 " T am afraid I don't look fit to visit a gentle- 
 man's family." 
 
 " Oh. never mind that," said Mr. Cameron, heart- 
 ily. " We are plain people, and don't value fine 
 dress." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 249 
 
 "Will there be time for me to go home first? " 
 said Herbert. 
 
 " Yes; you can meet me two hours hence at the 
 St. Nicholas, Hotel. I occupy Room 121. On 
 second thoughts, you may as well wait for me in the 
 reading room." 
 
 " All right, sir." 
 
 Herbert hurried home, arrayed himself in clean 
 clothes, put up a small bundle of necessary articles, 
 and in an hour and a half was at the hotel awaiting 
 Mr. Cameron. He left a note for Cornelius Dixon, 
 explaining that he was called out of the city for a 
 few days, but would write soon. He did not enter 
 into details, for he was not at all certain that things 
 would turn out as he hoped. 
 
 Mr. -Cameron lived in a substantial country house, 
 with a fine garden attached. Nothing was wanting 
 of comfort in his hospitable home, but he avoided 
 show and ostentation. To Herbert was assigned a 
 large, well-furnished chamber, the best he had ever 
 occupied, and he was made to fee! at home. The 
 next day he accompanied Mr. Cameron to the manu- 
 factory, which he found to be a scene of busy in- 
 dustry, employing three hundred hands. 
 
 " I shall be busy to-day; but to-night I will look 
 at your father's model," said the manufacturer. 
 " Probably it will be three or four days before I 
 can come to any decision." 
 
250 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 Herbert passed his time pleasantly for the next 
 three or four days. Yet he could not avoid feeling 
 anxious. Interest day was close at hand, and his 
 hopes might end in failure. 
 
 On the fourth day Mr. Cameron said to him : 
 " Well, Herbert, I have made up my mind about 
 your father's invention." 
 
 Herbert's suspense was great. His heart almost 
 stopped beating. 
 
 The manufacturer went on : 
 
 " I consider it practicable, and am disposed to 
 make you an offer for it. Are you authorized to 
 conclude terms? " 
 
 " My mother will agree to anything I propose, 
 sir." 
 
 " Then this is my offer. The model must be pat- 
 ented at once ; I will see to that. Then make over to 
 me half the invention, and I will agree to pay you 
 and your mother one thousand dollars a year for the 
 next ten years." 
 
 "Are you in earnest?" gasped Herbert. 
 
 " Entirely so," said Mr. Cameron. " Will that 
 satisfy you ? " 
 
 " I would have accepted a quarter of the sum you 
 offer, sir." 
 
 " Better not tell me that," said Mr. Cameron, 
 smiling. " I might take advantage of it. Will you 
 consider it a bargain, then ? " 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 251 
 
 " Oh, how happy my mother will bef" said Her- 
 bert. 
 
 " Don't you want to go home. . and carry the 
 news? " 
 
 " I should like to very much." 
 
 Then his countenance changed. Two days hence, 
 as he reflected, the interest would be payable. Must 
 they lose the house, after all ? If only he had a small 
 part of the money, it would make matters all right. 
 
 " Does anything trouble you ? " asked the manu- 
 facturer, noticing the sudden change in his counte- 
 nance. 
 
 Upon this Herbert told him exactly how they were 
 situated in regard to the house, and in what danger 
 they were of losing it. 
 
 " If it's nothing worse than that," said Mr. Cam- 
 eron, cheerfully, " you needn't feel anxious. I will 
 advance you a hundred dollars, on account of the 
 contract, and you shall give me a" receipt for it." 
 
 Herbert's face cleared instantly, and he was warm 
 'in his gratitude. 
 
 The next morning he started for home. 
 
 After all, the little model which his father left 
 behind had proved to be his- most valuable legacy. 
 
CHAPTER XXXV 
 
 HERBERT S RETURN 
 
 Mrs. Carter was setting the table for her solitary 
 supper. She had been very lonely since Herbert 
 went away. The days seemed doubly long. Most 
 of all she missed him at mealtime. He kept her in- 
 formed of all that was going on in the village, and 
 when there was no news to tell he talked over their 
 plans for the future. Life seemed very dull and 
 monotonous without him. Yet the poor mother al- 
 ways wrote cheerfully, for she did not want to damp 
 his courage, or interfere with the plan of life lie had 
 formed. She felt that there was nothing for him to 
 do in Wrayburn, and, since she could not go to him, 
 they must be content to live apart for the present. 
 
 " I wish I could see my boy," she sighed, as she 
 poured out her solitary cup of tea, and tried to force 
 down a few mouthfuls of toast. * Shall we ever be 
 able to live together again ? " 
 
 There was a noise at the outer door, a quick step 
 was heard, and Herbert rushed in, nearly upsetting 
 the table in his impetuosity, as he embraced his 
 mother 
 
 as* 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 25s 
 
 " Are you glad to see me, mother-? " he asked. 
 
 " You don't know how I have longed to see you ! * 
 was the heartfelt reply. 
 
 She did not ask what brought him home nor care 
 to ask as yet. She was too happy in having him 
 back. 
 
 " You don't ask for my news, mother," said Her- 
 bert, after a pause. 
 
 " Is it good news? " she asked, wistfully. 
 
 " Suppose I should tell you that Mr. Cameron's 
 father has agreed to pay two hundred dollars for 
 father's model ! " 
 
 "Has he, really?" asked Mrs. Carter, her face 
 lighting up. 
 
 " He has bought it, that is, half of it ; but he is 
 to pay more than that." 
 
 " More-than two hundred dollars, Herbert? " 
 
 " More than three hundred. What do you think 
 of that?" 
 
 " Are you in earnest, Herbert? " 
 
 " Quite in* earnest, mother ; only it is better than, 
 a dream. You mustn't be too much excited, mother, 
 when you hear the whole. I will only say that we 
 shan't have to pinch any more, or lie awake thinking 
 how to ward off starvation." 
 
 "And can we be together again, Herbert? You 
 don't know how lonely it is without you." 
 
 " Poor mother..' How lonesome it must have 
 
254 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 been ! Yes ; we can be together again, if you think 
 a thousand dollars a year will pay our expenses." 
 
 " A thousand dollars a year ! " exclaimed Mrs. 
 Carter, thinking that Herbert was bereft of his 
 senses. " It can't be that your father's invention is 
 worth as much as that ? " 
 
 " Mr. Cameron has offered that for half the in- 
 vention, and I agreed to sell to him. I supposed you 
 would not object." 
 
 "Object? I did not dream of getting one-tenth 
 as much. It seems to me like a dream." 
 
 " It is a happy dream, mother, and a true one. 
 Father little thought what a handsome legacy he was 
 leaving us when he left us that model." 
 
 " How happy it would have made him had he 
 known it before he died ! Tell me how it all hap- 
 pened." 
 
 So Herbert had to tell his mother about his fortu- 
 nate meeting with Mr. Cameron, and what resulted 
 from it. 
 
 " Mr. Cameron is a very honorable man," he con- 
 cluded, " for he might easily have offered one-quar- 
 ter as much, and I should have agreed to it. Now, 
 mother, let me tell you my plans for the future. In 
 the first place, tell me, are you willing to leave Wray- 
 burn?" 
 
 " I am willing to live anywhere if we are to- 
 gether." 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 255 
 
 " Mr. Cameron proposed to me to accept a clerk- 
 ship in his office, but for the present, I told him, I 
 wished to make up the deficiencies in my education. 
 In the town where he lives there is a flourishing' 
 academy. I propose that we move there, and I 
 spend the next two years in study. We shall have 
 a competent income, more than enough to support us, 
 and so I can afford the time." 
 
 " I fully approve of your proposal, Herbert. We 
 may sometime lose our money, but a good education 
 never." 
 
 " I was sure you would agree with me." 
 " Shall we have any difficulty in finding a house 
 of suitable size? " 
 
 " I inquired about that. There is a very pretty] 
 cottage just vacated, not far from the academy. I 
 find we can have it at a moderate rent. I have al- 
 ready got the refusal of it, and will write at once 
 that we will hire it." 
 
 " And what shall we do with this house ? " 
 " We won't sell it to Squire Leech at a sacrifice. 
 That is one thing certain. By the way, day after 
 to-morrow is the day for paying the interest." 
 'Yes; I have been troubling myself about it." 
 " There is no occasion ; I have a hundred dollars 
 in my pocket, given me on account by Mr. Cameron. 
 So the squire is checkmated. But, mother, I have a 
 favor to ask of you." 
 
256 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " What is that? " 
 
 " For two clays keep secret our good fortune." 
 
 ''Why, Herbert?" 
 
 " I want the squire to be deceived — to think the 
 place is in his grasp, and realize that there is many 
 a slip between the cup and the lip." 
 
 " What shall I say to the neighbors if they ask 
 why you have got home ? " 
 
 " Say that I am not going back to New York — ■ 
 that I couldn't earn enough there to save any- 
 thing." 
 
 " I will do as you think best, Herbert; but I am 
 afraid that my joy at the good news you have 
 brought will betray me." 
 
 " It will be attributed to your joy in having me 
 back. We'll keep things secret for a day or two — 
 that's all." 
 
 After supper Herbert walked out. He was popu- 
 lar in the village, and received many cordial greet- 
 ings. To the inevitable inquiries he replied as he 
 had suggested to his mother. 
 
 Presently he met James Leech. He smiled to him- 
 self as he saw James advancing to meet him, but 
 assumed a sober, downcast look. 
 
 "Hello, Carter! Have you got back?" said 
 James. 
 
 "Yes."' 
 
 ■* "** tired of New York ? ■ 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 257 
 
 " I should like New York well enough, if I could 
 make enough money there." 
 
 " Then you're not going back? " asked James, in a 
 tone of satisfaction. 
 
 " Not at present." 
 
 " I thought you'd be coming back," said James, 
 in a tone of triumph. 
 
 " What made you think so? " 
 
 "I knew you couldn't get along there." 
 
 " I supported myself while I was there." 
 
 " But you didn't make anything over? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Then you might as well be back." 
 
 " I don't know. I am not sure of doing that in, 
 jWrayburn." 
 
 " I don't think I shall stay in Wrayburn long. 
 Father talks of moving to New York," said James, 
 in a burst of confidence. " What do you expect to 
 do here? " 
 
 " Do you think your father would give me work ? " 
 asked Herbert, demurely. 
 
 " I don't know. He might, if you agreed to sell 
 the house." 
 
 " We may, if we can get enough for it." 
 
 " You'll have to, anyway. You must be very 
 poor." 
 
 " We've got a little money." 
 
 " Well, I'll mention your case to father. I'm sorry 
 
58 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 tor you, but I knew beforehand you wouldn't suc- 
 ceed in New York." 
 
 Herbert smiled quietly as James walked away. 
 
 " He'll be astonished when he hears the truth," 
 thought he. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVI 
 
 CONCLUSION 
 
 James repeated to his father what Herbert had 
 told him, and the squire jumped to the conclusion 
 that Herbert and his mother were in his power, and 
 must accede to his demand. He decided to take 
 advantage of their necessities, and allow only three 
 hundred dollars for the house. 
 
 He entered the little house with the air of a pro- 
 prietor. 
 
 " I suppose you know my errand, Mrs. Carter,'* 
 he said, pompously. 
 
 " I believe this is interest day," returned the 
 widow. 
 
 " Yes. I presume you have by this time seen the 
 folly of holding on to the place. You can't afford it, 
 and it is best to accept my offer." 
 
 " My mother and I have thought it over, and de- 
 cided to sell," said Herbert. 
 
 " I am glad you are so sensible," observed Squire 
 Leech, in a tone of satisfaction. " I will give you 
 three hundred dollars over and above the mortgage.'* 
 
 " You offered us fifty dollars more before." 
 259 
 
26o HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 " Then is not now. You should have accepted 
 my offer when I made it." 
 
 " We have no idea of selling at that price,'' said 
 Herbert. " Our lowest price is six hundred and 
 fifty dollars over and above the mortgage." 
 
 "Are you crazy? " ejaculated the squire, angrily. 
 
 " No; we have fixed upon that as a fair price," 
 said Herbert, coolly. 
 
 '' You know you can't get it." 
 
 " Then we won't sell." 
 
 ' Young man, I apprehend you do not under- 
 stand how the matter stands. You will have to 
 sell." 
 
 "Why must we?" 
 
 " You can't live on nothing." 
 
 " Of course not." 
 
 *\ You have-made a failure in New York." 
 
 " I made my expenses while I was there." 
 
 "Then why didn't you stay? " 
 
 " I wanted to do something for my mother's sup- 
 port." 
 
 " Y'ou have altogether too high an idea of your 
 own abilities." 
 
 " I hope not. sir." 
 
 " You influence your mother to her harm." 
 
 " I don't think so, Squire Leech." 
 
 " But in this case you must yield. You can't ex- 
 pect me to wait for my money.'*' 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 261 
 
 " Do you mean the interest? " « 
 
 " Of course I do." 
 
 " We shall not ask you to wait. I am ready to 
 pay it." 
 
 The squire stared in discomfiture while Herbert 
 drew out the precise sum needed to pay the interest. 
 
 " Where did you get that money? " he inquired, 
 chopfallen. 
 
 " Honestly, Squire Leech. Will you give me a re- 
 ceipt ? " 
 
 The squire did so mechanically. 
 
 " I will give you the three hundred and fifty dol- 
 lars," he said; " but you must accept it to-day, or it 
 is withdrawn." 
 
 " Neither to-day nor any other day will it be ac- 
 cepted, Squire Leech," said Herbert, firmly. " If 
 you choose to pay six hundred and fifty, we will 
 sell." 
 
 " You must think I am crazy." 
 
 " No, sir ; it is a fair offer. If you don't want to 
 buy, we will make another offer. We will rent the 
 house for ninety dollars a year. That is the interest 
 on fifteen hundred dollars at six per cent. I believe 
 a man in your employ wishes to live here." 
 
 "Where do you propose to live?" asked Squire 
 Leech, in surprise. 
 
 " We are going to leave town." 
 
 " Have you got a chance to work outside? " 
 
262 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 "Yes; but I have declined to. I am going to 
 school for two years — to an academy." 
 
 "But how are you going to live all this time?" 
 inquired the squire, in amazement. 
 
 "I shall live on my income," answered Herbert, 
 smiling. 
 
 " Income! Have you had a legacy? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 ' ' From who ? I thought you only got a trunk of 
 old clothes from your uncle." 
 
 " My legacy comes from my father." 
 
 " But he died poor." 
 
 " He left behind him an invention, half of which 
 we have sold for an income of a thousand dollars a 
 year." 
 
 " A thousand a year! " ejaculated the squire. 
 
 " Yes. I have sold it to the father of Mr. Cam- 
 eron, who employed me last summer. You see, there 
 is no occasion for our selling the house." 
 
 " You have been very fortunate," said Squire 
 Leech, soberly. " I congratulate you both." 
 
 " Thank you," said Herbert, who privately 
 thought their visitor looked excessively annoyed at 
 their good fortune. 
 
 " I will see you about the house," he said, as he 
 rose to go. 
 
 " Well, the squire congratulated us," said Her- 
 bert, after he went away; but he didn't look happy 
 
HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 263 
 
 when he did so. I shouldn't wonder if he accepted 
 our terms, now that he knows we needn't sell." 
 
 Herbert proved to be right. Two days later the 
 squire offered six hundred dollars over the mortgage 
 for the place, and it was accepted. 
 
 " The place is worth more, mother," Herbert said; 
 " but it will relieve us from care to sell it." 
 
 James was even more annoyed than his father 
 when he heard of Herbert's good fortune ; but after 
 his first annoyance he showed a disposition to be 
 friendly. It is the way of the world. Nothing 
 makes us sought after like a little good fortune. 
 James felt that, now Herbert was in a position to live 
 without work, he was a gentleman, and to be treated 
 accordingly. Herbert received his overtures politely, 
 but rated them at their real value. 
 
 Two years slipped away. 
 
 Herbert has finished his course at the academy, 
 and is about to enter the manufactory as an office 
 clerk. Mr. Cameron means to promote him as he 
 merits, and I should not be at all surprised if our 
 young friend eventually became junior partner. He 
 and his mother have bought the house into which 
 they moved, and have done not a little to convert it 
 into a tasteful home. The invention has proved all 
 that Mr. Cameron hoped for it. It has been widely 
 introduced, and Herbert realizes as much from his 
 own half as Mr. Cameron agreed to pay for that 
 
264 HERBERT CARTER'S LEGACY 
 
 which he purchased. So his father's invention has 
 proved to be Herbert Carter's most valuable legacy. 
 
 Squire Leech has been unfortunate. Too late he 
 found that Andrew Temple had deceived and de- 
 frauded him. All his large property, except a few 
 thousand dollars, has been swept away, and James, 
 disappointed in his lofty hopes, last week applied to 
 Herbert to use his influence to obtain him a situation 
 in Mr. Cameron's establishment. There was no va- 
 cancy there, but our hero has found him a place in a 
 dry-goods store in the same town. Whether he will 
 keep it remains to be seen. Times have changed 
 since James looked upon Herbert as far beneath him. 
 Now he is glad to be acknowledged as his compan- 
 ion. If James profits by his altered circumstances, 
 the loss of his father's property may not prove so 
 much of a misfortune after all, for wealth is far 
 from being the greatest earthly good. For our 
 young friend Herbert we may confidently indulge in 
 cheerful anticipations. He has undergone the disci- 
 pline of poverty and privation, and prosperity is not 
 likely to spoil him. He has done his duty under 
 difficult circumstances, and now he reaps the reward. 
 
 THE END 
 
WORKS OF 
 JAMES OTIS 
 
 Bewn the Slip 
 
 Messenger 48 
 
 Teddy 
 
 Telegraph Tom's Venture 
 
 PRICE T5 CENTS, POSTPAID, 
 
 CHICAGO 
 
 A. Donohue & Co 
 
 415-429 Dearborn 8t« 
 
 »!■— WITJT'Mi I J 
 
THE 
 YOUNG 
 HUNTERS 
 SERIES 
 
 BY 
 
 CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL 
 
 Gun and Sled 
 Young Hunters of 
 Porto Rico 
 
 PRICE 75C, POSTPAID 
 
 CHICAGO 
 
 M. A. Donohue & Co, 
 
 407-429 DEABORN ST. 
 
Wfonohn&'s 
 
 VEST POCKET DICTIONARY 
 - MMML OF P&RLlAi 
 PRACTICE. 
 
 Containing 256 pages; sise 52£x3S£. 
 It contains more words, more mis- 
 cellaneous matter and embraces 
 a more pages than any ctiies" Ves4 
 ^gggjUyjj Pocket Dictionary on the Market, 
 and yet it is so admirabb" made that 
 Jt does not bulk in the pocket 
 sides the dictionary of the JE 
 language it contains a dictio, 
 Latin words and phrases, Freuch 
 ■words and phrases, Italian words 
 and phrases, Spanish woi'ds and 
 phrases and complete manual of 
 parliamentary practice. Type clear, 
 §£i paper grood and binding excelienr,. 
 It is made in the following styles: 
 Botsssd sn binders' cSoih, red 
 
 edges, without Index .253 
 
 Bound in cEoih, red edges, 
 iisdex^d .,,, .358 
 
 Bound ta mil leather, full gitt- 
 ©dges, indexed .... ,.§0e 
 
 S 
 
 chef Webster's 
 Manual 
 
 tor 
 
 Writers 
 
 Contains complete dictionary o2 13.DC0 synonyms, besides 
 complete tables and definitions, short words and phrases, etc., 
 bow to read, write and speak. 
 Sound in cloth, red edges ........ ....25 ceaiC 
 
 Send prepaid on Receipt of Price 
 
 M. A. DONOHUE 4? CO, 
 
 CHICAGO 
 
99 
 
 Series of Books 
 
 FOR BOYS 
 
 By BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG 
 
 Bound in Fine Green Linen Cloth 75c 
 Bound in Strong Buckram Cloth 50c 
 Stiff Paper Covers • ■ = - 25c 
 
 Both editions are printed from the same plates. They have 
 not been eut one line from the original Cloth Edition. The books 
 average 300 pages. Large, clear type, new plates, printed on 
 good paper and bound ia paper covers printed in two color 
 inks from original designs. 
 
 The following titles of the famous Harkaway books are 
 now ready in paper and <*,loth. State which edition is wanted. 
 
 Harkaway's Sehool Days 
 
 Harkaway After Sehool Days 
 
 Harkaway Afloat and Ashore 
 
 Harkaway at Oxford 
 
 Harkaway's Adventures at Oxford 
 
 Harkaway Among the Brigands of Italy 
 
 Harkaway's Escape from the Brigands of Italy 
 
 Harkaway's Adventures Around the World 
 
 Harkaway in America and Cuba 
 
 Harkaway's Adventures in China 
 
 Harkaway's Adventures in Greece 
 
 Harkaway's Esoape From the Brigands of Greect 
 
 Harkaway's Adventures in Australia 
 
 Harkaway and His Boy Tinker 
 
 Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among the Turks 
 
 Sent Anywhere Prepaid, on Receipt of Price 
 
 .M. A. DONOHUE (8L CO. 
 
 407-429 Dearborn Street. - CHICAGO, IL«^ 
 
 .... 1 Jack 
 
 .... 2 Jack 
 
 .... 3 Jack 
 
 ....4 Jack 
 
 ....5 Jack 
 
 . ... 6 Jack 
 
 .... 7 Jack 
 
 ....8 Jack 
 
 ....9 Jack 
 
 ,...10 Jack 
 
 ....It Jack 
 
 ....12 Jack 
 
 ....13 Jack 
 
 ....14 Jack 
 
 „.. 15 Jack 
 
DATE DUE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GAYLORD 
 
 
 
 PRINTED IN U.SA