“Mother did not live long after Father died, and after she was gone, I had no one to stand between me and Richard.  Sometimes I had to tell my uncle, but oftener I tried to bear it, because I knew Richard was already a great distress to him.

“At last Richard was expelled from college, and Uncle was so angry with him that he told him he would do nothing more for him.  He must go to work.  Richard’s father and mother had not much money, and there were other children to support.  Richard threatened me with all sorts of awful things if I did not coax Uncle to take him back into his good graces again.  I told him I would not say a word to Uncle.  He was very angry and swore at me.  When I tried to leave the room he locked the door and would not let me go until I screamed for help.  Then he almost choked me, but when he heard Uncle coming he jumped out of the window.  The next day he forged a check in my uncle’s name, and tried to throw suspicion on me, but he was discovered, and my uncle disinherited him.  Uncle had intended to educate Richard and start him well in life, but now he would have nothing further to do with him.  It seemed to work upon my uncle’s health, all the disgrace to the family name, although no one ever thought of my uncle in connection with blame.  As he paid Richard’s debts, it was not known what the boy had done, except by the banker, who was a personal friend.

“We went abroad then, and everywhere Uncle amused himself by putting me under the best music masters, and giving me all possible advantages in languages, literature, and art.  Three years ago he died at Carlsbad, and after his death I went back to my music studies, following his wishes in the matter, and staying with a dear old lady in Vienna, who had been kind to us when we were there before.

“As soon as my uncle’s death was known at home, Richard wrote the most pathetic letter to me, professing deep contrition, and saying he could never forgive himself for having quarrelled with his dear uncle.  He had a sad tale of how the business that he had started had failed and left him with debts.  If he had only a few hundred dollars, he could go on with it and pay off everything.  He said I had inherited all that would have been his if he had done right, and he recognized the justice of it, but begged that I would lend him a small sum until he could get on his feet, when he would repay me.

“I had little faith in his reformation, but felt as if I could not refuse him when I was enjoying what might have been his, so I sent him all the money I had at hand.  As I was not yet of age, I could not control all the property, but my allowance was liberal.  Richard continued to send me voluminous letters, telling of his changed life, and finally asked me to marry him.  I declined emphatically, but he continued to write for money, always ending with a statement of his undying affection.  In disgust, I at last offered to send him a certain sum of money