bted to me for it. It is rightfully
yours."

"What is my uncle's name?"

"Stephen Ray. He lives a few miles from Elmira, on the Erie road."

"And is he quite rich?"

"Yes; he is probably worth a quarter of a million dollars. It is money
which should have gone to your father."

"Then the wicked are sometimes prospered in this world!"

"Yes, but this world is not all."

"Has there been any communication with my cousin in all these years?"

"Yes, two years ago I wrote to him."

"What did you write?"

"You must forgive me, Ernest, but I saw you growing up without an
education, and I felt that you should have advantages which I could
not give you. I wrote to your cousin asking if he would pay your
expenses in a preparatory school and afterward at college."

"What did he reply?"

"Go to the trunk. You will find his letter there. It is in the tray,
and addressed to me."

Ernest found it readily.

"May I read it?" he asked.

"Yes, I wish you to do so."

It ran thus:

PETER BRANT.

_Sir:_ I have received your letter making an appeal to me in behalf of
Ernest Ray, the son of my cousin. You wish me to educate him. I must
decline to do so. His father very much incensed my revered uncle, and
it is not right that any of his money should go to him or his heirs.
He must reap the reward of his disobedience. So far as I am personally
concerned I should not object to doing something for the boy, but I am
sure that my dead uncle would not approve it. Besides, I have myself a
son to whom I propose to leave the estate intact.

It is my advice that you bring up the boy Ernest to some humble
employment, perhaps have him taught some trade by which he can earn an
honest living. It is not at all necessary that he should receive a
collegiate education. You are living at the West. That is well. He is
favorably situated for a poor boy, and will have little difficulty in
earning a livelihood. I don't care to have him associate with my boy
Clarence. They are cousins, it is true, but their lots in life will be
very different.

I do not care to communicate with you again.

STEPHEN RAY.

Ernest read this letter with flushed cheeks.

"I hate that man," he said hotly, "even if he is a relative. Uncle
Peter, I am sorry you ever applied to him in my behalf."

"I would not, Ernest, if I had understood what manner of man he was."

"I may meet him some time," said Ernest, thou