three days later gerald and mr. nixon reached portville. they called at once on mr. nugent, who received the old man kindly and cordially.
"mr. nugent," said tom nixon, "i have come prepared to pay you the interest on the amount of my defalcation."
"give it to gerald. i don't want it."
"i have already given gerald ten thousand dollars, and when i die he will have all that i leave behind me."
mr. nugent looked much pleased. he grasped the hand of his old debtor cordially, and said: "i am pleased to hear it. then you found gerald of assistance to you?"
"but for him i should not have been living to-day. he has done everything for me."
"probably you wondered at my choice of a messenger at first?"
"yes. it seemed strange to me that you should select a young boy, but i soon found that he had the sense and discretion of a man."
"have you seen your stepmother yet, gerald?" asked mr. nugent.
"no; but i met abel on the street."
"what did he have to say?"
"he asked me if i had any money."
"what did you reply?"
"'a little.' then he said, 'if you expect to live on ma you will find yourself much mistaken. you will have to earn your own living.' i told him i shouldn't trouble mrs. lane."
"but, perhaps, you may," said mr. nugent.
gerald looked an inquiry.
mr. nugent explained:
"i have in my hands a later will than the one under which mrs. lane inherits. it was placed in my hands by your father, with directions not to produce it if mrs. lane treated you fairly. otherwise, i was to make it known. by this will you are left half the property. that will only amount to ten thousand dollars, as mrs. lane has been compelled to surrender thirty thousand dollars to john graves. she will be left comparatively poor."
"mr. nugent," said gerald, "am i compelled to take advantage of this will?"
"why do you ask?"
"because, thanks to mr. nixon's generosity, i do not need it. i feel rich already. i am willing to surrender all claims upon my father's estate."
"your stepmother does not deserve it."
"let the boy have his way," said thomas nixon, "i prefer to provide for him myself."
so it was arranged. mrs. lane was left in undisturbed possession of the estate, but now—five years later—it has been reduced one half. abel has proved extravagant and dissipated, and is far from giving satisfaction to his mother. gerald has bought his father's house, and is now owner of the old homestead. he and mr. nixon live there, and he occupies a business position in the city. his prospects are very bright, and there is every indication that he will be in time a very rich man. in his case success is based on merit. he has brought happiness to mr. nixon, who is in better health than he has been for the last twenty years. the clouds that darkened a part of his life have rolled by, and his declining years are full of sunshine, thanks to gerald and his mission.
