ve years of misery, but she
does not ask you to pay the back income. Moreover, if you do not accept
these terms, I shall be obliged to cause your arrest on the criminal
charge. I shall go to Philadelphia, present the will for probate, and
proceed against both of you. We have a just claim against you for two
hundred and forty thousand dollars. We ask for but one hundred and
fifty."

The terms were accepted, for Tom was already under arrest. He informed
us then that the stocks and bonds of my father's estate had yielded him
an income of nine thousand dollars, and that he had paid three thousand
of it to his father. The principal had not been touched. On the
following day, Mr. Hale, Tom, and the sheriff started for Philadelphia
to recover the funds. They were paid over, and deposited for safe
keeping in a bank. The will was offered for probate, and we all went to
Philadelphia to attend the Surrogate Court. After a delay of several
months, Mr. Hale was appointed trustee of the property, in place of Amos
Thornton, who _declined_ the trust.

When the business was done, my uncle seemed to be at peace. He had
saved money enough from the income he had appropriated to support him.
My mother and myself had several conversations with him about our
affairs, and he solemnly assured her that he did not know she was
deprived of even the luxuries of life. He had never made any bargain
with Bunyard, though they understood each other. He had sent the money
to pay her board, agreeing to give the agent five per cent. for his
services. He had probably made from one hundred to one hundred and fifty
pounds a year out of the business, and intended, at the right time, to
"come down" on his employer for some thousands.

After the business in Philadelphia was settled, my mother and I went to
Parkville. Mr. Hale built a cottage for us on the lake, half a mile from
the village. We had plenty of money, and many a poor person in the town
had occasion to bless my mother for her bounty. We were happy, very
happy, for my mother was all I had hoped and dreamed in the days of my
loneliness. I was the "man of the house," and my constant study was to
make my mother happy, and to compensate her for the years of misery she
had suffered.

I heard but little of Tom Thornton after the settlement; but I learned
that Mrs. Loraine, when she found his possessions had melted away, was
"not at home" when he called. I was told, a few years later, that he
kept a gam