A STRANGE LEGACY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 26, 27 October 1893, Page 23

A STRANGE LEGACY.

Fbom constantly telling the story of " Uncle Peter " and hit wealth, good old Captain Cogoliu bad ome to believe in it himself . The tin h really was, that the said Uncle Peter had beeo the despair of his family from bia very childhood, and bad finally embarked on an American ship aa a cabin boy, after which nothing more bad been heard of him. This was tbe plain, unvartished troth, bat Captain Cogolin was a native of Marseilles, and had an imaginative mind, conteqjently this plain troth hai to be embellished. One d«y he happened to oome across a sailor who bad just returned from the United States, and after drinking aglat* or two of spirits tog? 1 her tbe two men became commnblcative. The captain happened to mention tbe fact that he had an uncle living ont in America. He drew upon his imaginative tnind, and was abe to describe the said ancle. The accommodating sailor remembered having met jast such an individual, attS what was more, the supposed " Uncle Peter " bad even confided "a box of presents to the care of the sailor for distribution amongst his relation! on the other side of tbe water. Unfortunately, on tbe way home there had been a terrible storm, and the box had been dropped overboard, but still the fact remained tint Uncle Peter had made a fortune oat in tbe new country, and bad sent word to his friends that be should uot forget them. Two or three years went by, and at the end of that time Uncle Peter owned plantations, slaves, gold mines, petroleum mines, and everything, in fact, that an American uncle is expected to possess. The Cogolin family became tbe envy of the little village where they lived ; and in the eveoings, when tbe women gathered together round tbe doorsteps at the steep, narrow streets for their daily gossip tbe name of the famous Uucle Peter was frequently heard. The Cogolins themselves waited patiently. " P^or fellow," the Ciptain would say ; *' let him live as long as God wills ; we are in no hurry." ♦ * • • • One day a letter Arrived for Capt .in Co?olin. It was from New York, and tbe envelope bad the Embassy stamp. It wag » heavy letter, and might have contained any number of bank notes. There was, however, nothing more in it, and nothing less than the certificate of death of Peer Cogolin. " He is really dead, then 1 said tbe Captain's wife. " Oi course he is, sinca the Ambassador has taken tbe trouble to •end us this." There was a solemn silence, and then, although no one but the captain bad ever set eyes on tbe American uncle, a few tears were abed in honour of his memory. The wife then spoke again. " All the same your ambassador does not say a word about bis money 1 " "Ton would, perbapp, have liked him to have written about that first and then told us of bis death in a second letter. No, no, they don't do like that in America, they kaow what's what, and they could not write to as point blank about money as though tney thought we were starving. We have only to wait and as soon as be decently can, the Ambassador will write to as about the money matters. Unfortunately, tbe Ambassador ( no doubt through negligence), did not send another letter, and in place of ihe peaceful dreams with which they had deluded thtmselvee, a fever, the money fever, seized the whob of tbe Cogolin family. They did nothing but dream of Unole Peter's millions, and on bun<Uys wbtn they were all gathered together in their cabin, it seemed as though the suo had lost its brightness, and as though tbe garlic had no flavour. One morning tbe Captain announced bid intention of caking a trip, " I can very well get off for a month or so," be «aid, " the lads will manage the bolt in my absence, and I feel as though I can't rest without seeing for myself what. 'a gotng on ia New York. He had to embark from Havre, which made him furiouo. as he looked upon money spent in railway travelling as money stolen from him. Tbe enormous ship, however, with all its sailors and passenger?, the gilt of the saloons, and the bright, marvellous machinery threw him into ao almost religious admiration. Prom eight o'clock in the morning until evening he nev^r uttered a word, but just wandered about from one end oi the d ck to tLe other, or gazed at the foaming wavps. His speech only returned to him towards tbe end of the journey, when he began to speculate on what he should find awaiting him in New York. He began to be restless, and wanted to talk to some one abou 1 his errand. The steward was a compatriot, and therefore inspiied him with tsonfidence ; hot tbe steward was busy, and referred him to

two tall, lanky, sun barn t men, who were always strolling op and down the deck together, and who looked like Americans. " Those gentlemen will tell yoa all about New York," said the steward, " they know tbe plaoe like ABC." Captain Cogolin was delighted at the idea of making theacquaintance of people who knew tbe city of his dreams so thoroughly, and he followed them about everywhere, from tbe stern to the bridge, op and down deck, and then into tbe narrow corridors of the cabins, trying all tbe time to eater into conversation with them. They, however, <Md not serm anxious to meet his advances. Each time that the captai- , with his hat in hand, approached them and commenced in his moit affible manner: "Excuse me, gentlemen, but do you happen to know— —"they turned round quickly, pretending not to hear, and walked off, leaving him standing there. " They certainly have odd manners," said tbe captain to himself ; and tbea he consoled himself with the ideatha<, after all, every country had i a own customs. The two Americans, in their turn pnzz'ed by tbe eccentricities of this man, who followed them about everywhere, questioned the steward and aa be was fond of a joke, he drew upon his imagination for their benefit. "You know there has been a great diamond robbery in Paris f ' he said, confidentially; "Well, that man is Earnest, tbe celebrated detective ; be is on the track of tbe thieve 0 , and, to avoid suspicion, has disguised himself like that." The two Americans looked at each other, and soon afterwards went down into their cabin and shut themseves in. They did not appear again on deck, not even when the sbip sighted New York, and all the passengers were admiring the panorama. On landing, Captain Cogolin looked out for them, but in vain, they had slipped away amidst tbe confusion. ***** 11 The Embassy, sir ; can you tell me the way to the Embassy ?" It was the captain, who, after wandering about all day in a net* work of streets and avenues, all exactly alike, and all mercilessly numbered, was trying for tbe bundredetb time to get some information. '• How in heaven's name shall I ever make these hurrying, crowding, English-speaking savages understand!" he exclaimed at last in despair. "Why, in all tbe round world couldn't my Uncle Peter have taken himself somewhere else to die ?" Suddenly the captain caught eight of a face he knew. Yep, it certainly was one of the Americans with whom he had travelled. There could be no mistaking him, although he had changed his clothep, and bis hair and beard were cropped close. "Sir ! sir 1" Tbe other one bears and makes off. But no, this time be shall not escape, and the captain follows him. The American has long leg?, but the Captain has strong ones. " What f " he says, below bis breath, " this fellow knows New York like ABC, and he won't just tell me where to fiud the Embassy." The American cannot escape ; he skims ronnd corners, and be dodges down street?, but the captain keeps up behind him. The chase goes on until at last the American is incapable of run . mng another step, and he takes refuge in a restaurant. The captain follows him, and says, breathlessly : '■ Excuse me, sir, but can you tell me " Tbe American turns pale, pushes a chair to tbe captain, and says in excellent French : " Hush 1 let.s have no fuss, and no nseless scsndal. Sit down Lere a minute in this corner." "Good I " thought the captain, " he's a queer stick, but he'fl getting more reasonable." Ihe American continued : '• 1 know what you've come to New York for. Now the question is- -can we come to an understanding ? " " Why, certainly we can — ortainly we can," exclaimed the captain, rubbing his bands. "It seems tome, straightforward people can always come to an understanding." •' Hang the straightforwardness, bat let's come to business," said tbe American, desperately. •' In this pocketbook there are £2,000 In babk notes. If you'll say the word, they are yoars, and a thousand more shall be brought to you to-night when tbe Brittany weighs anchor. Is it understood that yoa s'art wiih tbe Brittany ? " " Why, certainly, on those terms," said tbe Captain, who was more and more bewildered at every word uttered by the American. He tried in vain to understand it all, bat it was, and ever remained, a hopeless mystery to him. He pocketed tbe money, and then found his way to the docks and made ecquiries about the Brit, tany. He secured his passage, and sure enough tbe money promised him wmb brought to the boat toat night, and Captain Cogolin was not sorry to set sail, for he bad bad enough of New York. ***** And so the Captain returned to the bosom of bis family, but to this day it is a mystery to him why De should have received his Uncle Peter's legacy in so extraordinary a manner. It certainly was extraordinary on taking into consideration two facts tdat the said undo bad died insolvent in tbe hospital.— Exchange.