CHAPTER XXXVII ERNEST COMES INTO HIS OWN

 On Tuesday Bolton returned with Ernest. Two hours were spent in conference with Stephen Ray. The latter fought hard, but yielded at last. He understood the strength of his opponent’s case.

 

Ernest consented to receive the estate as it was bequeathed to his father, without any demand for back revenues. Whatever Stephen Ray had accumulated besides, he was allowed to retain.

 

As this amounted to a hundred thousand dollars, Ray felt that it might have been worse. Had he not been dissuaded¹ by Bolton, Ernest would have consented to share the estate with the usurper², but the lawyer represented that this would be condoning³ the wrong done to his father.

 

In a month the whole matter was settled, and Stephen Ray removed to Chicago, where he had business interests.

 

“But what shall I do with this large house?” asked Ernest. “I don’t want to live here.”

 

“I know a gentleman who would like to hire it for a term of years,” responded Bolton. “He will pay a rental⁴ of five thousand dollars a year. The bonds which you inherit will yield an income equally large.”

 

“So that my income will be ten thousand dollars a year?” said Ernest, dazzled.

 

“Yes.”

 

“What shall I do with it all?” 167

 

Bolton smiled.

 

“You are but seventeen,” he said. “A few years hence you will probably marry. Then you can occupy the house yourself. Meanwhile——”

 

“I will go back to California. Luke will expect me. While I am away I appoint you my man of business. I wish you to have charge of my property at a proper commission.”

 

“I will undertake the charge with pleasure.”

 

Bolton knew how much this would increase his importance in the eyes of the firm by which he was employed. Ernest could not have made a better choice. Bolton was no longer intemperate⁵. He was shrewd and keen, and loyal to his young employer.

 

Ernest returned to California, but he had lost his old zest⁶ for business, now that his fortune was secure. He soon came East again, and entered upon a plan of study, ending with a college course. He brought with him Frank Fox, the son of the dead outlaw⁷, who regarded him with devoted⁸ affection. They lived together, and he placed Frank at a well-known school, justly noted⁹ for the success of its pupils.

 

Of the many boys with whom Frank associated not one suspected that the attractive lad, who was a favorite with all, was a son of the desperado whose deeds were a matter of common knowledge in the West. Ernest had cautioned the boy to say as little as possible of his past history.

 

Years have gone, what Bolton predicted has come to pass. Ernest is a college graduate, and will soon marry a young lady of high position in the city of New York. He will go abroad for a year, and on his return will make his home on his ancestral estate.

 

Last week he received a letter from a patient in a New York City hospital. It was signed John Franklin, a name with which he was not familiar.

 

In some wonder he answered the call, and was led to a bed on which lay a gaunt, spectral¹⁰ man, evidently in the last stage of existence.

 

“Is this John Franklin?” asked Ernest doubtfully. 168

 

“That is the name I go by now,” answered the dying man.

 

“Do I know you? Have I ever met you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I don’t remember you.”

 

“If I tell you my real name, will you keep it secret?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then I am John Fox. You will not betray me?”

 

“No; certainly not. Can I do anything for you?”

 

“Yes; you are the guardian¹¹ of my brother’s child.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Is he alive? Is he well?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Will you bring him here before I die?”

 

“I will. I cannot refuse the request of a dying man.” Ernest brought Frank to the bedside of his dying uncle. It was a sad interview. Frank was moved, but John Fox, seeing him strong, handsome, robust¹², felt comforted.

 

“He at least has profited by the fate that overtook his father and myself. I shall die content, for I leave him in good hands. Don’t let him think too hardly of us!”

 

“I will not. So far as I can compass it, his future life shall be happy.”

 

The dying outlaw reached out his hand and pressed Ernest’s gratefully. A day later he was dead.

 

THE END

1 dissuaded   

劝（某人）勿做某事，劝阻( dissuade的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was easily dissuaded from going. 他很容易就接受劝告不走了。
• Ulysses was not to be dissuaded from his attempt. 尤利西斯想前去解救的决心不为所动。

2 usurper   

n. 篡夺者, 僭取者

参考例句：

• The usurper wrested the power from the king. 篡位者从国王手里夺取了权力。
• The usurper took power by force. 篡夺者武装夺取了权力。

3 condoning   

v.容忍，宽恕，原谅( condone的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I'm not condoning what he did, all right? 我并不是宽恕他的所作所为，好吗？ 来自电影对白
• Communist Party conservatives abhor the idea of condoning explicIt'sex. 党内的保守势力痛恨对赤裸性爱内容的宽容。 来自互联网

4 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。

5 intemperate   

adj.无节制的，放纵的

参考例句：

• Many people felt threatened by Arther's forceful,sometimes intemperate style.很多人都觉得阿瑟的强硬的、有时过激的作风咄咄逼人。
• The style was hurried,the tone intemperate.匆促的笔调，放纵的语气。

6 zest   

n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣

参考例句：

• He dived into his new job with great zest.他充满热情地投入了新的工作。
• He wrote his novel about his trip to Asia with zest.他兴趣浓厚的写了一本关于他亚洲之行的小说。

7 outlaw   

n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法

参考例句：

• The outlaw hid out in the hills for several months.逃犯在山里隐藏了几个月。
• The outlaw has been caught.歹徒已被抓住了。

8 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 spectral   

adj.幽灵的，鬼魂的

参考例句：

• At times he seems rather ordinary.At other times ethereal,perhaps even spectral.有时他好像很正常，有时又难以捉摸，甚至像个幽灵。
• She is compelling,spectral fascinating,an unforgettably unique performer.她极具吸引力，清幽如鬼魅，令人着迷，令人难忘，是个独具特色的演员。

11 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

12 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。