66 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



To all this 1 replied, " Mr. Caldwell, your offer is very 

 good ; but, sir, I know your wife has been angry with me 

 for the last month, and I do not wish to be in her way ; 

 for neither she nor I can have any enjoyment of our lives 

 under such circumstances.'' 



We then shook hands in the most friendly manner, and 

 I left Wheeling. That was my last interview with any of 

 the family, of every member of which I was very fond, 

 with the exception of the old lady. And, indeed, when I 

 now think of the whole matter, if she thought what I be- 

 lieve she did, I don't blame her at all ; for I am sure there 

 was nothing in the world to recommend such a shabby- 

 looking boy as a match for her fine-looking daughter; 

 l)acked, too, as she was, by a wealthy father. ]Jut I have 

 l)cen informed that the old gentleman, by some mean? or 

 other, subsequently l)ecame involved, and failed in busi- 

 ness, and that Nancy married a man who managed badly, 

 and became poor. Whether my information was correct 

 or not, I cannot say ; but on account of the respect I al- 

 ways entertained for the family, I hope that it was not 

 true. Her father was very wealthy when I knew him ; and 

 1 am sure that I saw more silver in his possession thau I 

 <iave tiver, either before or since, seen at one tim<^ 



