National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-05-03

our poor fathers memory Will be cleared
from reproach and you can stay some
times with those good Poynter people, and
see little society"
Susan was protesting that she was quite
contented and bcppy under present cir
cumstances, when she was interrupted by
knock at the door, aud the ellow-lodgcI
entered the room. lie too held news
paper in his hand he, too, was evidently
under the influence oi strong emotion, ioi
he stood glancing from one to the Other
with strange yearning expression in hi'
eyes twice he essayed to speak, and twice
his voice failed him.
"Ynu have seen this account in the
evening papers, aud have concluded that
we belong to the family OF the Nr, Maple
son whose cruel story is told there" asked
Harry.
The old man nodded.
You are right; we are his children
This sympathy is indeed kind"
Perhaps you yourself are connec
ton ~ said Susan, with woman's pene
tration.
The fellow-lodger at last forced word,
to his lips. "Yes," he said, Zip
"Look to him, IIarryr' cried Susan
and IT they had not run forward to support
him, the old man would have fallen.
They got him into a chair, bathed hl'
forehead, gave him sherry, and he soor
came out OF his faint. "1'he emotion wa.
too much for me-" he aid presently. 81
am myself again now. No, no; do not g.
for a doctor. am not i'll. 1t is nothing
but an overdose Of happiness; amedicine,
he added, with a sad smile, "that | have
not been much accustomed to-"
"You were n gre, friend Of his, per
haps y asked Harry. who looked puzzled
but Susan glanced rapidly from the youth
full features OF her brother to the time and
care wern face Eof the other, and iight
flashed upon her.
"Fatherm she cried.
"My girl My childrenw
In the course of that evening he told
them all. How that, when few years OF
his sentence expired, he wa. allowed to
live as free man within the boundaries
of the colony, how his bookcrait had
game him the situation of librarian TO a
wealthy settler, who had u touch of biblio-
mania which it was difficult to CRAFTY
out there; how he nearly died Of the
gnt 1a desire to communicate with his
wife, but fought the battle out with what
he felt to be Self, and conquered how at
length, when free to return to Europe, he
had engaged in certain literary pursuits,
which there is no occasion TO specify, but
in which he was eventually so successful,
as to be in receipt Of an income far beyond
bis wants; how that, hearing of his wlfe's
death, and certain that his children could
not recognize him, he had come to Eng
land, and had contrived to obtain odgings
in the same house, and to make their
acquaintance.
"And if it had not been for this happy
confession, would you never have told us
who you were, papa p asked Susan.
CATER the trial have gone through"
replied her father, 81 think I may boast,
never y
1t is 1elt in certain Influential circles
that something should be done" for
"poor Mapleson :" something is also to be
done for his son Harry. This vague an
nouncement sounds, grant, woefully like
"chops for twor' but am in a position
to state that Mr.. Mapeson will have a
pension, and that Harry will get nomi-
nation; and when it comes to competitive
examination, within certain limits, III
back him. Meantime father and son and
daughter are settling down into their
relationship, and Harry has been relieved
Of nightmare. 1t was this: he iancled
that perhaps the man-since dead, blythe
byc-who committed the crime his father
suffered for had made him the various
presents he had accepted; and enc even.
ing, when the three were together, he
owned that this suspicion made HIM
wretched.
Sillym cried Susan " why, Of course,
Mr.. Anonymous was papam
Is that a fact, father p
Susan is right, my boy