The anti-monopolist., 1877-11-01

or the minister, and she led him into
he we'll known parlor, with It's low t
Id fashioned furniture. Mr.. Ander-
on came thoughtfully in, looked at
Gavin curiously, held out his hand'
md the moment he spoke, said: .l6
Il thought so! Welcome home
" elcome home | promised your
.ather to say this much for him when
his glad day came round I'm a
proud man to do it, sir. Lucy Lucy
oring some cake and a glass OF CREAM
You'll be glad, Gavin, 1 know you
will, to taste the wholesome oatmeal
again.
And so he ran on while he took OH
Gavin's hat and coat, and gave score
Of hospitable orders.
So Gavin stayed at the manse Tor
some weeks, and what passed between
the minister and him no one ever
knew; but think Gavin told him
most of those ten years SINS anu
failures, But he had come home noW'
he said, to repair his fathers house |
and live in it; perhaps in time ne
might win again the respect or MS
fathers friends.
Mr.. Anderson heard and reJolced:
He gave Gavin f1O0 which he sald
was rent due him, and advised hlm 20
begin at once putting the place IN
order. It would employ him While ne
looked around, and it was best not 70
be in a hurry with any plan. 30
Gavin stayed all summer with Tue
minister, and by the end OF 1t-as any
one might have foreseen-he hau puC
one thought in life-Lucy Anderson.
He was almost sure Lucy loved nm,
too. but he never dared to speak 10
her. But one night, as he sat full OF
dreary thoughts about his wasted
past, Lucy came and touched him.
sMr. Irwin,'' she said, ''you are
sad, and you make me mlseraple.
What is the matter =!
ST loye-and I am unworthy TO
love-"
ssDid she say so 2
"Lucy oh, Lucy y
Love has mindfold ways Of ex-
plaing itself.
These two looked in each other $
ewes and was all they wanted. but
the father was not SO sanguine. lie
remembered the past ten years, ana
trembled for Lucy's happiness.
s.I'll tell you Gavin, what l Will 40:
You shall perform thing l ask OF
Won. and then l will say amen to
Lucy's yea 49,
II will do anythiny within the
power of man to do.
"Mv request may seem eccentric
and Durposeless, but / have gooo
reasons for making it. 1t is now the
end Of August, you shall go every
night to your fathers house at y
o'clock, and sit in his chair until mld
night strikes-every night. mlnd-
} and l will give you an answer at tht
: New Year.
! "Your wish is singular one, but
+ will fulfill it.
! "You are to take no company-n.
stimulant-and no light Of any kind
| and YOU are to keep your tryst in spit
. of wind and weather.
81 will strictly fulfill your orders.
| No one spoke more OF the stranS
!. compact. but it was silently fultllle'
: to the letter. Only on Christmas Eve
0 the old man pressed his hand as n
left. and said, ssbe content; your trla
r is nearly over
$ So Gavin went out of the cozy
+ lighted parlor into the dark col1
lonely house with happy heart: II
e had sat abont an hour when he near
II footsteps, and saw the glimmer OF
IS light. The door opened and tn
I" minister and Lucy entered; but 1t WI
j. Lucy that kissed him and said:
:. .sCome home Gavin! Come hom
n Papa says so, and am yours, darling
IS forever from this hour.
n eyes. Gavin" said the doctor,
,e they talked together afterwards,
re thought tonight is;Christmas Eve
se better time to forgive and forget,
N trust and love; and when l ask.
$. Lucy. she said it was God put q
it thought into my heart, and SO we bo
IS came for you.
ne "And now, my dear second Iatht
tell me why you put me through SUI
lie an ordeal!
$. because wanted first, that y
ic should think we'll over your past, a
nj I knew that the lonely walk In
ad weathers. and the lonely hours,
ia. full of tonder memories, was I
,es hest place for thought. Secondly
lis knew if you had the resolution a q
La. the love to keep promise extenui
lis over four months. you mignt
lst trusted with a graver promise. .
he now have double reward for y
he Here is the order for f1O.OOO, q
he interest for ten years, your fatf
NV left it with me for you. We Q.
les knew you would waste the first +
MT, 600, and very likely, also, wo
ing wander into the very far countri
on and feed upon husks before you wo
ent come home again, but we also kn
kle you would come sooner or later,
ire YOU were well brought up IN the
ted YOU should go-and this was to De
ing portion OF your secono stale' u"si
ills "And Lucy, father!''
"Lucy, gave herself to you. AZ
and am we'll enough content. l am pr
was of the way you kept your bargain
,tly everybody has the good word for
be now, Gavin :,
his ssAnd I am glad enough OF q
hin good word and kind greetings, Iati
i to I'll do all man may do to desc