Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-02-12

dread at the Get ana rigid features ani
lips, from which all color had fed, leav
ing them white AZ ashes.
"Leah," the old man gasped. II an
dying: Quiok-old Mr.. Hallam at tn
old lodge. must see him. Tell him
sent for him, and he will come"
The gray head fell back upon the chat,
as he spoke. The girl, nearly frantic
and knowing not what to do, kissed hin
in wild, frenzied way, and then dashed
out into the night and storm.
1t was long way, more than mile
but she did not mind fatigue. She die
not feel it any more than she felt thu
stormy sweep of rain that drenched he]
to the skin. Her mind had room only
for one thought-that she might be tot
late.
She reached the house at last and de-
hvered the message to Mr.. Hallam ir
person, and then her over-strained facul
ties gave way, and she sank in swoo1
on the hoor. When abe came to he1
senses again she was lying in q white
curtained bed in a room finer than she
had ever seen before, and bending ove1
her was the stately young Indy who had
come to her fathers cottage the night
before.
"Has he gone p she asked.
"Yes, the lady answered, che is with
him now."
She would have risen at once and re.
turned through the storm through which
she had come, but the lady was kindly
resolute and firm, and forced her to lie
quiet and wait.
An hour passed-it seemed an eternity
to Leah-when the door opened and Mr..
Hallam entered, still dripping with the
rain. He crossed the room to the couch
and took her hand in his.
8" Ny poor child" he said, you can
not go home tonight; this is your home
from this time forth"
She looked at him in dumb amaze
ment.
You are my daughter, now," he said.
land Won must learn to look on me as
you would your father"
And he?" she cried out, hinging up
her arms with an unconscious gesture of
entreaty.
"You must bear it calmly, poor
child," he answered her. "He is dead. ~
How it CHANGED that she should be-
come the adopted daughter of the
wealthy Mr.. Hallam was much of a
mystery to Leah, even when months had
passed, and the sorrow for her father
beginning to wear off, she became &C.
customed to her new position. Mr..
Hallam was kindness personifed; but
from the rest of the household her quick
instinct held her aloof. They were all
kind to her, but an inde6nable some
thing felt, though not expressed, that
she was not to the manor born" and
a sort of interloper raised barrier be-
tween them. As for visitors, of whom
there were many, of course this had
nothing to do; but still the feeling was
in her mind all the same, and she became
cold and reserved.
As for Frank Vernon, he became fas-
cinated by her-so much so that it be-
came a subject of remark. At last he
proposed, and she accepted him.
She did not love him, but she liked
his society, and she loved no one else,
and felt proud of his talents and hand
some person, as any girl would have
done. She made condition, however,
that their engagement should be kept q
secret until her brother Stephen, who
had gone on voyage of several months,
should return.
A week afterward Stephen came. She
was almost beside herself with delight at
seeing him. It would have been q reve-
lation to any one who only knew her as
the stately, Juno-like beauty of the
Lodge, to see her hang about his neck
and kiss him again and again through
her joyful tears.
At length she told him how Frank
Vernon had asked her to be his wife,
and she had accepted him. The change
that had come over him startled her.
His face grew pale as death to the very
lips, and wild mist swept over his eyes
only for a moment, however, and then
he brushed the back of his hand across
his eyes and forced smile.
"Leah, he said, in voice that trem-
bled in spite of his efforts to keep it
calm, =" if it is for your happiness I will
try to hear it. I have had dreams,
when I kept my lonely watches, that
some time you might love me well
enough to be something nearer to me
than sister. I see what afool I have been
now-you lady and an heiress, while I
am but poor fsherman-butl let it pass;
the memory of my little sister will always
be the dearest thing I can have on
earth"
She stood thunderstruck for a mo-
ment, almost deeming him mad.
"What do you mean 2" she managed
to gasp at length.
"Do you not know? Have they not
told you" he cried, "that you are not
my fathers daughter, not my sister, but
the only child Of Mr.. Hallam's brother,
and the lawful mistress of Hallam
Lodge?"
The color faded from her face, leaving
it so pallid he thought she was going to
faint. Then, as quickly the warm blood
rushed back again, suffusing her face to
the very roots of her hair.
care you sure of this ?" she asked.
Gas sure as of my own life" he an
swered. IT heard It when Mr.. Hallam
did, from fathers dying lips, and saw the
documents to prove his words. I know
I should not have spoken to you as I did;
but forget it all Leah -"
"It is so sudden" she interrupted
him, s'but I do not wish to forget them.
They have lost me my brother, it is true,
but they have also found me something
nearer, though dearer he could never be-.
Stephen, look into my eyes and tell me
were your dreams so very wild, after
ALP
Of course, Mr.. Hallam was very much
disappointed, and Frank Vernon even
more so. The one, however, found con-
ISOLATION in being allowed to retain Hal
lam Lodge. and the other by returning
to his old love and marrying Edith.
Leah and her husband are happy in
each others love-what more need be
said.
Notable Fires in Turkey.