The Northern Pacific farmer., 1883-08-30
able, ;" the wife said:
Well, think SO, too. Rohertn

By and BY, after. three Of the childre,
the youngest had beea kissed al
around and put to bed, and, by the way
The little four-years-old Robert, namet
after the elder Of the; ;>ilk, cried Justify
when they tore him away from "Uncl'
| 'Obert"-he was to be uncle to them
after this said Peter, in his frank, hearty
off hand way: : ..
"Say, old fellow, Isuppose you hayt
come home somewhat under the wealth
cr, eh?' !: -.
Francisco with between two and three
hundred dollars in his pocket, but h.
had been robbed between Great Sal
Lake and Cheyenne of every dollar o
it. II went to sleep in the car" he ex
'lained, "at night, and must have beer
:'holoformed on ton. of that" =.
"Well, well," cried Peter, giving him
friendly pat on the knee, and speak
ing from the heart, ''don't you worry.
Thank God, you have health and
strength. Well fix you up a good COM
Portable shake.down here; old fellow,
and we'll look around and see what can
be done. wish you could find work
here and live with US. You shan't pay
a penny more than it costs us. Any
how, here's your home for now, Rob-
ert."
Robert said he would think of it.,
And he told the story of his visit to the
mansions of Nathan and Thomas. Pc
ter's brow contracted and his face grew
lark. He said but little. For my
Kitty's sake',' he whispered, II never
speak the names of those men when I
can avoid it."
It was very near the hour Of midnight
when the trio began to think of bed.
took hand of Peter and one of Kitty's,
and so held them while he spoke. His
voice was tremulotis, and his eyes were
brimming. ::
"Peter!-Kitty!-True hearts!-t
don't want you to be spending the night
in speculations upon the future. I came
back TO the old home resolve that l
would put my three cousins into the
balance and weigh them. I have done
1t, and you know the result. told you
| was robbed on the road. So I
was, but l had taken the precaution to
send my fortune on ahead of me; so I
only lost the trille I had reserved for
expenoes on my journey.
| ''Dear hearts! When came to reckon
| up my possessions; six months ago. and
found myself the owner of more money
than | could eyer spend, felt
the need ofthe one thing that was not
mine-a true heart to love-a' heart to
love me in return-and' somebody to
help me to enjoy my wealth. There!
Now to bed, and on the morrow we wi II
consider. One thing, my dear Peter
your days Of digging and delving are
past and gone. Kitty"
He drew her gently towards him, and
she kissed him-a sweet, sisterly kiss,
warme1 with dewy eyes, and loving
smile, utshe could not speak.
| On the following morning Robert
learned for the first time that the grand
residences of Nathan and Thomas Speed
were for SALE. They had reached the
end Of their financial means, and wished
to sell out and leave the place.
Then Robert sat down; with Peter and
Kitty, and frankly gave them a state
ment Of his Wealth. AT first Peter could
hardly believe that he had heard Alright;
while, as for Kitty, she could not com
prehend the vastness of the sum; but
J they finally knew this: They were to
be Roberts chosen com panions thence
forth; to fear the wolEthey and their
little ones-no more forever.
Robert went to New York, where he
engaged an agent-who was to wor k in
purchase every piece of property that
! Speed Brothers had to sell.
| There was great wonderment when il
| chased all the Speed property and that
wonderment was increased tenfold
when week later, it became known
that Robert Ashworth was the pur-
chaser, and that the palatial mansion OF
| Nathan Speed had been decided to his
half-brother, Peter.
| Ave, and more still; to Peter Speed,
and to Peters wife and children, bad
duly made over all the mills, and
houses, and lands, clear of all encum'
berance, formerly belonging to the
others aforesaid.
But who shall tell the feelings Of
| Natha n and Thomas wh en- it came to
! them that the poor wayfarer-the brown
| faced cousin-Whom they had so harsh
Iy turned from their doors, was the
"power behind the the throne" that had
furnished all the money? Oh! the tor
ture of their vain regret and deep char
grin was terrible, But that was not the
worst. The worst came when Nathan's
wife was brought to the need of.applying
TO cousin Robert for help.
The crowning joy was yet to come-a
| 10Y of which Robert Ashworth had
often dreamed, but which he had never
| dared to promise himself. After Peter
an Kitty moved into the great house,
Kitty's sister Mary came to visit them.
Polly was the name by which she was
always called. She was two years older
than her sister, possessing the same
sweet face, and loving heart.
honest heart. Robert fell desperately
in love at sight, and she very soon loved
| fondly and confidingly upon his bosom,
| he knew that it was himself she loved,
| and his cup of joy was full to the brim.