The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-10-07

| you. You rave been a bad son. and Won
know it; be a better one in fnture, and all
will go WELL"
Ii earnest protestations could count for
anything, the young fellow was resolved to
make amends in the future for the mast:
and the money lender-more credulous an
parently. than most of his class-was evil
IDENTIFY disposed to give weight to his decla-
rations.
I, 1.-The first proof of your sincerity will be"
he said. ito find out what your mother has
done with her valnables. Restore them.
Here is the money she paid me on your be-
half; if not sufficient, send the holders to
me. Let this be done at once, then I shall
know how far to trust you; but do not tell
your mother what l have arranged, until
| you ave seen or heard from me again"
This, and much more, the youngster
| promised; and, SO far, was true to his word.
He ave the valuables to Hyltman. who,
with the decision which seemed a part of
his character, told him he had settled for
his departure for Australia. where, it was
pretty generally known his father had gone;
and, to the young fellows increased aston
ishrnent, the money-lender added that the
passage of his mother and sisters would
also be betrayed, if they chose to go; OF
which there was no doubt.
In reply to the renewed and profuse
thanks OF Bertram, his new patron con-
timed:
"Your father. l learn, was more sinned
against han SHINING. You know how far
you aided in his fall. But in the first
place | pity you for a reason unknown to
you; and in the next, because | have
passed through a similar trial, and in
your faults l see the reflection OF my own.
Had l been treated harshly at a period of
great danger in my early life--attend, young
a to what | am saying, for you may
know some day what my words meant
might have been an o%utcast, or worse. [
went abroad, as you are about to do, and
| rendered some service to a man, whose
fortune [ inherited and whose name | took;
that name | bear now. On my return to
England, adouhle change of name bafied
my search for the only person l cared for,
and-it is has ended in my doing you what
good | can"
This was an abrupt close to the money
lenders speech. but the young fellow was
somewhat used to this popularity.
Soon alter this interview Hyltman left
the city, so that all arrangements for the
OF the L~ashbreigh family were
made by IN agent, and the tn ankful
mother could only express her gratitude by
a letter.
Everything was done to promote the
comfort of the family; saloon passages
"eIt tdhei eiiChH, "li1ie Tx youHS Id
was entrusted with a lette r OF credit, to be
used at Melbourne. All this was more aud
more bewildering to the family, who were
utterly at a loss to guess why their fortunes
had SO interested a stranger.
Bertram, who really did turn over a new
leaf, and deserved the trust reposed in him,
had never, mindful OF his promise, told his
mother about the valuables, but when the
ship left the docks, Mr.. Hyltman's agent,
who had seen the family Off, handed, as he
quilted the vessel, a small packet to Mrs.
Lashbreigh.
She opened it and found, to her surprise,
that it contained all her little wealth OF
jewelry, her watch; etc. Besides this, there
was only an old faded letter. the paper OF
which was yellow with age, and in her own
writing, The date was more than thirty
years back. and it was addressed-what
memories the nam awoke.-to Mr.. Fred
erick Page.
1t was a trivial, commonplace affair o. a
few lines. but written across in fresh ink
and in a bold hand was, In memory of
the happiest hours OF my life.-Frederick
Page H%yltnan."
Great Heavens..' exclaimed Mrs. Lash
breigh as she read this inscription; 'then
our mysterious benefactor was Fred Page!
poor Fred, whom u
She did not finish her s%oliloquy, nor did
she ever again hear tale rtiding-although
she made many inquiries-of the Cliffbor-
ough usurer.