New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-05-13

little ready change when it was wanted.
Perhaps that was whv he thought ii
best that Nellie should be, as he some
times said, well married.
There was John Atherligh, nephew
of Mr.. Wells, the only child Of his poor
dead sister, to whom the wretched old
miser never even lent q helping hand.
John was poor, but he was just as gen
erous and as good as any nobleman that
ever lived. Some how Uncle didn't
seem to be we'll pleased when he came
about as he often did, to walk with Nellie
in the cool of the evening, down the long
shady avenue, or sit by her side and
talk out on the old stone steps leading
up to the porch. The very old steps
where, I guess, Nellie's mother and
father sat together and talked of love
and the happy, undiscovered future
during the days of their honeymoon
long, long ago. I used to think
sometimes as l watched John and
Nellie walk how that it would be a
pity to spoil that match, for John was
just good enough for Nellie, and Mel
level, she was entirely too good for
OAJ oOAJ OACCPV OOuu. AL GuoSe re-.
Elections and many more, passed
through my mind while Nellie. sat in
the parlor and talked to her miserly
old lover, and Aunt Margaret sat in
a low rocking chair with her knitting
lying idle on her lap, while uncle con-
tinued to read the news.
By and by another loud knock re-
sounded through the house, and pres
emily Andrew announced a visitor to
see Mr.. Brandon Immediately.
looked at Aunt Margaret; she had
clasped her hands neryously together.
When uncle left the room she asked
almost beseechinglv of me:
II wonder who it can. be, Margie.
can you think?'
l knew her nervous state of anxiety.
and determined at once to find out
about the visitor, and, if possible, re-
lieve her fears. crept softly into the
back parlor and up to the folding doors,
which, owing to an arrangement of
heavy curtains, was often left a1ar,
through which I hoped to get sight of
the visitor. I had no sooner stolen up
to the door than I heard footsteps in
the hall, and uncle ushered his visitor
into the room. It was too late to re-
treat; what could I do? To pass
through into the front would be to in
trude upon Nellie and her company; to
come out from behind the curtain would
be to appear like spy; so there stood
stonestill and waited. The first few
minutes vas too much surprised and
uneasy about my own situation to be
aware of what was going on in the
room, when at last caught the sound
Of the strangers voice; he was saving
something like this:
ut is a very unfortunate piece of
work, sir. 1 beg leave to sympathize
with you and your family; but business
is business, you know. I was sent
here to settle this matter in respect
able manner, if possible, and I must
proceed to do it at once. q Your son, I
am sorry to tell you, sir, but perhaps
you know he has lived a little fast OF
late-rather too fond of wine and evil
company -"
"Yes, yes, uncle said, as if impa-
tient to get at the worst.
Il am sorry to tell You, SIR" the
stranger continued, shut ] think it hap
pened while he was under the influence
OF liquor, and likely surrounded by his
evil companions. To be brief this is
the whole story: Your son has broken
into the money-safe and robbed his en-
ployer of S., OO0.
ber!'
shall never forget the groan with
which uncle sank back upon the hair,
from which he had risen at that start
ling news.
Il own it looks bad, sir, but I have
come to see if we can't arrange it some
how. His employer, as YOU know is
your friend. He bid me say that he is
not only willing bnt anxious to shield
your family name from disgrace and
your boy from the penitentiary, if it
can possibly be done. But the mon
ey must be refunded there's no other
course"
Give thousand dollars! impossible !"
uncle exclaimed IT would be to take
everything to. ruin my family"
L suppose nothing can be done
then,' the stranger said deliberately and
arose as If to depart.
"But, wait moment; let me think u
uncle said, leaning his head forward on
the table by which he sat. By and by,
getting up, he said: II will see what
can be DONE" and left the room. Twas
trying in vain to think what he could
be about, when suddenly he re-entered
the room, accompanied by Mr.. Wells.
Alas, I thought of that miserly old man
as our only means Of help. Then they
all three talked together in low tone
of voice. could only understand a
word now and then of uncle's tremulous
voice. Puttingit. all together, 1 know
be meant this: Joe must not be sent to
the penitentiary-that would kill Aunt
Margaret. The farm-the old home
stead-I know was so dear to him must
so before that should be done. Would
Mr.. Wells advance the money? TAX
ing uncle's arm he drew him aside, SO
near by the curtain beneath which 1
stood concealed I thought they could
almost hear my breathing; his voice
was low, subdued to whisper, but I
cann16 hear tho mama of No7l;o.