Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-04-01
|HN HALLETTS SECRET.
the CULVER.

& bit were settling down on the busy
town in the valley below, and as
Hallett, from the terrace walk in
Earden, watched a puff of white
81 in the distant landscape como
lei and nearer, she said confident
Charlie will be in that train; we
have him at home with us this
iIg."
Hallett had been an invalid for
last week or two; not i'll enough to
E am alarm, yet not well enough
= to the city as usual; and thank.
hat he had a shrewd, sensibleson,
able aud willing TO take his
is frequently the case, business
at its briskest just as Mr.. Hallett
s lme unequal TO it. but Charlie
w himself into the breach manful-
Ind had even slept in town for sew
nights, that he might sit later at
books and begin earlier
be mother would have preferred to
and watch for her boys coming;
DIR. Hallett was calling, and she
h to him.
e was surveying a doomed honey
lie 1t was but one of the many
Thing plants trained over the walls,
ering them with beauty, from the
|ow jasmine of early spring, till the
et white elemstis and late roses
e nipped by theautumn frosts.
Ne planted it the year Charlie
born" he reminded his wife. II
5pose You think that would be a
Son for letting it stand?"
Ers. Hallet smiled as she replied.
BY, John; it is not | who give way
continent.
rhe words were no sooner spoken
= sn she wished she had not uttered
m, for a frown contracted her has
DDS brow, and he raised his eyes
Voluntarily 10 where couple OF
bdows were nearly hidden by the
ssion flower that was allowed to
Tow its tendrils across them.
In the room those windows should
BE lighted John Hallet's father had
hit the closing years OF his life. An
eident rendered him incapable of
wing it, and when, after terribles sui
ing, he expired, his wife, worn out
Ia fatigue and sorrow, soon followed
b to the grave.
Nas it an affectionate sons tender
niniscences OF the dead that caused
n to shut up the apartment they
ii occupied?
40 one could say, but so it was.
Eom the day of the funeral not a
eature was allowed to enter this
pm but old Lisbeth, the trusty Ger
hs who had drifted into the house
Nd OF the Halletts in her youth.
4sbeth saw nothing strange in the
mmand she obeyed so literally, GO
into the closed chamber once a
ek on tip-toe, to sweep and dust as
tiselessly rs If some one still lay
We're whom her movements could dis
1rb; but Mrs. Hallett could not en-
into the feelings that induced her
Psband TO keep one ofthe best rooms
the house shut up.
"A shout from the children pro-
himed that Charlie had come.
His first look was for his mother.
tter she had satisfied herself that he
" not appear to be any the worse
b the CT n!inement and hard work of
De week, she was content to stand
hietly by while business mGtters
ERE discussed She could have fan
led that Charlie was rather restless
pder the questioning to which he
fas subjected
But at last Mr.. Hallett appeared
ktisfied, and he would have led the
pay indoors, but now, in eager haste,
pe young man poured forth the IL
tngs he had been burning to tell.
Such news for you, father Mother
Par, what do you think has happen
d? Aunt Mary sent for me the other
kening-you will say that that is not
very uncommon occurrence, and
|barlie and Mrs. Hallett interchanged
hused smiles. for Miss Mary Hallett
|as ore of the fussiest OF maiden la
1es. "She sent for me that she might
htroduce me to some new relations
som over the sea. You lad a brother
hpa, who died not long after my
Mr.. Hallett did not Immediately re-
|ly. Yes, he had had half-brother,
hose restless disposition had induced
pm to demand his portion and sail
way with it to America. After many
he had settled in Canada
md married Pride had induced him
o De silent respecting the mistakes he
lad made, the misfortunes that had
'efailen him; but Just before the death
i the elder Mr.. Hallett a rumor reached
England that the Canadian farm did
Iot pay; and its owner was struggling
nth sickness as well as an uafavorable
eason. Offers of help we're sent, but
hey were declined; those offers were
epeated to Tom Hallett's widow, and
gain, but more gratefully refused.
'ince that time, long years ago, no
Intercourse had been kept up between
he families; what then, did Charlie
mean?
ut was to my Uncle Toms elder
daughters Aunt Mary introduced me.
hey are tall. bright, handsome girls,
Merry and frank and unaffected, yet
Iuite as lady-like as my sisters Eva
md Emma. They have led busy
lie, working with their mother to free
ne farm OF it's encumbrances. Their
abors have been successful; they are
'rospcring at last; and so they have
cit themselves justified in takinga trip
o England, to make acquaintance with
heir kindred.
And crossed the Atlantic alonei"
xclaimed Mrs. Hallett.
'0h, no, they came under the wing
4 friend. the elderly lady who took
hem to Aunt Mary's. They havefas-
mated her, and" Charlie turned to
ms silent father land | think-I am
ure you willlikeyournieces, sir-they
ne chnrminggirls. -
But Mr.. Ha.lett put out his hands,
rying hoarsely: keep them away
rom me- | viii not have them here"
And so saying, he went quickly into
ne house, whittier his startled wife
F0uld have followed ifher son had not
detained her.
Mother, what does this meang' he
'sked, IN his CONSERVATION. ais my
ather worse? Is it possible that he
'nows what he is saying? He never
lad any quarrel with Uncle Tom, did