Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-04-17

beth had spoken. :,
And SO years had rolled on without
anyone disputing with John Hallett his
possession OF the home so dear to MN
Lisbeth made no further allusion 10 tIe
paper. She knew that Master Tom was
dead. and was not aware that It might
have been OF importance to his widow
and offspring.
And now, after all this lapse OF time
the children Of John Hallets dea'
brother had come to England. For wha'
could It be, he asked agitatedly, but to
claim their own?
John Hallet started fer town oppressed
with q new fear. Lisbeth might have
found the paper, and, suspectiHg him oil
foul play, posted 1t to Canada.
How he got through the day no one
knew, for Henry pleaded q headache
and stayed at home.
The disappointed youth would not risk
encountering his newly found relatives.
while he was unable to account 20 them
for his fathers extraordinary refusal to
receive them at the Copse.
Mrs. Hallet's sympathies we're with
her son, but she was too dutiful
wife to say so, and seeing that she
avoided him, Henry carried book
into the strawberries, stunning the eyes
of his elder sisters, who. for lack OF any
other reason for his depression, decided
that he must have fallen in love.
And SO he had. Already his heart had
gone out to bright, capable, brown-haired
Nell.
At last he went indoors to find his
mother. He hurried to the morning
room and had entered 1t from tn,
garden, before he became aware tina
the maid was ushering in some visitors
of n
actually in the room, Nell and Nil
gazing around them with shy pleasure.
and Miss Mary Hallet, her broad face
beaming with smiles as she caught holt
of her sister-in-law's hands, and kissed
her on both cheeks.
MY dearest Jennie. have brought
these dear girls to spend a few days with
you-poor Toms daughters
Mr.. Hallet by great effort composed
himself sufficiently to meet his guests
but If his lips were pale and he turned
away from them to shade his eyes with
his hand, they saw nothing suspicious
In it.
On the contrary, their conviction that
this gray haired, stately gentleman was
the living image drew them towards
him. They lowered near his chair. they
loft of speaking when they heard his
voice, and, when complaining Of fatigue,
he rose to go to his room, moved by the
same impulse. both girls ran forward to
put their arms about his necks and hold
up their fair young faces for q good
night kiss.
1t was plain that he had been mistak en-
when he fancied they had come to wrest
his home from him, but he was non'
| the happier for the knowledge. He trie'
| to appear calm and cheerful, to respon'
to the affection with which his niece
we're disposed to regard him; but whe
they talked-as they did freely-of the
trials and struggles they and theii
mother had gone through before an,
after their bereavement, his heart fainte,
within him, and his remorse would be
come overpowering.
John Hallet would iain have mad,
atonement. He thrust into NelIs hant
a roll Of notes; but 1t was promptly re
turned.
No. he was not to be allowed to gloz,
his conscience by this kind Of conpensc
ton. Neither was 1t any use protestin,
that the very act of leaving the Cops
away from him-the eldest son-wa
unfair. especially as Toms portion has
been justly melted out to him at his ow;
desire. AS long as Toms daughter
we're In his house, keeping alive the ole
recollections, how could he be at pcac
with himself?
Four days elapsed-anxious ones t
Henry and his mother, who watche
Mr.. Hallet's changing moods, but hes
tated to speak Of them even to eac
other-yet very pleasant ones to tn
young Canadians. Attributing to thei
uncles ill-hcalth the shadow they sa,
on his brow, and the troubled looks hi
wife and son would Interchange, the
were always gentle and sympathetic.
1t was the only check on their enjoy
ment Of their visit to their English rcls
tons. Aunt Mary, in spite of her fiC
getty ways, was lovable old lady. Mrs
Hallct was very motherly; and Us fo
Henry, all, Nell would sigh whenevt
she reminded here how soon their sta
in England would draw to close.
One morning the sisters were on thc
way to the garden, when they sa,
Lisbeth in the act of unlocking the doc
of the closed chamber.
They passed into it with her. Eliz,
beth opened a tall press and shook o,
before them the folds Of their grant
mothers wedding gown.
AS she described her mistress Nell sa
that from the pocket Of the dress a mo
sci OF the bridal handkerchief was peel
ing. To get a better view of the fine oil
lace that bordered 1t. she drew it on
and with It came folded paper.
"Ah!" cried Lisbeth, "it Is the or
my good master gave to her before
died. She must have gone to the pres
and slipped 1t into the pocket of tn
dress, instead Of her ordinary one; the
hung together then. Take It, youn
ladies! believe, nay. but l ain sure.
concerns your father"
Mr. Hallet was just sitting down to breal
fast when Nell and Min came to h
side with tho paper.
I'VE have not opened it, dear incl,
it Is you who should read 1t to us. Pc
haps it was to let my father know Thu
his parents had quite forgiven him Il
! leaving them. He used to say he ha
not acted well when he dcscrts
them"
, But John Hallet pushed the pap
from him.
! Tho hand of God IL In this"
, groaned. Read for yourselves. AT
!, ease my soul OF the burden that IN
heavily upon 1t. Lisbeth told me the
was such Il paper in existence. but n
l search for 1t was a half-hearted one
valued my home more than what
, right, but il ON TO lose it will be,
tho loss without murmuring. for ha'
=, had creator mercies bestowed on II
! 7