Morris tribune., 1886-10-27

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"A boarder!" cried Fannie aghast;
"the man is crazy!"
For the letter was signed "John
Harris" So it was man.
''He is an invalid, and wants perfect
quiet in a private family. He offers
$40 week, Fan"
"And he'll be $40 worth of bother.
just imagine a sick man to fuss over"
'"Ten dollars week, said practical
Nell. 1T would nearly keep the table
for all OF u.s."
Discussed in all it's bearings, the
proposal was finally admitted to
have its advantages. The old family
physician was given by the writer for
reference, and there was the spare
room fairly yawning with emptiness"
Nell said.
So John Harris was graciously per-
mltted to take up his summer resi-
dence in the little cottage. He was q
white haired old gentleman, who
stopped badly, and had large. soft
eyes, as blue as Fanny's own. From
the day of his arrival his devotion to
Aunt Sue was so marked as to excite
the mischievous raillery of the girls,
in spite of the little old maids bushes
and protestations.
Was Aunt Sue in the summer house,
stitching upon her caps, John Harris
was sure to be found, reading aloud
the interesting portions OF the
daily newspaper. Was she in the
kitchen stirring cake or rolling pie
crust, John Harris was certainly lean
ing against the window-sill - iii CKlng
sage remarks. unonttne Deans or toma.
toes III The wee vegetable garden. Did
Aunt Sue remark her love for q
flower, behold the next day wagon
from town with q whole garden ready
to be transferred to the soil of Har-
lem, Under John Harris directions.
He was very kind to the girls, but
their youthful charms evidently fad
ed before Aunt Sues mature ones.
1t was a pleasant summer, in spite
OF Fans heart-sickness and the many
privations that were now a duty.
Poverty had not bitten deeply into
the nest-egg at the bank, thanks to
the supply of work and the board of
John Harris. Upon the plea of poor
appetite this invalid was constantly
sending orders to the city for supplies
of dainties for the table that aided
materially in lessenlng the culinary
expenses, and he set the girls to en-
broidering such a pile of handker-
chiefs with initial letters that Nell de-
clared he would never want another if
he spent the remainder Of his exist
ence blowing his nose.
He liked carriage exercise and hated
to be alone, so he kept an open ba-
rouche at the livery stable, and the
whole four rode every pleasant day
along the country roads. He insisted
that servant was needed for his null
titudinous wants, and Jane was rein
stated, to her own profound satisfac-
ton.
But the browning act of kindness
came when the October winds were
sweeping around the little cottage and
fire in the sitting-room CRATE was
cheerful and homelike. The Dorri-
mers were expecting every day to hear
Mr.. Harris announce his inten
ton OF returning to the city; but he
fingered day after day, as if 10th to
leave the cottage. One clustering day,
when he had been in the city since
early morning, he came home after
dusk. Nell thought there were two
pairs of feet on the stairway, but con-
Guided she must have been mistaken
when Mr.. Harris entered the sitting
room alone. Fannie was sitting near
the window, and the old man took a
seat very near as he said;
II heard some news in town today"
Everybody looked interested.
Herbert Norris died in England
two months ago. DR.. Garner was
telling me about it. He has son, a
noble fellow, who left the city after he
did to try to find him and pursuade
him to restore the money he had TAX
en-. But when he did find him he as
certained that he had taken-noth-
ing The money, his own, trust
funds, everything, was invested in I'M
fortunate speculations, and it was to
avoid ruin and disgrace the man fled.
His son stayed by him, working for
him, striving to make him return and
face the consequences of his impru-
dence, but his heart was broken, and
he died. Died in poverty and grief.
But his son came home to face the
misery and disgrace from which his
father fled. He brought his clear
brain and legal knowledge to bear up
on the complications, and he has sue
ceeded in getting affairs into training.
1t may be months before there is any
result, but Fred. Norris faces the world
to-day as an honest man free from
any completely in his father disgrace.
But he is very sad, very lonely. l
words to cheer him on, the
thought that he had not altogether
forfeited love he stIove hard to win,
the hope that success in the future
might mean a wife's love, happy
home, he-why, FAM"
For Fan had risen from her seat,
her cheeks glowing, her eyes radiant.
"Where is he?" she said softly.
"In my room. I will call him
down."
When they were all seated again
John Harris said suddenly:
Miss Dorrimer, had you ever a
DrOUD6F JOn0, WHO NeuU W OdluOILld
many years ago-a scapegrace boy,
who deserted home and friends iii a
spell of gold fever, and never came
home again?"
81 had brother, John" Susan an
swered softly, "who was very dear
to me. He went to California, but
he wrote now and then"
You know nothing of him now?"
II wrote to him last spring, but l
think he never got the letter."
"Why?"
"Because-I-(the girls did not
know)-I told him of our trouble lit
was so hard for the girls to lose ev-
erything you see), and | am sure he
would have answered it if he had re-
ceived tine letter."
''Is he rich?"
81 don't know"
"But l do, and will tell you. For
years and years ill-luck crossed him
every where. He made money by dig
ging and was robbed. He grew rich in
business aad was burned out. When
ever prosperity came misfortune fol-
lowed close at it's heels. So he
was ashamed to write home and