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

MIR. Hallet had been an lnVallu TOT the
last week or two not i'll enough to cause
any alarm, yet not well enough to go to
the city as usual; and thankful that he
had shrewd, sensible son. both able
and willing to take his place.
Henry .hrew himself into the breach
manfuliy, and had even slept In town for
several nights, that he might sit later at
his books, and begin earlier.
The mother would have preferred to
stay and watch for her boys coming; but
Mr.. Hallet was calling, and she went to
him. He was surveying doomed
honeysuckle.
1--WE planted It the year Henry was
born" he reminded his wife. II sup
pose you think that would be O reason
for letting 1t stand2"
Mrs. Hallet smiled as she replied
NAY, John; 1t is not I who give away
to sentiment"
The words were no sooner spoken than
she wished she had not uttered them, for
frown contracted her husbands brow,
and he raised his eyes involuntarily to
where a couple OF windows were nearly
hidden by the passion flower.
In the room those windows should
have lighted, John Hallets father had
spent the closing years OF his life. An
! accident rendered him incapable OF leav-
followed him to the grave.
From the day of The funeral not a
creature was allowed TO enter this room
but old Lisbeth, the trusty German who
had drifted into the household OF the
Hallets In her youth.
A shout from the children proclaimed
| that Henry had come.
His first look was for his mother.
| After she had satisfied herself that he did
| not appear to be any the worse for the
| confinement and hard work OF the week,
| she was content to stand quietly by while
| business matters were discussed. She
| could have fancied that Henry was
rather restless under the questioning to
| which he was subjected.
But at last Mr.. Hallet appeared salts
| fed, and he would have led the way In
doors, but now, in eager haste, the young
man poured forth the tidings he had
been burning to tell.
"Such news for you. father! Mother
| dear, what do you think has happened?
Aunt Mary sent for me the other evening
| you will say that that Is not a very un-
| common occurrence" and Henry and
Mrs. Hallet interchanged amused smiles,
for Miss Mary Hallet was one Of the fus-
| siest of maiden ladies. "She sent for me
| that she might introduce me to some new
1
brother, papa, who died not long after
my grandfather"
Mr.. Hallet did not Immediately reply.
Yes, he had had a ha!fbrother whose
restless disposition had induced him to
demand his portion and sail away with it
to America. After many wanderings he
had settled In Canada and married.
Pride had induced him to be silent re-
| spcctlng the mistakes he had made, the
| misfortuncs that hn't Hfallcn him but
just before the death OF the elder Mr..
Hallet, u rumor reached England that
the Canadian farm did not pay, and its
owner was struggling with sickness ~
well as All unfavorable season. Offers OF
help were sent, but they were declined
those offers were repeated to Tom Hal
let's widow, and again, but moro crate
fully, refused. Since that time, long
years ago, no intercourse had been kept
up between the families what, then, did
Henry mean2
1T was to my uncle Toms elder
daughters Aunt Mary introduced me
They are tall, bright, handsome girls
merry and frank and unaffected, yet quit,
as lady-like as my sisters Eva and Emma
They have led busy life, workin,
with their mother to free the farm of it
| cICulil IuclI ldDOIS HdNC Deel
successful; they are prospecting at last
and so they have felt themselves justifie,
in taking trip to England, to max
acquaintance with their kindred"
"And crossed the Atlantic alone" ex
claimed Mrs. Hallet.
"Oh, no, they came under the win
of q friend, tho elderly lady who too
them to Aunt Mary's. They have fasc
mated her, and" Henry turned to hi
silent father land I think-I am sur
you will like your nieccs, sir-they ar
charming girls"
But Mr.. Hallet put out his hands, cry
Ing hoarsely: Keep them away froI
me! l will not have them herew
And so saying, he went quickly into tn
house. whittier his wife would have To-
lowed II her son had not detained her.
Mother, what does this meanf" h
asked. lis my father worse? Is it pos
siblo that he knows what he is saying
He never had any quarrel with Uncl
Tom. did he? Then what could hav
made him speak so Strangely"
~ do not know; perhaps sudde
spasm. / must go to him."
"Ah. yes, 90, and beg Of him to e,
plain himself, for they are coming herr
these cousins of mine. l told them
n, your name and my sfathers, that the
ic they would. How can meet thel
+. AGAIN. how tell them"
al y And then. grooming In his impatient
e. and alarm, Henry hurried his mother II
Is II.
es On Monday morning Mr. Hallct pr,
es nounced himself able to go to business
They would have pitied him had the
known what Sunday he had sI,r1
err shutting himself away from his fami
~ because every questioning look the
tie turned upon him seemed To pierce Ia
heart and lay bare that which he h
within 1t.
on Yes, the upright honorable John Hu
or let had secret that he had buried
by deep down as to be sometimes forgotte
" until u chance word or recollection wou
). bring 1t back to his memory. He had
trouble of which no ono knew anythiI
but old Lisbcth. and aven she did Ii,
y" suspect Its nature.
In all honesty Of Eurpose she had to
or him. as he stood by his mothers coli
that Madam's dearest wish had been I
see her absent son Tom.
II think she had q message for him
ei' Llsbeth added-"a written one. ! kno
nd that Just before your good father die
70 she was talking to him of Master Ton
and l heard her say she was sure
would como back If he could come to u