Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-04-02

guests; but Il his lips were pale and he
turned away from them to shade his
eyes with his hand, they saw nothing
suspicious init. . .ss5s =1s45 SIS SIS
On the contrary, their conviction
that he was thinking OF their father. OF
whom this grey haired, stately gentle
man was the living image, drew them
towards him. They lowered near his
chair, they left of speaking when they
heard his voice, and, when complain
ing Of, fatigue, he rose to go to his
room, moved by the same impulse,
both girls ran. forward to put their
arms about his neck and hold up their
fair young faces for q goodnight kiss.
tt was plain that he had been mis-.
taken when he fancied they had come
to wrest his home from him, but he
was none the happier for the knowl-
edge. He tried to appear calm and
cheerful to respond to the affection
with which his nieces were disposed to
regard him; but when they talked AS
they did heely--of the trials and strug-
giles they and their mother had gone
through, before and after their be-
reavement, his heart tainted within
him. and his remorse would, become
overpowering.
John Hallett would fain have made
atonement. He thrust into Nell's
hand roll of notes; but it was
promptly returned.
"Dear uncle, We want nothing from
you but your love. How can you i'm
agine that while we are strong and
we'll able to work, we would rob you
OF what you have earned for your
children?" -,
mo, he was not to be allowed to
glaze his conscience by this kind of
compensation. Neither was it any use
protesting that the very act of leaving
the Copse away from him-the eldest
son-was unfair, especially as Toms
portion had been justly meted out to
him at his own desire. As long as
TOMS daughters were in his house,
keeping alive the old recollection, how
could he be at peace with himself?
Four days approximations ones to
Charley and his mother, who watched
Mr.. Hallett's changing moods, but
hesitated to speak of them even to
each other-yet, very pleasant ones
to the young Canadians. Attributing
to their uncle's ill-health the shadow
they saw on his brow, and the troubled
looks his wife and son would inter-
change, they were always gentle and
sympathetic.
It was the only check on their en-
joyment of their visit to their English
relations. Aunt Mary, in spite of her
fidgety ways, was a lovable old lady.
Mrs. Hallett was very motherly; as
for Charlie, ah, Nell would sigh when
ever she reminded herself how soon
their stay in England would draw to q
close.
One morning the sisters were on
their way to the garden, when they
! Saw Lisbeth in the act Of unlocking
| the door Of the closed chamber.
They pressed into it with her. Why
should they not? They knew of no
prohibition, and were so eager to hear
all she could tell them about grand
mamma, that presently Elizabeth
opened tall press and shook out be-
! fore them the folds of their grand
mothers wedding gown.
! AS she described her mistress, who
had been always young and beautiful
in her eyes, Nell saw that from the
! pocket OF the dress @ morsel of the
bridal handkerchief was peeping. To
get a better view of the fine old lace
that bordered it, she drew it out, and
with it came folded paper.
"Ah?' cried Lisbeth, sit is the one
my good master gave to her before he
! died. She must have gone to the press
and slipped it into the pocket Of this
dress, instead OF her ordinary one;
they hung together then. Take it,
young ladies! I believe, nay, but AM
sure, it concerns your father"
Mr.. Hallett was just sitting down
to the early breakfast his wife had
risen to share with him, when Nell
! and Min came to his side with the
paper.
1--WE have not opened it, dear uncle;
it is you who should read it to US,
Perhaps it was to let my father know
that his parents had quite forgiven
him for leaving them. He used to
say he had not acted we'll in DESERVING
them"
But John Hallett had pushed the
paper from him.
'"The hand of God is in this" he
groaned. "Read for yourselves, and
ease my soul of the burden that lies
heavily uponit. Lisbeth told me there
was such a paper in existence, but my
search for it was q half-hearted one
l valued my home more than what il
right, but If am to lose it will bear
the loss without murmuring, for Ihave
had greater mercies bestowed on me
than deserve"
! Mrs. Hallett drew nearer, and laid
her cheek against her husbands, while
Min in faltering tones read the few
feebly traced lines thepaper contained
| Il have thought over your wish
dear wife; it is hard to say on nay; but
l cannot let compassion for Tom make
me uni Just to his brother. Do you
know that if John had not toiled ear
| ly and late at the time of that terri
BILE crisis we must have been ruinedi
It was his industry, his perseverance
that enabled us to retain the home
that has grown so dear to us. When
we are gone, let him reap the fruit Of
his labors. Tom will not love us any
the less because we have nothing M ore
to give him but our blessing"
So the Copse was the property o
John Hallett, after all; but who tina,
saw that face just then would have
ventured to congratulate him? HI
bowed it on his hands, and the sisters
stole away, leaving him alone with TIT
tender faithful wife, from whom h.
never more had secret.