New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-31


mother, and-if he could get her by
herself to confess how keenly he would
feela separation from the pretty Mel
lie, who was rapidly becoming dear to
him.
He hurried to the morning-room,
and had entered it from the garden,
before he became aware that the par
lor-maid was just ushering in some
visitors.
It was too late to. retreat, they
were actually in the room, Nell and
Min gazing around them with shy
pleasure, and Miss Mary Hallett; her
broad face beaming With smiles as she
caught hold of her sister-in-law's
hands, and kissed her on both cheeks.
"My dearest Jennie, / have brought
these dear girls to spend few days
with you-poor TOMS daughters; of
course Charlie has told you all about
them. All! there he is. Fetch your
sisters, Charlie. And ask thecabman,
my dear boy, to carry in your trunks.
1t was a good thought of mine to
come with our nieces, wasn't it? How
pleased John will be when he gets
home and finds us all here!
Mr.. Hallett by a great effort COM
posed 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 init.
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 off speaking when they
heard his voice, and, when complain
ing Of fatigue, he rose to 60 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 a goodnight kiss.
1t 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 freely-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 Hailett would fain have made
atonement. He thrust into Nells
hand roll OF notes; but it was
promptly returned.
"Dear uncle, we want nothing from
you but your love. How can you inn
agine that while we are strong and
well able to work, we would rob you
OF what you have earned for your
children?"
"No, 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 melted 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 elapsed-anxious ones to
Charley and his mother, who watched
Mr., Halletts changing moods, but
sssh to 5gfsl 81 them sXen to
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.
1t was the only check on their en-
joyment of their visit to their English
relations. Aunt Mary, in spite of her
tidgety ways, was a lovable old lady.
Mrs: Hal!ett was very motherly; as
for Charlie, alb, Nell would sigh when
ever she reminded herself how soon
their stay in England would draw to a
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 presently4 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 a folded paper.
"Ah!" cried Lisbeth, cit 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, butt 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.
owe have not opened it, dear uncle;
it is you who should read it to us.
Perhaps it was to let my father know
l. Il l. = 4