The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-04-09

guests; but if his lips we're pale and no
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 h~olduptheir
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 NelFs
hand a 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
well able to work, we would rob you
OF what you have earned for your
children?"
mo, he vas 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 W desire. AS long as
TOMS daughters We're 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.. Hallett's changing moods, but
hesjtated 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.
1t was the only check on their en-
loynlent OF their visit to their English
relations. Aunt Mary, in spite of her
tidgety ways, was a lovable old lady.
Mrs. Hallett was very motherly; as
for Charlie, ali, Nell would sigh when
ever she reminded herself how soon
their stay i'll England would draw to a
close.
One morning the sisters were on
their way to the garden, when they
Saw LIsheth 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, presently Elizabeth
opened a tall prt-ss 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 a morSel OF the
bridal handkerchief was peeping. To
get q better view of the fine old lace
that bordered it, she drew 1t out, and
with it came folded paper.
"Ah!" cried Lisbeth, lit 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! believe, nay. but lam
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.
I'VE 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 Tor yourselves, and
ease my soul of the burden that lies
heavily uponit. Lisbeth toldmet there
was such a paper in existence, but my
search for it "a a half-hearted one.
l Y valued my home more than Whist is
right, but If | am to lose it l will bear
the loss without murmuring, for Ihave
had greater mercies bestowed on me
than | deserve"
Mrc Ho1ott 5,ou, ,o,,o ul liza
her cheek against her husbands, while
Min IN faltering tones read the few
1eebly traced lines thepaper contained:
II have thought over your wish,
dear wife,; it is hard to say younay; but
| cannot let compassionate Tom make
me unjust 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 ruined7
1t 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 cap the fruit of
his labors. Tom will not love us any
the less because we have nothing more
to give him but u blessing"
So the Copse was the property Of
John Hallett, after all; but who that
saw that face just then would have
ventured to congratulate him? He
bowed it on his hands, and the sisters
stole away, leaving him alone with the
tender faithful wife, from whom he
never more had a secret.
Nell and Min went back to Canada
at the appointed time, but they did
not refuse the useful gifts their uncle
added to their luggage, for they saw
that he would be a happier man if
allowed to take the place Of the father
they had lost. Charlie will follow
them in the spring TO fetch home his
bride.