The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-04-02
JOHN HALLETT'S SECRET.
FROM khe Culver.

From Che Culver.
The air was clear and dry on the hill
although the mists Of an autumn
twilight were settlingdown on the busy
Iittle town in the valley below, and as
Mrs. Hallett. from the terrace walk in
her garden, watched a puff of white
steam in the distant landscape come
nearer and nearer, she said confident
ly, "Charlie will be in that tram we
shall have him at home with us this
evening"
Dir. Hallett had been an invalid for
The last week or two; not i'll enoughto
cause any alarm, yet not we'll enough
TO 60 to the city as usual; and thank,
ful that he had O shrewd, se]nsibleson
both able and willing to take his
place.
As Is frequently the case, business
was at its briskest just as Mr.. Hallett
became unequal to it, but Charlie
threw himself into the breach manful-
~, and had even slept in town for sew
eral 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;
bot Mr.. Hallett was calling, and she
went to him.
He was surveying a doomed honey
Euckie. 1t was but one of the many
climbing plants trained over the walls,
covering them with beauty, from the
yellow Jasmine Of early spring, till the
sweet white clematis and late roses
Here nipped by the autumn frosts.
"We planted it the year Charlie
Use born" he reminded his wife. 81
suppose you think that would be a
reason for letting it stand?"
Mrs. Hanet smiled as she replied.
@Eay, John; it is not / who give w&J
to sentiment"
TIE words were no sooner spoken
than she wished she had not uttered
them, for q frown contracted her hus-
bands brow, and he raised his eyes
involuntarily to where a couple of
Windows =s=e nearly hidden by the
passion flower that was allowed to
throw It's tendrils across them.
In the room those windows should
hare lighted John Hallet's father had
spent the closing years OF his life. An
accident rendered him incapable of
leaving it, and when after terrible suf-
SexIng, he expired, his wife, worn out
Mithfatigue and sorrow, soon followed
him to the grave.
Was it an affectionate sons tender
samipiaeer9ss of the dead that caused
him TO shut up the apartment they
h1d occupied?
No one could say, but SO 1t was.
From the day of the funeral not a
exeaaure was allowed to enter this
room but old Lisbeth, the trusty Ger
man who bad drifted into the house.
hold OF the Halletts in her youth.
Lisbeth saw nothing strange in the
command she obeyed so literally, go
1pg into the closed chamber once q
neck on tip-toe, to sweep and dust as
nOiselessly as IL some one still lay
there whom her movements could dis.
kurb; but Mrs. Hallett could not en-.
TER into the feelings that induced her
krsband to keep n ofthe best rooms
m the house shut up.
IA shout from the children pro.
claimed that Charlie had come.
HIS first look was for his mother,
Afser she had satisfied herself that ht
DID not appear to be any the worse
zDr the confinement and hard work oil
kke week, she was content to stand
guiotly by while business matters
aere discussed. She could have fan.
csed that Charlie was rather restless
under the questioning TO which BIZ
uas subjected.
Bnt at last Mr.. Hnllett appeared
satisfied, and he would have led The
uay Indoors, but now, in eager haste,
tie young man poured forth the I'll
dmgs he had been burning to tell.
such news for you, father! Mother
&eRr, what do YOU think has happen