Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-04-01

|1{le.4 llelY l4lll(l
speak so strangely
II do not know; perhaps 8 sudden
spasm. must go to him."
Alb, yes. 60, and beg of him to ex-
plain himself, for they are coming here,
these cousins OF mine, told them in
your name and my fathers that they
would be welcome; and so | thought
they would. How can / meet them
again? how tel! them
And then, grooming in his impotence
and alarm, Charlie hurried his mother
indoors.
On Monday morning Mr.. Hallett
pronounced himself sufficiently restor.
ed to go to business. He had repulsed
his wife when she attempted to win his
confidence; he aad given no explana-
ton to his son; both, therefore were
telling hurt and anxious, though try
ing to conceal it from each other.
They would have pitied him had
they known what Sunday he had
spent, shutting himself away from his
family because every questioning look
they turned upon nm seemed to pierce
his heart and lay bare that which ne
hid within it.
Yes, the upright, honorable John
Haliett. had secret that he had buri-
ed so deep down as to be sometimes
forgotten, until n chance word or rec
election would bring it back to his
memory. He had a trouble of which
no one knew anything but old Lisbeth,
and even she did not suspect its ma
ture.
In all honesty of purpose she had
told him, as he stood by his mothers
coffin, that Madame's dearest wish
had been to see her absent son Tom.
Il think she had message for him, ("
Llsbeth added written one: |
know that Just before your good father
died. she was talking to him of Mas
ter Tom; and heard her say she was
sure he would come back if he could
come TO the old home"
did she wish my father to will this
house to him?" asked John Ha.lett,
startled and incredulous.
II think So" Lisbeth replied. al
know he gave the dear mistress a
paper that she cried over after he was
gone; but do not know what she did
with ii.
That paper had never. been found.
AT flrst John Hallett's feelings with
regard to it had been OF angry sur
prise. lie was the elder brother, and
had always resided at the Copse. With
the appreciation OF his parents he had
brought his bride here, and his children
were born under the roof he had come
to look upon as his own.
He did not deliberately scheme to
wrong his brother; but he never made
any search for the paper OF which Lis
beth had spoken.
And so years had rolled on without
anyone disputing with John HalIett
his possession of the home so dear to
him. Lisbeth made no furtner allu-
sions to the pepper. She knew that
Master Tom was dead, and was not
aware that it might have been OF i'm
portance to his widow and offspring.
And now, after all this lapse OF time,
the children of John Hallett's dead
brother had come to England. For
what could 1t be, he asked agitatedly,
but to claim their own?
John Hallett started for town OPP
pressed with new fear. Lisbeth
might have found the paper, and, sus-
pecting him of foul play, posted it to
Canada.
How he got through the day no one
knew, for Charlie pleaded a headache
and stayed at home
The disappointed youth would not
risk encountering his newly found rela-
tives, while he was unable to account
to them for his father extraordinary
refusal to receive them at the Copse.
He knew how much they were look
ing forward to this visit. Had not
their father talked to them of his En-
elish home, till thew would be able to
recognize every antique piece of furni-
ture in the house, every fine old tree in
the garden?
Mrs. Hallett's sympathies were with
her son, but she was too dutiful n wife
to say SO, and seeing that she
him, Charlie carried book into the
Strawberries, stunning the eyes of his
elder sisters, who, forlack ofany other
reason for his depression, decided that
he must have fallen in love.
And so he had. Already his heart
had gone out to bright, capable, brown
haired Nell, who seemed to him just
what a pure, good woman should be.
Min was a most attractive girl; he
would be a fortunate fellow who won
her; but she lacked the indescribable
something that made her sister be-
witching.
At last he went indoors to find his
mother, and-if ne could get her by
herself-to confess how keenly he would
feel a 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.
1t 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-iaw' s
hands, and kissed her on both cheeks.
My dearest Jennie, / have brought
these dear girls to spend a few days
with you-poor Toms daughters; of
course Charlie has told you all about
them. Ali there he is. Fetch your
sisters, Charlie And ask the cabman,
my dear boy, to carry in your trunks.
1t was n good thought of mino 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 of 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 20 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 Hallett would fain have made
.,tonaunant He Thrust into Nell s