The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-04-01

dear uncle, we want nothing rom
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?"
"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 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.
1t was the only check on their en-.
joyment of their visit to their English
relations. Aunt Mary, in spite of her
| fidgety ways, was 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 a 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 a morsel of the
bridal handkerchief was peeping. To
get better view of the fine old lace
that bordered it, she drew it out, and
with it came a 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! 1 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.
eve 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.
1.-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 halfhearted one.
valued my home more than Whist is
right, but If am to lose it will bear
the loss without murmuring, for 1have
had greater mercies bestowed on me
than l deserve"
Mrs. Hallett drew nearer, and laid
her cheek against her husband g, while
Min in faltering tones read the few
feebly traced lines the paper contained:
II have thought over your wish,
dear wife; it is hard to say you nay; but
l cannot let compassion for 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 ruined?
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 reap the fruit of
his labors. Tom will not love us any
the less because we have nothing more
to give him but our 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 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 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.