The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-05-25

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"HoLRorD GRAHAM, SIR
aristocratic face Of the stranger in sur
prise
"And who ID this little maidw lifting
Freda's chin and looking earnestly into tho
brown eyes 30 like those Of the mother.
"This Il Freda, sir, and we arc twins,"
replied wondering Holly.
"And where IL the mother this lovely
dsyi"
Mamma IL sick. sir. and We arc
afraidr-and the boyish face contracted
| with swift spasm Of pain, for even his
| light heart had become Swallowed by the
knowledge that soon, only too soon, there
| would be two graves in the green cemetery
| to cherish
"And there is Grace, too, b there
notl'' and the strangers voice grew ten
| der and pitiful - he thought Of the little
| letter In his desk ct home, and earnestly
| wished he had come long ago.
| But Grace must stay with mamma; she
| coughs % dreadfully we can not leave her
| alone" replied Freda, timidly.
| The unsuspicious children talked on
| without . thought Of concealment, until
| the tall stranger was in full possession Of
| the family history, with it, pitiful strug-
| giles and discouragements, % far - they un-
derstood them, and even Grace's self
denial in regard 70 the music lesson was re-
hearsed.
"And have kept my wealth and grudged
thought tie old man, in bitter self-reproach-
"And now, my little man, do you know
who amt he asked aloud.
"A very kind gentleman, am sure, sir,''
replied Holly. modestly; his simple little
heart had never once guessed ct the truth
Have you never heard Of your Grand
father Grahamr'
"Oh. yes, sir. but he il very angry with
us all, and has been unkind to u.s." replied
Holly, innocently.
But he viii be unl<ind no longer,r said
the old man, eagerly. II am your grand
father, dear children, and, please God, the
past shall Be atoned for in the future. and
now let us 60 to mamma and Grace
who can be coming home with the chill
dren," said Grace, - she stood in the cot
tage door shading her eye with her hand
from the brilliant sunlight She formed .
pretty picture. her brown hair floating OUT
In the fresh breeze, her cheeks flushed
and her graceful form arrayed in : light
dress, plain and cheap 70 Be sure, but taste-
fully and becomingly made.
Her quick intuition took In the possible
identity Of the stranger, and fearing the ef-
feet Of the sudden surprise upon the
mother should her surmise prove correct,
she stepped out to the gate to meet them.
"Oh, Gracie.r cried Holly, .this II
| grandpa, and We met him st the cemetery"
| He put out his slender white hand draw
/ ing her TO him, and looking at her search
| ingly my dear child, forgive me that
| have left you TO bear % much alone" be
| said, gently, - he pressed kiss On her
| fresh, young lips.
Grace looked up q the handsome old face
| through . mist Of tears Was this the
stern, cold grand-parent whom she had a.
most learned 70 hatei Yes, but stern and
cold no longer; the hrst look into Holly's
| face, 20 like the one be had loved % tender
| ", had broken down the last shred Of preju-
dice and completed the work which the
loneliness Of old age and the desolation Of
his splendid home had commenced IN his
heart. And Grace, q she saw the tender
light in the eyes looking down q
her % pItyingly, felt al her hard feelings
Toward him melting away, and longed 70
weep out the gricfs which she had borne %
patiently alone upon his friendly bosom.
"Does he come in peace or In angerw
asked the widow, trcmulously, when Grace
suddenly broke the unexpected news 70 her.
"In peace, laughter, and anxious 70
make atonemcnt for the long years Of Bit
terness and neglect In the past, " replied the
old man, who had heard the question and
answered for himself.
This was the beginning Of better days
for the family; the mothers disease had
progressed % far that her case was hope
less, but every thing which wealth and
x1~14
vatc her sufEerings. and when at Last
her spirit took it, Hight Holroyd Grahsm's
hand closed the tired eyes and crossed
the weary hands over the breast which
would never more be disturbed by earthly
prejudiccs, or life's stern ncccssitiea
They laid her beside her soldier husband
in Green Brookside, and then the orphans
were made ready for . long trip among the
mountains 70 recover from the effects %.
tho long confinement and the griefs and
anxieties Of the past: and IL was nearly
autumn before the old home mansion was
reached, and the great house echoed onco
more with young voices, and was bright
ened BY loves warming atmosphere
The children became the very darlings
Of their grandfathcr's heart, and their
education, which poverty had seriously In
terfered with, was resumed with renewed
zeal, and 0racie's musical talent In partic-
ular wns carefully cultivated. though 10
longer necessity - . means Of support
There d only one drawback ia the com
plctcncss Of their happiness, and that y the
thought that the dear mother can not share
II, and Holroyd Graham signs q he thinks
OF the many years Of happiness which, In
his cruel prejudice and unforgiving spirit
he has deprived himself Of, and also thinks
ofthc many years Of privation and suffer-
ing he caused the gentle woman whom he
came to love 20 well, before she left him,
and the hard and unaccustomed tasks
which, through his neglect. the feeble
hands were forced 20 perform, when :
1.-THE Of the wealth which he would never
have missed, and . little Of His love, which
should have been hers BY right, could have
made her life an easy and happy one.
Mna n ~ UoWAnn.