Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-02-27
RESTITUTION.
The Hard Lines Arnold Lyle Was
Forced to Follow.

The valley of Achor is said in Script
ure to be first "a place of trouble" and
then "a door of hope" and such, in the
experience of Arnold Lyle, was the
wild, remote valley in the north of En-
gland which had been his home from
infancy 1t was the property of his
father, with whom he lived in the SUBJ
stantial dwelling house which belonged
to the estate; but it was not family
inheritance: 1t had been bequeathed
to MIR. Lyle when a young man, strug-
Cling to make his way in the world, by
MIR. Penrhyn, the last proprietor, who
had no near relations of his own. Mr..
Lyle had married Immediately on COM
ing into possession of the place, but his
young wife died soon after the birth of
Arnold, their only child, and he him.
self gradually fell into bad health, and
became finally a confirmed invalid.
The father and son were devotedly at
tached to each other, and had never
been separated, although Arnold had
received an excellent education by
means Of tutors resident in the house
SO long as they were required. He was
a thoughtful, high-principled young
man, whose great wish had been to
become a clergyman, but he felt that
he could not adopt profession which
would have necessitated his leav-
ing his father, to whom he was
absolutely necessary. Mr.. Lyle,
refined, intellectual man. was
subject to fits of great depression of
spirits, during which he could not en-
dure to be left alone, though he shrank
from all society save that of his son.
Arnold had long been aware that there
was some secret trouble OF serious
nature which weighed upon his fathers
mind, and rendered him reserved and
misanthropical; but he had failed ut
terly to gain any clew to the mystery.
AS Mr.. Lyle was the sole proprietor
OF the land Arnold felt that it was in
cumbent on them to make some provis-
pn for the spiritual wants of the pel,-
pie; but his father had always told him
CURLY that he had not means to do aav
thing of the kind, since the income he
derived from the valley only suffced
r. for their own maintenance He affirm
i ed that the most he could do WIS to
give perm ission to missionary preach
ers to come from time to time ana hold
open-air services on the hillside.
Arnold always welcomed these rare
opportunities of public worship with
great delight, and he told his father
that he understood a new and eminent
preacher was coming to the valley that
day, and he was looking forward with
much pleasure to hearing him.
Mr.. Lyle was silent for a moment;
then he said, with certain uneasiness
visible in his manner: "Must you go
to this meeting, Arnold?"
"Why, father l would not mss it for
the world! We really live here in a
state of religious starvation, and I am
too glad to seize any opportunity of
being present at service. It is more
than a year since we have had IL preach
er in the valley. mean to 20 early,
too; for hope to see Evelyn for lit
. tie while before the people assemble.
She told re she would be there In very
: good time"
"Ah! that is an attraction can bet
ter understand" said Mr.. Lyle, with a
smile. "When are you and she going
to come to an understanding, Arnold?
It is very evident that she fully returns
your attachment"
II think we understand each other
perfectly well as it is" said Arnold,
] while his face frightened with a glow
OF happiness. my Evelyn is too frank
and noble a girl to wish even to leave
me IN ignorance of her feelings; but
she always playfully keeps me back
when I want to bring matters to a
B pont, saying we can hardly be happier