Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-09-24

few minutes she went up stairs to pu
ON her bonnet and to look for Mabel
and then Hilda and | stole over t,
the table on which we could still Sc,
the little case lying where Freda hat
put it down. Our first feeling wa
surprise at seeing the photograph o
a young man, having been middle
aged, if not elderly. Indeed, we hat
inferred as much from various little
speeches made by the girls.
We were so absorbed in the con
temptation of the photograph that We
did not perceive Mabels entrance
until she stood beside us.
ooh" she said, $50 Freda has
shown you that. Is he not hand
some man ?"
Every handsome" l said. What a
terrible grief his death must have been
to Freda."
An odd sort of look came over
Mabel's face. "People get over such
things she said, after pause.
"Was he fond of Freda p
Exceedingly fond of her, and she
of him. But here she is, as her step
was heard on the stairs. "Put down
that picture, Rose"
And Freda came in, dressed for
walking, in her coquettish little wild
ow's bonnet.
During the walk, Freda was the
gayest Of the gay. AS we parted from
her at her own door, she said: $50
Mabel tells me you have seen my
husbands picture. What do you
think Of him 2"
| muttered some commonplace
about the portrait, in the midst of
Freda suddenly snatched away her
hand, which she had left in mine, and
ran into the house.
One day my mother and | were
sitting at work in the drawing. Sud-
denly Hildra burst into the room in a
state of the widest excitement.
"Mother, Rose-whom do you
think | have just seen at the post
Office? Dear Mr.. Morton"
do you mean his ghost :"
II mean himself in the hesh-ask-
ing where Miss Heath lived. He has
pleasant voice."
But, my DEAR" said my mother,
didn't he die? Die of an illness, l
mean? Was he lost at sea, or any
thing of that sort %
81 never heard particulars of his
DEATH" said Hilda, considering.
Anyway, he is in Longmede at pres
ent."
Glow do you know it is he ?"
Rose and l once saw the photo
graph. l could not mistake him he
is striking looking man."
"Could this be his brother ?"
Don't you remember Freda once
telling us that she had no people-in-
law"
Then | suddenly remembered Ed
mund and glanced in his direction.
He was very pale, and the hand that
held his book trembled.
When my mother and Hilda had
left the room he said
"Rose, | shall 60 up to London to-
night and try if the berth that was
offered to me on board the Venetia is
still to be had. l wrote a refusal
yesterday, hut by going up to night I
may still secure it,"
"Must you go, Edmund ?"
III cannot stay here" he said, land
l think life would be more endurable
at sea than on shore"
Edmund went to town that night,
and Hilda and l remained at home
devoured by curiosity concerning Mr..
Morton. We debated as to whether
it would be right to call, but disliked
intruding. However on the third
day, having heard nothing, of Mrs.
Morton or her newly found husband,
we decided that it would be only kind
to call, and was just setting out when
ring came to the door, and in walk
ed the two sisters, accompanied by the
original of the photograph. Mrs.
Morton was still in mourning, but
she had discarded the widows bonnet
and wore small straw hat. My
mother went over to Freda and kiss
ed affectionately, speaking some words
Of congratulation, and then, turning
to the stranger, greeted him also, ad-
dressing him as Mr.. Morton.
my name is Heath" he said, in a
quiet, well-bred, voice and then,
Mabel, seeing the look of blank as
constituent in my mothers face. struck
in
"Our brother, Mrs. Leslie. Just
came home from Australia"
Your brother Winifred, my