The Bessemer indicator., 1893-05-27

did. But I thanked him and declined
bis offer. / was not uahsppy now.
except that pined for news OF Hsr.
old. for In all these years NO word
had come from him-none Of those
letters he had promised
felt suro he was not dead and 1t
was very natural that he should for
get to write, but my heart had no
rest. He was 26 years old by this
time and in all that time much might
have happened.
My pillow was often wet with tears
from thoughts OF him-fan cies OF
what he had suffered and longol to
meet him, or only see him from afar
but once again.
At last news came. Mrs HalsteI
came running to my room wild with
joy.
News OF my boy" she said hold
| ing letter toward me.
II thought you had forgotten nll
about him. madame" l said.
was sorry the next moment. for
she burst into tears and faltered
through her sobs:
"You don't know what it is to be
the wife of man who dominates
your will! have never forgotten Or
ceased to regret other things" Then
| she wiped her eyes and said: "But,
as far as Harold goes. it is all over.
He has written to me- He is rich
really rich. lie has made fortune
in California, and ho is coming home
| to see me. He is in New York and
will be here tomorrow. The squire
is pleased; the girls are wild to see
him; his little brother is delighted.
She ran out OF the room again.
looking young and happy, and sat
down to my machine, swallowing Il
throat
L He had not written to mo. Well.
! was only u servant, and he was II
rich man now. They were rejoicing
in his coming for that reason-tho
| squire and his children. lie was n
very different person from the poor
Harold Robling who went away,
"I expect he will give us lots of
presents" | heard ono OF tho girls
say. "An older brother who is rich
is great thing to have. We must
pet him and make him goodnaturcd. ="
"Oh, yes" said the other. when
girls have rs stlngy father as we
have generous elder brother is Il
godsend.
And I--oh. If he returned in rags,
! begging his bread, should have well
coined him. cared for him not for.
his money. And ii he had returned
poor it was l to whom he would haze
written, knew we'll. But tried to
| pat the selfish thoughts away and re-
| joice for his sake that he had pros
peroi, even if he had forgotten his
little sister Dora.
! The morrow came. As sat at nv
machine ] heard the sounds below
that told he had arrived. heard his
mother cry out and tho squire say
heartily, "Wclcome home. my boy"
and his sisters squcal and giggle after
way they had. 1hen the great
drawing room doors were closed shut
ting mo out.
l, who loved him so dearly, went
back to my room alone. uncared for.
wrotched! / felt as though my heart
would break. could no longer keep
back my tears. Half an hour passed;
then some one came to the door-a
servant--who told mo that / was
wanted in the parlor.
Trembling, quiverlng, feeling as
had never felt before. | obeye1 the
summons. / opened the drawing
room door.
The squire stood before the fire,
important as usual, one hand in the
breast Of his coat, the other way
ing toward me as he uttered these
words:
Dora, have sent for you because
Master Harold has returned and
wishes to meet faithful servant OF
the family"
But before the words were out OF his
mouth Harold. handsomer and larger,
but the same for all that-the very
Harold that | knew-rushed forward
and took both my hands and bent
down and kissed me
II told you, sir" he said, THAT ]
wanted to SEQ Dora-the dearest
being alive to me! Such words as
you utter / cannot permit You to
speak as though they were mine
Yon have never received any OF my
letters. Dora, bat have guessed
why"
~ never have received . letter,
Harold" l answered.
$50 l thought" said he I'VE
will not ask who kept them from
you. have no wish to quarrel with
anyone: but you were my only fricnd
years ngo when went ont into the
world homeless and penniless, and /
have come now to ask you to share
with me the home that / can now
offer You"
"Share your home, Harold9" cried
the squire. "1ho girl is not y,ur
sister. 1t can't be done. 1t would
be impropor."
II am glad, air, that the girl is
not my sister" replied Harold. "foI
she is the girl ! want for my wife
and here, before You ull, ask hos
for her heart and hand, and proud
shall | be il she will give them &c
me-"
could not answer but he saw sill
i felt in my face, and led me away
with him.
There was no quarreling. People
like the squire aud his family nevst
offend rich people, and am the hap
picst woman living. .--Firesido Com
panion.
Snsed Hundreds OF Lives.
During the performance of n pl U
at Bella, Italy one of the players be-
nd -