The advocate., 1894-05-02


when he was hurt"
During the latter part of Kste's
story Mrs. Mason put her hands to her
beating heart. Mason went and sat by
her side. But now the "sweet-faced
old lady" could restrain herself no
longer. Springing up she seized Kate
and embraced her, crying out while
tears flowed:
"Oh, you darling girl, you have seen
my huSbandl Marshall, did l not ALWAYS
say so? Oh, you darling girl! He win
come to US at lastP' And much more.
When his mothers parOxysm had some
what subsided, though she still held
Kate as if, fearful of losing this one
chance Of again meeting her husband,
Mason said:
"You may as well tell us all of it
now, Miss Cotterell. Pray, what is his
nameY"
"It is not Mason, and l do not think
/ should tell it.
"Not MGSOn?" exclaimed Mrs. Ma
son in dismay. "Oh, how cruel if | am
to be disappointed at last! Tell me his
Christian name at least. / implore
you do that much. None of us will
ever reveal it,"
'Well, now, that is strange, too"
said Kate refeCtively, as suspicion
occurred to her for the first time.
"What was your husbands name, Mrs.
Mason? His full nane?"
marshall OyertOn Mason"
"That explains it! My friends name,
at least the name by which he is known
to me, is Marshall Overton Over
ton"
"Oh, it is he, you dear girlp' ex-
claimed Mrs. Mason again embracing
Kate. "He has simply dropped his
surname. Oh, where is he?"
81 have not heard of him since last
September, when / received a letter
from him stating that he was on his
way to the TOpolobampo colony in
SinalOa, Mexico, where he had a faint
hope of finding his family; and telling
me not to write him, as, in case he did
not find his family, he meant to travel
awhile through regions where letters
would not reach him. | expect him
here almost any time now. He has
been like another father to me-"
Then Kate thought of something and
blushed. l suppose it was something
with regard to having Overton for
another father.
81 have always said he would come
back to us. God is good! Oh, think of
it. | am going to see my dear Marshall
again after all these yearsp
"But remember, Mrs. Mason, he is an
ex-convict. should not like to tell
him to come, and then have you send
him away broken hearted after his
long search. Mr.. Mason is preacher,
and he might not like to publicly ac-
knowledge an eV-conVict as his father.
Pardon me, but l must know it will
make no difference with either of you."
"ScOrn my father because he has been
persecutedf If he had been a real
criminal my father would find recogni-
tiOn and sons warm welcome await
ing him. Do you really think so i'll of
me"
"No, 1 do not; and Mrs. Mason need
not answer my foolish question"
Mrs. Mason was trembling from the
excitement of the past few minutes,
and was persuaded to lie down on the
lounge, while Mason told the story of
his futile efforts to get his fathers
legacy, finally producing for Kate to
read the ex-postmaster's letter, which
now put Oyerton's identity beyond
doubt.
The bell rang, and through some i'm
pulse Kate went to the door. Overton
and Harbinson entered. Kate gave
her "other father" a hearty greeting
in the hall, calling him "Mr. Mason"
which puzzled him.
"Did you find your family, Mr.. Ma
son ?" she asked in a low tone.
"No, Kate, nor any trace of them"
"Well, l have been more Fortunate"