Sharp County record., 1903-02-13
Harry's Majority
BY DAGNEY MAJOR.


breakfast was laid for three. At The
Eeaa Of the table sat Miss Pris
ella Payne, a sweet gray hairel
woman, with what is termed
good" face, though lined witt
.gre and trouble. Yes; the bow
rappiness was low when her share
. la5ied ont. There was gentle
If RESIGNATION in her face which
4s die reflection Of a brave heart.
Sine frightened up as she heard a
quick, light footsiep, and her niece,
Jessie Burton, sweetly pretty girl
of about IS summers, entered the
room.
"Good-morning auntie! Is Harry
doun?" she asked, kissing her guald-
ian.
"No, dear; but he soon viii be, I'm
sure. He can only have one twenty
first birthday"
Many letters for him?"
"a few: one is from Australia"
"Auntie," said the girl, suddenly,
with a tinge Of lovely color flaming
her checks, "I--I-have something to
tell YOU"
a DO believe I can guess what it is,
Jessie"
30, auntie, I am sure you haven't a
notion"
my dear, your face convinces me
that nv conclusion is correct. Come
here and let your old aunt whisper it,:
Harry has proposed and you have ac-
cepted him"
Glow did You lnow?' calculated
Jessie eyes, he proposed last night.
Aren't you going 10 congratulateme|'
eyes, yes, darling, May you be
very, very happy and she kissed her
niece lovingly. are you quite sure,
Jessie, that you love him, and that
there is nothing that would prevent
you from marryjng?"
Jessie replied BY a look that indi-
Gated such question was entirely un-
necessary.
"You know, dear. was in love once,
and some one was fond of me, but
but-things went wrong, Some Gay
you shall hear the story, dear, then
you will understand how il is 7 am
so anxious about you. All, here is
Harry!"
At that moment a handsome young
fellow entered the room. Jessie ran
and kissed him, and led him to her
aunt, who was smiling through tears
of happiness and scrrow-sorrow be-
cause she foresawa bitter parting with
Jessie.
After oft-repeated congratulations
and many happy returns, Harry was
permitted to open his letters, The
gist of the one from Australia ran as
follows:
MY Dear Son. trust you will receive
this on the day you attain your majority
Now that you have arrived at al age of dis
erection, | wish YOU to know much Of my
his tory as is necessary. Pray, my
dear son, 90 not think hardly OF me.
All l have done have done for the best
| have Instructed that good man,
Rev. William Nayand, your guardian and
counselor all these years, to tell You as
much as he thinks fit. lie viii see
the lawyers for you, After to-day you will
be able to draw $3.50 a year This
Will continue until my DEATH when all l
have goes to you, Wishing you all
happiness, my dear boy. Your mos. af-
foctonate FATHER
Harry read this through twice amid
a strange feeling Of uneasiuess and
emotion It was the first letterhe had
ever received from his father lie
sac down, looking rather pale, crush
ing the letter in his hand. Was his
three months Of perfect happiness at
this house to be marred by some hor-
riblc revelation? He trusted not,
Somehow or other he thought of
James Barton his rival
Miss Payne had taken a great fancy
to Harry when they first met, two
years ago, and he had latterly been
staying with her and Jessie, with the
inevitable result that he fell head over
ears in love with her pretty face,
"My guardian, Rev. William Nay
land, win be calling to see me to-day,
Miss Payne" he said at length, "ahout
some business matters. And, Jessie,"
Il broke off, 81 should like to see
you in the garden after breakfast"
The meal having concluded, with
painful evidence that things had gone
atwist, Harry strolled into the gar
Den with her,
"D Ring, what is it? What is the
Ilater?" she asked, gently nesting
up to him. Something has gone
wrong, and who should share your
trouble with you but II"
The doubts and perplexities which
sntangled his mind for a moment
seemed to overwhelm him. then, with
out a word, he took the girl in his
strong arms and held her closely to
him
"Jessie," he began falteringly at
last, "if--if-there should be anything
that might come between our mar
riage don't think too hardly of me.
If there be a secret in my family, and [
have kept it from you, believe me
when | say that it was through no