Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-04-14

Bella was not learned in the law, bu
she grasped enough of the situation t
know that she had been made a house
hold drudge for years on the farm Whic
belonged to her brother, her father,
he lived, and herself, as the heirs and as
signs of Elizabeth Pepperell.
Down in the parlor the company" ha'
arrived for the Thanksgiving Dime
which. despite poverty and privatlon
was always feature of the day. SOUR
Elkins and his wife were the guests, an
the squire, with many apologies, hat
brought with him two strangers from
the city, Mr.. Morton and his son. Mrs
Martins two daughters, arrayed in thei
country finery. were simpering on tn
sofa. Mr.. Martin sat in the best rocker
while Mrs. Martin, in her best" pro
tected by an enormous bingham apron
bobbed, red-faced and "fustered,'" be
tween the parlor and the kitchen.
Mr.. Morton and his son were inter
ested in the new railroad, and the Squire
informed Mr.. Martin aside that he coulG
sell one strip for enough to clear all thu
rest and leave a snug margin for i'm
provements.
But the Mortons did not seem to be in
much of hurry to talk business. They
seemed ill at ease, and kept glancing to-
ward the door, as though they expected
some one. At last, as Mrs. Martin seated
herself for a moment, the younger man
asked, abruptly:
Are there any more in your family
Mrs. Martini"
"Only my niece" was the stiff reply.
'She's goin' to wait on the table. She's
upstairs now, but believe she is goln'
to the city to-day. or tomorrow 70
stay"
Suddenly little figure, clad in net,t
black dress, with hair sadly disarrang' d
and little face blazing with indigns-
ton, stood in the doorway, confrontirs
Mrs. Martin. with paper which slit
held menacingly toward her.
II want my house!"
That was all she could say, and she re.
peated it again and again: Il want my
house! It's mine, and you know tt!
You've kept it from me all these years
and want it,"
Then she noticed the two strangers for
the first time, and drew back.
What does the girl mean" asked
Mrs. Martin, with weak attempt at re-
tanning her dignity. But one glance at
the document which the girl held out
was en0ugh.
Mr.. Morton had risen, pride and fond
ness struggling in his face.
"You won't turn us out, will You,
'Bella?" sobbed Mrs Martin. II know
hain't treated you right, but I'll do be-
ter. Indeed, WILL
Mr.. Morton stepped forward and his
son stood beside him.
we'll give you another chance, Ma
tflda," he said, Jack and Bella and l."
i. Bella took swift step toward him,
while Squire Elkins and his WIFI
beamed with satisfaction.
Don't you know me, Matilda AMI
Dick?" asked Mr.. Morton. Il am James
and your father, Bella And he
turned to her and held out his arms
But Jack already had her in a strong
pair of his own.
my father?" exclaimed Bella, won
deringly, as she freed herself. my
father? Why-have-you-"
Don't reproach me, child" was the
reply. Il cannot undo the wrong did,
but will do all l can. l never knew
had daughter until l wandered out to
the Klondike, and, in the providence of
God, found my son. You were born after
-I-left. l dropped my last name, and
after years of wandering and dissipation
came to myself. Your mother was
dead, my son was in the far west, and I
did not know that you existed until
found Jack. Then we planned this little
surprise on you. We have enough for all
three of us, and you can live wherever
you want to. believe, however, your
aunt said you intended going to the
city"
Mr.. Martin cast an appealing look at
his niece, and 'Bella's father and
brother never knew of all those years of
suffering and abuse.
Il want: to keep the old place." said
Bella, smiling through her tears. Il
want to keep ito give it away again."
Mrs. Martin understood, and it was
the last straw. She was crying like a
child, crying for Joy and shame and re-
pentance.
Then they had dinner-such dinner
as the old farm had not had for many
long day. And Bella waited on the
table, after all.
You needn't, Bella" said Mrs. Mar
tin, humbly. But Bella had insisted.
very gently.
They all went to the city the next day
and arranged the legal preliminaries re-
garding the transfer of the farm. It was
Joe's first case, and he was nightly
proud Of it. OF course he "won" it-al-
mostas easily as he won case OF "plead-
ing" four years later. He has a big ONCE
uow-and-and-.