The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-09-06
CHAPTER xI.

The Reverend John Henry Isle was
q man OF honor and discretion, and he
meant to keep Brangwyn's secret In
violate. But the partner of his bed
and board had wifely little knack or
going over her husbands pockets at
any time when she happened to be in
want of small change, and she made
a perquisition Of this sort on the fol
lowing morning whilst the good man
stole his customary extra forty winks.
So she was necessarily taken into con-
fidence, and having been solemnly
pledged to secrecy she told nobody
but her two dearest friends, and they
being solemnly pledged to secrecy
told nobody but their own dearest
friends, who spread the news In the
very strictest confidence until 1t was
the common property Of the whole vii
lage. This had disastrous result In
one respect, for it brought every loafer
and -naught in the parish to
Aloysius's door for time, and led to
his being logged upon his nightly ram
bles, until it was discovered that the
only way in which not to share in the
rich mans bounty was to ask for 1t.
Amongst others to whose ears the
story Of his generosity came were
Billery and Truscott, and these were
Of one opinion-the miserable man was
paying conscience money. But the
villagers, who knew nothing of the aw-
full accusations which hung over their
benefactor's head, learned to adore
him, and on the occasion of their rare
encounters with him they capped him
with rare good will, and many of them
sent blessings after him.
He kept his word with the unlucky
workman he had befriended in his
need, and looked in on him from time
to time. He was forced at first to
threaten extreme measures to put an
end to the exuberance of Mrs. Har-
vey's gratitude.
Now, look here" he said, If you
are going to talk to me like this every
time l come within speaking distance
| shall stay away altogether and stop
supplies. Understand distinctly, |
won't have it. l won't be bothered
with it."
So the whole family chanted his
praises to everybody whom they could
get to listen; and the children, who
were told every day that he was the
best Of men, and were nightly taught
to remember him in their simple
prayers, ran to him with that infinite
trust and love which makes childhood
so engaging. and would hold him by
the hand and prattle to him with no
fear OF the gloomy eyes and distracted
manner with which he often met them.
1t happened one night that he had
meant to make call upon the patient,
who was then rapidly approaching con-
valescence, and was, for teetotaler,
submitting to the doctors orders on
the port wine question with exemplary
resignation. He happened to be walk
ing on the strip of turf which lined
the road, and his approaching foot
steps were unheard. But the window
was open to the mild autumn night,
and he could hear the children at their
devotions. Unwilling to interrupt
them he stood still and played the in
nocent eavesdropper. not whiting what
was coming. God bless dear, good,
kind Mr.. Brangwyn. and grandfather,
and father, and mother, and make
fathers leg get better soon, and make
me a good girl (boy), for Christ's sake,
amen"
He did not enter the house that
night, for there was an unwonted
moisture In his eyes which he was not
willing to have seen. He went back
to his lonely study and sat there with
the unfailing cigar between his lips,
and more than once the tears started