Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-07-13

""O SpSo0 RAoAAs 0A WOA I law W
raise his voice at all if he doesn't
humble his words"
But the supposed Sam objected. He
said that it was a long story he had
to tell and he was tired. He would
tell it to Ethel and she could repeat
as much of it as she liked to their
father. The old man, opposed by both
his children. was obliged to give in
and left them together. AS soon as he
had gone Ethel closed the door and
looked inquiringly at the stranger.
II was trying to begin,' he said,
the delivery Of a message from your
late brother. he was my partner in
business in a western city, and l re-
greet to say that l come to announce
his DEATH"
Ethel sighed. It was rather that a
hoped for support would not material
lze than grief. for she scarcely remem-
bered her brother. But the stranger,
who gave his name as George Mason,
assured her that her brothers interest
in the business would be sufficient to
make her father and herself quite COM
Portable. The story Of Sam Bartlet's
career was, as Mason had said, q long
one. and after giving it to her the
question came up as to what course
to pursue in the matter of breaking the
news Of Sans death to the father.
Ethel could not make up her mind
to tell the old man that his son, in
stead of having returned to him, was
dead. At any rate, she felt that it
must be put of. But she invited MI.
Mason to remain in the house-indeed,
her father would misunderstood her
not doing so-until he returned to the
west. The old man was informed that
Sam was in business in the west and
must return there, but possibly he
might take his father and sister with
him. George Mason before leaving his
business had taken in one of his clerks
as a partner. and there was no hurry
for his return. He remained with the
Bartlets as a prodigal son, Ethel TAX
ing care to inform her friends and &C.
| Quaintances as to the true state of the
case.
Several weeks passed, and Mason
made no move to return to business.
Ethel was beginning to fear that some
stupid person might let the cat III of
the bag to her father. Besides this.
playing brother and sister by two per-
sons who were not related was not
= likely to go on without criticism. To
guard against any such issue George
Mason told Ethel that they had better
announce that they were engaged.
which was his way of proposing Eth
ell didn't quite like that way of doin"
1t, but she acquiesced.
Every day it became more risky to
disabuse the old man and confess the
deception. He was failing rapidly.
and it was feared that the shock Of
knowing hat his son had not return
ed to him, but was dead. would kill
him. Mason and Ethel. who were very
much in love with each other. wished
to be married, and it was necessary
that Mason should return to his bust
ness. 1t would not do to leave the old
man behind. and if they took him with
them. blind as he was, they could not
live together as man and wife without
his knowledge of their relationship
The puzzle seemed insoluble.
However. though MI. Bartlett would
not solve 1t by dying, be. grew so
blind that the young couple decided to
be married and take him west with
them without letting him know the
secret. The ceremony was performed
privately, where he would know moth
ing about it, and the three departed
the same day for their new home.
Months passed. and although Mr..
Bartlet's ears and eyes got no better
his health was no worse. The difficult
ty of keeping the situation from him
was trifing compared with the alb
surdity of his talking about the rela
tionship that be supposed to exist be
tween his two children.
when Sam first came home" he
said to a friend. II feared Ethel would
not forgive him for all the trouble be
had given us. but now she acts toward
him just like q bride and be like q
young husband. They kiss when he
goes down to business in the morning
and when he comes home in the even
ing | never saw such a loving broth
er and sister"
While the old man was content to
live. as he supposed. with his children
he often wished that one or the other
would marry that he might nave a lit
tie grandson to love him and cheer
him in his old age. But to gain this
he must give up a part OF what he al
ready enjoyed. An outsider must lie
introduced into the house. and this he
knew would endanger the family peace
and comfort The thought of bringing
in another woman appalled, him. for be
had a theory that no woman could
come into a house without sooner or
later taking yer it's management. But
he saw no difficulty in introducing an
other nan So he occasionally limited
to his daughter that she should marry.
81 have no wish to marry. father"
she would say. II am perfectly con
tented aS 7 am Whv do Won wish mo