Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1911-10-26

n
Deception
Ii Was Long Maintained and
Ended Only In Death
BY HELOISE BRAYTON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911,
BY tiELoIsE RRAYTON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911,
sYss.v.e..10e1993@a

When Sam Bartlett al sixteen went
away from home without bidding his
parents or his little sister Ethel good
by moi communicating with them
afterwards. he wrecked the comfort Of
the mmiiy His mother died within
few yrnrs. and her death Jeff the old
n.un d,~olatp indeed Ills eyeSigbi and
b., hearing were both impaired. His
daughter Ethel poor girl. bad hard
tirit milh him To read to him was
dlGlcau since she w;l~ obliged 10 shout.
aud hp could not see 20 read himself
Etbrl owed her father but II was
natural hat spe should wish for some
fhua more Inspiring than taking care
Of 70 broken down old man She WIS
hl eleven years Did when her brother
went away and fourteen when her
mother died When NJ times she would
nave temporary respite from the
care Of her father like many another
girl. she would dream OF the prince
WHO would come 10 marry her and
give her the comforts OF Il home that
would hr her own and his
one morning there was knock at
the duor Ethel was upstairs aud did
not hrlr the summons II sounded
again aud this time loud enough for
Mr. Bartlel go hear He went 10 the
door and opened It, There stood a
young man
It am looking for the home OF Mr..
Bartlett" said the stranger Have |
struck the right house,"
Speak louder" replied Bartlett. put
ting, his hand 10 his ear; I'm hard of
hearing
I'm trying to find Mr.. Bartlett.
and think you are he Judge by
the resemblance your SON.
My SOM"
Yes. your son Sam"
SAM"
Yes"
"Oh, Sam, my hoy. how could you
have left us us YOU did with never
word all these long years. You killed
your poor mother, and have one foot
IN the grave. How could you? How
could your
The father put his arms around the
strangers neck and wept.
The visitor was standing in this abb
surd position. not knowing whether to
mingle his tears with those Of the
weeping father or to laugh when he
saw IN attractive looking girl descend
ing the staircase,
'BuI IN not reproach you, SAM"
continued Mr. Bartlett II dare say
was severe with you. and spirited
boy won't stand TOO much correction.
I'm glad you've come back and to
stay haven't youy Oh, stay with us!
Ethel and | are SO lonely and we ueed
your help Your old father needs
strong vonng arm and brain 10 support
him
BY these words and the half amused,
half sympathetic look on the face Of
the stranger Ethel understood that her
father had made mistake Dreadlng
10 have him suddenly disabuSed. fear
ing reaction consequent upon disap
poinfment. she gave The young man
n meaning look and put finger on her
lips ms a signal for silence Her IA
theirs back wns TO her. SO he did not
see her, and she wishing to release
the visitor from his emba rra ssing 30.
Sition, laid her hand softly on the old
mans shoulder lie turned aud saw
her
oh. Ethel he exclaimed joyfully.
whom do son suppose this IS: Your
long lost brother sam has returned "
lie dlseuSiged himself from his sup
posed son thut Ethel might embrace
the prodpI Bur Ethel stood mute
Forgive him Ethel as ! nave for.
given him Forget the past and what
he might have been 10 us during the
years thar are gone 1t WAS who
drove him away by my harshnpSs For
give him for my sake
II forgive him, father" said Ethel
But there WAS no warmth in the
words nor did Ethel greet her brother
with sisterly kiss An expression
OF infinite pain CROSSED the fathers
face The stranger saw 1t aHd step.
ped TN the breach
Forgive mr lIlhpl" Ap said. -
navr duup very wrong
Tie advanced 90 her with nutstmjrh
so arms ErheI drew back
Ethel cried her father In an agn
ny
The stranger folded her ia his arms
and kissed her Had the old man
better eyesight he would have known
by the bushes that the kiss was not
a brotherly and SisJerly one And had
not the two whose sight was perfect
strongly approved of each others per
Sonal appearance, had not each seen
iu the others expression that ap-
proyo.. besides something akin to
loves first spark, probably the girl
might not h1ye bluShed The old man
put one Nrm around his supposed son
and the other around his daughter,
forcing them to proloug their en-
brace
Thank heaven. my dear children.
for this reunion
Father said Ethel. let us hear
what Sam has TO say in explanation,
or rather had better hear 1T first
and repeat it 70 you You know YOU