The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-08-31

when they first come into the neigh
borhood, buying that fine farm and
vanloads of elegant furniture. Black
burn was telling me yesterday that
they hadn't paid a cent since that first
payment. The roads are turrible down
that way. You'd better leave the let
ter until tomorrow. BY that time
mabbe they'll clear little It's prob
ably nothing but circular
Bascom shook his head and laughed
mirthlessly. You're as bad as Mary
Jane," he said. Don't you know the
United States mail has got to go? I'd
better be trottin' along, I guess. It'll
be night now before I get home"
It was a mile and half from Han
nigan's to the Hornblow farm, and
over the worst mud roads. The snow
was still falling and was drifted high
in the fence corners when Bess reach
ed the cross roads. 1t was with great
difficulty that she reached the school
house, and the little bridge just on
the other side. At the edge of the
bridge Bess stopped, and no amount
of urging would drive her on. When
her master investigated he found that
they were on the very brink of the
precipice. The bridge had gone. The
beautiful home Of the Hornblows was
still half a mile away. From the ele-
walton at the top of the hill Bascom
looked longingly at the column of
smoke which was pouring from the
chimney. How could he reach it? He
could not cross the river with the
horse and wagon. There was only one
thing to do-hitch Bess and leave her
here while he went on foot with the
bit of paper. Drifts we're almost waist
deep, but he must brave them.
Tying 'Bess securely TO an oak,
with mail and lantern the old man
started. His fingers became numb
with the cold, he stumbled and fell,
getting eyes and ears full of snow.
Undaunted, he went on until he
assembled the tall steps, at the big
house and heard the clock striking
two. Almost frozen, he fell upon the
threshold.
Hatty Hornblow heard the noise and
ran to the door. She picked up the
old man and hurried him into the
kitchen, where they plunged his feet
into water and poured hot drinks down
his throat
When he produced the letter for
which he had risked so much they
knew who he was. Made comfortable,
nodding dreamily, he listened while
the girl read the latter to her mother
and brother:
Dear Ones-I am afraid things are
serious with you by this time. III I am
back from the Klondike and in the
dear old States once more, and have
been for almost a week. I wrote sew
eral letters, but as I have received no
reply, concluded that you had not re-
ceived them. My partner and I left
Dawson City with about 100000 dol
lars each, arriving in San Francisco
O. K, but we had scarsely found a
lodging place when Ned was taken
with rheumatic fever, and was per-
fectly helpless.
"He is an A number one good fell
low, has been a friend to me, so of
course I could not leave him sick and
alone. He had been in the country
longer than I and was able to tell me
many things which contributed to my
success.
During his illness I learned several
things which I did not know, although
I have been with him constantly for
more than year. He left home when
but boy because of quarrel with
his father. His name is Bascom."
The old man by the fire ceased to
nod and sat up stiff and straight. What
was this girl with the musical voice
reading so calmly? Could Ned be Ed
ward, who he had always believed had
slept beneath the Southern soil for
years?
"Strange to say" the girl continued
reading, che was raised only few
miles from our new home. If you see
his father tell him that we shall be
in Midway in two or three days. With
us we shall bring enough to quiet
forever your financial worries. By-by
until we meet again.
The joyous wife and the children
were silenced by the sudden activity
of their visitor.
evil you read that again, Miss?'
he cried, rushing over to the chair
where the girl was sitting, that about
Ned Bascom. Can it be my boy who
I thought was dead, coming back tt
his father? Read it, Miss"
Slowly and carefully the girl reat
once more the news which meant Sc
much to jeremiah Bascom.
The stars were shining in clear
sky when the old man drove into the
lot at home In maze of joy, all the
long way he had been singing ant
turning this question over in his mind
What if he had not done his duty?
The old wife, who had been fright
Eened because of his long absence, me