The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-03-13


disabuse the old man and confess the
deception, He was failing rapidly, and
it was feared that the shock OF know
ing that his son had not returned to
him, but was dead, would KIN him.
Mason and Ethel, who were very much
In love with each other wished to be
married. and 1t was necessary that
Mason should return to his business.
1t would not do to leave the old man
behind, and Il 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 insolubIe
However, though Mr. Bartlett would
not solve it by dying. he 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 private
~, where be would know nothing
about 1t, and the three departed the
same day for their new home,
Months passed, and, although Nh.
Bartlet's ears and eyes got no better,
his health was no worse. The difficult
ty Of keeping the situation from him
was trifiing compared with the absurdi-
ty of his talking about the relationship
that he supposed to exist between his
two children.
when Sam first came home, he
said to a friend, Il feared Ethel would
not forgive him for all the trouble he ]
had given US. but now she acts toward
him just like bride and be like a
| young husband They kiss when he
goes down to business in the morning .
and when he comes home In the even
ing. Ineyer saw such loving brother
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 have a lit
tie grandson to love him and cheer
him In his old age. But to gain this
he must give up part of what he al
ready enjoyed An outsider must be
introduced into the house. and this he
knew would ehdanger the family peace
and comfort. The thought Of bringing
in another woman appalled, him, for he
had theory that no woman could
come into a house without sooner or
later taking over its management But
he saw no difficulty In introducing an
other man. So he occasionally limited
to his daughter that she should marry
Il have no wish to marry, father,
she would say 4 am perfectly con-
tented as am Why do you wish me
to marry?"
"Well, you see, Pm lonely during the
long days when Sam is at business, and
I'd ike to have child for company"
Finally about a year after the mar
riage the old man gave out One day
he took to his bed. which he never
again left. His supposed sons alb
sence all day at his business was a
great trial to the invalid. From the
time Mason went away In the morn
ing till his return in the evening the
patient would wait and watch for him.
At last when the candle of life was
pickering low the dying man heard a
child's cry.
whats that r. he asked, starting up.
Father" said Ethel, that's little
Sam, named for you, the third Of the
line"
Little Saml What do you meanY'
"Father, have a confession to
make
But she could not make It. She knew
that her father had but few minutes
to 1--we. Hurrying out Of the room. she
returned carrying her boy. Taking him
to his grandfather. she held him so
that the old man could kiss him. he
kissed the child and died.