The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-03-01

tell ID 10 Ethel Rbd she could reirat
a. much ~ Il ~ she tiacd TO their IN
ther The ga man, opposed Toy both
ulS children, was OBLIGED to give IN
ana lclt them together As soon as b.
nHd gone Ethel closed he door and
looked uquiringly AT the stranger.
= was trying to begin" he said the
delivery Of message from your late
lro,hcr Tie was my partner In bust
ness la western city. aud regret 70
gay that come TO announce bis death
Ethel sighed Ii was rather that
hopcd for support would not material
he than grief. for she scarcely remem
bercd her brother. But The stranger
who gave his name as George Mason
assured her that her brothers interest
In the business would he sufficient 10
make her father aud herself quite com
Portable The story OF Sam Rurllel's
career was. as Mason had said, long
one. aud after giving II TO her the
question came up as to what course
10 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, instead
OF having returned to him. was dead
| At any rate. she felt that II must be
put of. But she invited Mr., Mason to
remain IN the house-indeed, her father
would misunderstood her not doing 80
h,, In fha The
old man was Informed that Sam was
In business In the west and must re-
turn there. but possibly he might take
his father and sister with him. George
Mason before lea wing his business had
taken In one Of his clerks as partner.
and there was no hurry for his return.
He remained with the Bartlets as
prodigal son. Ethel taking care to In.
form her friends and acquaintance 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 out OF
the bag to her father. Besides this.
pla ying brother and sister by two per-
sons who were not related was not
likely to 20 on without criticism. To
guard against any such issue George
/ Mason told Ethel that they had better
announce that they we're engaged.
which was his way Of proposing. Ethel
didn't quite like that way OF doing 1t,
but she acquiesced.
Every day 1t became more risky to
disabuse the old man and confess the
deception. He was falling rapidly. and
! II was feared that the shock OF know
ing that his son had not returned 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 1t was necessary that
Mason should return to his business,
II would not do to leave the old man
behind. and II they took him with
them. blind as he was. they could not
live together as man and wife without
his know ledge of their relationship.
The puzzle seemed insouble.
However. though Mr. Bartlett would
not solve 1t 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
ly, where he would know nothing
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 trifng compared with the absurd
ty OF his talking about the relationship
that he supposed to exist between his
two children.
when Sam first came home" he
said to friend. II feared Ethel would
not forgive him for all the trouble he
had given US. but now she acts toward
him Just like q bride and be Ike
young husband. They kiss when he
goes down to business In the morning
and when be comes home In the even
ing. never saw such loving brother
and sister"
While the old man was content to
live. us 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
be must give up part OF what he al
ready enjoyed. An outsider must be
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 q house without sooner or
later taking 0, err It's management But
he saw no difficulty In introducing nm
other man. SO he occasionally limited
to his daughter that she should marry
IL have no wish to marry. father,
she would say II am perfectly con
tented as | am. Why do you wish me
| to martyr
well. you see. I'm lonely during the
long days when Sam Is at business. AMI
! I'd like to have child for company"
Finally about a year after the mar
rage the old man gave out. one day