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

half sympathetic look on the face Of
the stranger Ethel understood that her
father had made q mistake. Dreading
to have him suddenly disabused, fear
ing reaction consequent upon 1fsap-
pointment she gave the young man a
meaning look and put a finger on her
lips as signal for silence. Her ia
theirs back was to her, so he did not
see her. and she. wishing to release the
visitor from his embarrassing position,
laid her hand softly on the old mans
shoulder. He turned and saw her.
"Oh. Ethel" he exclaimed joyfully,
who do you suppose this isl Your
long lost brother Sam has returned"
He disengaged himself from his sup
posed son that Ethel might embrace
the prodigal. But Ethel stood mute.
Forgive him, Ethel, as have for
given him. Forget the past and what
he might have been to us during the
years that are gone. 1t was l who
drove him away by my harshness
Forgive him for my sake"
II forgive him, father said Ethel.
But there was no warmth in the
words, nor did Ethel greet her broth
er with sisterly kiss. An expression
of infinite pain crossed the fathers
face The stranger saw it and stepped
In the breach.
Forgive me, Ethel,v he said. II
have done very wrong"
He advanced to her with osltstretch-
ed arms Ethel drew back.
"EthelF' cried her father In an agony,
The stranger folded her in his arms
and kissed her. Had the old man bet
ter eyesight he would have known by
the bushes that the kiss was not a
brotherly aud sisterly one. And had
not the two whose sight was perfect
strongly approved Of each others per
sonaI appearance. had not each seen
u the others expression hat approval,
besides something akin to loves first
spark. probably the girl might not
have blushed The old man put one
arm around his supposed son and the
other around his daughter. forcing
them to prolong their embrace.
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 it FIRST
and repeat 1t to you. You know you
have grown very deaf since he went
away. and he would have trouble MAX
ing you hear.
''No," protested the old man, I'm
not so deaf that / can't hear people
who speak plainly. Sam won't have to
raise his voice at all II he doesn't mum
BILE his words"
But the supposed Sam objected. He
said that 1t was long story he had
to tell and he was tired He would
tell it to Ethel and she, could repeat
as much of 1t as she liked to their ia
Their. The old man. opposed by both
bis children. was Obliged to give In
and left them together. As soon as he
had gone Ethel closed the door and
looked inquiringIy at the stranger.
Il was trying to begin, he said, THE
delivery Of message from your late
brother. He was my partner In bust
ness In western city, and regret to
say that come to announce his death"
Ethel sighed. 1t was rather that a
hoped for support would not material
lie 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, 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 Ia
tell the old man that his son, instead
of having returned to him, was dead
At any rate. she felt that 1t must be
put of But she invited Mr.. 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 re-
turn there. but possibly he might take
bis 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 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,
playing brother and sister by two per
sons who were not related was not
likely to go on without criticism. 10
guard against any such issue George
Mason told Ethel that they had better
announce that they were engaged
which was bis way Of proposing. Ethel
didn't quite like that way Of doing 1t,
but she acquiesced.
Every day It became more risky to