The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-03-02


tell II to Ethel and she could repeat
us much of II as she liked to their ia
ther. The old man. opposed by both
his children. was obliged to give In
and left them together. AS soon us he
had gone Ethel closed the door and
looked inquiringly ut the stranger.
IL was trying to begin" he said, 1.-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 Bartlets
career was. as Mason had said, a long
one. and after giving 1t 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 1t must be
put off. 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
his father and sister with him. George
Mason before leaving his business had
taken In one Of his clerks as partner,
and there was no hurry for his return.
He remained with the Bartets as a
prodigal son, Ethel taking care to In
form her friends and acquaintances 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. To
guard against any such issue George
Mason told Ethel that they had better
announce that they were engaged.
which was his way Of proposing Ethel
didn't quite like that way of doing it.
but she acquiesced.
Every day 1t became more risky to
disabuse the old man and confess the
deception. He was failing rapidly. and
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.
behind, and If 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 insoluble.
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 1t, 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 trifling 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." ne
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 Il bride and he like
young husband. They kiss when he
goes down to business in the morning
and when he 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.
ne olleu WlSucu tudl one OF TIE OLIlef
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
into the house. and this he
knew would endanger the family peace
and comfort. The thought of bringing
In another woman appalled, him. for he
had a theory that no woman could
come into house without sooner or
later taking over its management. But
he saw no difficulty in introducing an.
other man. So he occasionally hinted
to his daughter that she should marry
Il have no wish to marry. father"
she would say. IL am perfectly con
tented as | am. Why do you wish me
TO marryY
well. you see, I'm lonely during the
long days when Sam Is at business, and
I'd like to have child for company"
Finally about year after the mar
rage 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 i'm the morn
ing till his return In the evening the
patient would wait and watch for him.