CONCLUSION,

Otago Witness, Issue 2493, 25 December 1901, Page 63

CONCLUSION,

One very hot day in summer, as Uncle Aiex reclined on a couch close to a window that overlooked the flower garden, and a favourite shady walk, a little beyond voices came to him through the half open casement — words not meant for his ears ; but the soft wind blowing just then waftea them, flower-laden, to whore he lay, and for years afterwards the &cent of those particular flowers always brought back the memory of that morning like a reviving draft. The voices, low at first, gradually grevt louder, as though the owners had forgotten that doors and windows sometimes have ears. The fir«t voica, which he recognised i.% Jack's, asked, " You will let me tell Uncle Alex now, dear Fanny, will you not? I feel sure that his illness is on my account. He is so afraid I will marry Miss Long. He has had a long talk with Mrs Grove, which sh? thought fit to relate to me, and it is that which gives me courage to go and tell him all." "And don't you think he will be veiy angry when he learns how we have deceived him? " came in trembling tones he well knew. " No, I think he w ill be so relieved that he will forget tt be angry, and be only too pleased to forgive us." During this conversation they were not aware of a weak, staggering figure, which lose from the couch in the darkened room, and shuffled rathei than walked across to the window, nor of a white, eager face that peeped for a moment through the lace curtains, a? though to assure the owner that the words he had just heard were true, and not a myth of his poor, weak brain. Yes, nothing could be truer. Had he been blind all this time? If so, he was perfectly awake now. How plain it all seemed. How he had worried himself all the^e months — months, were they? — why, they &eemed years. One more peep ! Yes, there they were, and wholly unconscious of his having overheard their conversation. Miss Simmonds stands, or rather leans, against a weeping willow, while Jack, with one arm "thrown round her, is begging her to go with him at once to Uncle Alex. A moment or two more, and the occupant of the sick room, who has gone back to his couch, elated by gladness and expectation, hears footsteps approaching, and then the door ogens softly^ aud Jack, with the

housekeeper on hi 5 - arm. approa-,"- the couch : — "Uncle, we have come to u-.c y,:>. iorgivene's. for we have decoiVtd w.u. I will "' To their surprise. Uncle Aiex nutiMipted eagerly, exclaiming, "My dear children. I kiuni al! I overheard your conveisation in the garden ju^fc now. In your earnestness vuu forgot thatwindows have ears I torgive you both as freely as I hope you v ill forgive ny tor trying to force one of you into a i. vele=s marriage and to separate you hot!'."' "Oh, uncle, "" exclaimed Jack. ">on li.ive made us so happy, and we both tlwik i ou from the bottom of our hearts " Then, after a pause, Uncle Alex - l id. "And so this is your town-bred, I3neaired, dainty m?dam, is it?" laying his hand, gently on his housekeeper's head. " Now. tell me how it i<- that you. beingi reared in the town, can superintend and regulate a farmhouse so well." " My Uncle Dave," was the reply. " ha.> * farm, to which I used to go each summer, and, of course, I always helped my Aunt Norah in the house and dairy, till I grew, as she often told me, a better housekeei)er than herself, which is siying a good deal, for my aunt is considered the best dairy farmwife in East Linn. When Jack told me the dreadful news that you were going to separate us. then we both put our heads together, with the help of Mrs Grove, to try and outwit you, and, as you know, we succeeded," and she smiled rogui&hhr at her future uncle, who did nofc seem to be the lea«t disconcerted at being so cleverly outwitted by the young people. A month later there was a gay wedding at Hill Crest, and not one among tho happy group assembled was more blithe aud content than Uncle Alex, and he waa heard by many to express the satisfaction that Jack had at last chosen a wife afteu his own heart, and one who. after h* had gone, would uphold the dignity of Hill Crest Fami.