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New Zealand Tablet, 10 March 1910, Page 367

up •; the short staircase. His grandfather climbed slowly, breathing somewhat heavily. Richard led him to the front room and stopped with his hand on the latch. We furnished this room, sir,’ he said in a clear voice, which nevertheless shook a little, 1 just for you. We hoped you might like to stay here with us sometimes and feel that it was home.’ He opened the door and the Judge walked in—much as if he would have preferred to stay outside. A small fire crackling cheerily in the old little fireplace threw its wavering light on the quaint blue and white landscape paper which covered the walls. Grandfather Hazelton looked about with dazzled eyes. They all stood silent for a moment, then a gentle hand fell on Ins arm, and he stared down for the second time that evening into the well-nigh irresistible pair of eyes. It s been such a happiness to get it ready for you,’ said, the voice to which Richard had long sworn allegiance. Wont you forgive us for loving each other and for not being content without your approval and your-love?’. . It was a long moment, and again his grandson held his breath, feeling that if the elder man spurned the girl now, he, Richard, must henceforth refuse to be to him that which he had been all his life. But there is a temperature at which the hardest substance melts, and perhaps it was not Mr. Hazelton’s heart which was at fault, after all, only his pride; and pride cannot, endure before love. Suddenly he turned and laid both hands upon Evelyn’s shoulders, bent and kissed her gently on the forehead. Then he went over to the fire and sat down. Richard, with _ a radiant face, let Evelyn draw him quietly away out into the hall and noiselessly closed the door. Then he triumphed openly. ‘You’ve _ done it, little girl; you’ve done it, bless you he whispered. Then he went silently and joyfully downstairs. But they did not know that in the little bedroom which looked hke the home of his youth an old man sat and wiped away the —tears which meant things the younger people, with all their love and goodwill, could never understand.