“How "Ise could 1 account for for
the way things seemed? Was this
what you came here to tell me? 1
thought mother must have died when
I saw you here," he said, with an at
tempt at justification and niv rS )gy,
"It lias all come so suddenly. 1 can
hardly realize that you are indeed my
father, and that I may really call you
so.”
Ills father smiled and held out his
hand. Alee look il in his; the clasp
was firm and strong, nor did it relax
for some minutes afterward.
“How is mother? Do you know?"
was Alee's next query.
"Well very well. It was she who
insisted on my coming out here after
yon. It seems she had got a letter
from you which some lady friend of
yours advised you to write, so you did,
and immediately I set. out, late as it
was. to find you and bring you home."
"lint," cried Abe, withdrawing his
hand from his father's, as bis face
(loaded over. "I feel as if I were
dazed. Everything seems mixed up in
my mind. Where is Mrs. Nairn I
mean the lady at Hirka".’ How Is it
that mot her and yen
Mr. Nairn held up his hand sol
emnly.
“It in a long and sad story. Alee. As
no doubt you know, tin cholera has
been in ('unlienewe among other
places.”
“The cholera!" cried Alec, aghast.
Never heard of it being there. Heard
something of it being in Scotland but
in Cantiehowe!"
"Yes well " beta the laird pro
(ceded to narrate his own experience
and that of Alec's mother, the youth's
eyes tilling with the proud glow if sat
isfaction he fell at his mother’s action
in the circumstances.
