* * * *

The year passed away, and the two young men returned home for a brief
holiday before settling down, for Harry was also to be a farmer, Dick
Harvey having undertaken to put him into a farm.

They were sitting at breakfast one morning when two letters were
brought, both with foreign postmarks.

Harkaway senior opened them.

"This concerns you, my dear," said he to Paquita.

"How so?" asked the girl.

"It is from your father. And you must prepare to hear bad news."

"He is dead! he is dead!" she exclaimed, bursting into tears.

When some time had passed, she was calmed sufficiently to hear the
letter read.

It was a deathbed letter, in which the writer stated that, remembering
the noblehearted Englishman, Harkaway, he appointed him sole trustee of
his wealth, to be given as a marriage portion to Paquita.

Documents were enclosed to put Harkaway in possession of the writer's
riches and he concluded by praying Heaven to bless his daughter.

A postscript was added in a different hand.

"The writer of this died on the 4th of April last, the day after he
signed this letter and the enclosed documents which are witnessed
by me."

"ANTONIO DELAVAT, Surgeon."

Paquita's grief at the death of her father was great, but in little
Emily and Mrs. Harkaway she found two comforters who did their best to
assuage her sorrows.

* * * *

But the other letter.

"Why, this is from our old Australian friend, Rook!" exclaimed
Harkaway.

"Rook!"

"Yes. And this is what Rook has to say for himself.

"'If ever a man had reason to be grateful to another, surely I have
cause to bless the day I met you. For thanks to you, I am no longer an
outcast, but have atoned for the past--aye, and refunded with interest
that sum of money which was the cause of my being sent here. Through
your kindness I was enabled to go into business as a farmer, and I have
prospered so that I am now one of the richest men in this part of
Australia; but I owe all my prosperity to you, so I will not boast of
it. Being better educated than many of the settlers, I have been
appointed magistrate for the district; but whenever I can be lenient
without being unjust, I humble myself, remember what I once was, and
try to give the culprit another chance. Heaven has greatly prospered
me, and I pray that Heaven's blessings may rest on you and yours.'"

"Bravo,