speak with her alone, though I made sure she'd send me
away."

Then Seth repeated that which he had told Aunt Hannah, and while he
was thus engaged Mr. Dean entered the house.

During the two days which followed, Gladys and Seth held long
conversations regarding the possible good fortune which might come to
the latter; but nothing definite was known until the hour when Aunt
Hannah was allowed to sit in an easy-chair for the first time since
the accident.

Then it was that Mr. Dean returned from New York, and came to make his
report.

There was no longer any question but that it was really Seth's uncle
who had lately died in San Francisco, or that he had bequeathed the
sum of five thousand dollars to his nephew.

It appeared, according to Mr. Dean's story, as learned from Messrs.
Symonds & Symonds, that Daniel Barrows had cared for his brother's
child to the extent of paying Richard Genet of Jersey City a certain
sum of money each year to provide for and clothe the lad. Mr. Genet
having died suddenly, and without leaving anything to show whom Seth
had claims upon, the boy was left to his own devices, while his uncle,
because of carelessness or indifference, made no effort to learn what
might have become of the child.

There were certain formalities of law to be complied with before the
inheritance would be paid, among which was the naming of a guardian
for the heir.

Aunt Hannah declared that it was her duty as well as pleasure to make
the lame boy one of her family, and to such end Mr. Dean had several
conferences with Symonds & Symonds, after which the little woman was
duly appointed guardian of the heir.

There is little more that can be told regarding those who now live on
the Morse farm, for the very good reason that all which has been
related took place only a few months ago; but at some time in the
future, if the readers so please, it shall be the duty of the author
to set down what befell Aunt Hannah, Seth, Gladys, and Snip after the
inheritance was paid.

That they were a very happy family goes without saying, for who could
be discontented or fretful in Aunt Hannah's home? And in the days to
come, when Father Time lays his hand heavily upon the little woman,
Seth knows that then, if not before, he can repay her in some degree
for the kindness shown when he and Snip were fugitives, fleeing from
nothing worse than a newspaper advertisement.

THE END.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook o