iss Wilmot." He took her hand and
looking at her for a moment, said, "Wilmot, Wilmot! Are you Dick's
sister?"

Kate's eyes filled with tears as she exclaimed, "Yes, sir, Richard was my
brother."

"Richard was your brother! Great Moses! What does this mean? And you in
black and crying!" Then looking at his wife, who was also in tears, he
added impatiently, "What in thun--" but instantly recollecting himself, he
said more gently, "Can't anybody tell me what has happened?" And the old
man's cheek paled, and his voice trembled, as the dread of what might have
happened stole over him.

Fanny at last went up to him and said softly, "Father, Mr. Wilmot is
dead!"

Mr. Middleton sank into the nearest chair, and covering his rough face
with his hands, wept as freely as a little child. He had loved Mr. Wilmot
with almost a father's love, and during his absence had not been unmindful
of him. Safely stowed away in his carpet bag were several costly books,
which he had purchased as a present for Richard. He had also hoped that as
Julia's husband he would have a good influence over her, and improve her
fractious disposition; and many were the plans which he had formed as to
what he would do when Richard was really his son. But now he was gone
forever. The blow was so sudden, so unexpected, that for several minutes
he was stunned by its force and wept on in silence.

At last, lifting up his head, he turned to Kate and said, "You must not
think me a silly old fool, child, for Lord knows old Josh Middleton hain't
shed such tears since he was a little shaver and cried when they buried up
his dead mother."

Kate could not reply, but from that time she felt for Mr. Middleton a
respect and esteem which nothing could ever change.

After Mr. Middleton had become calm, he proceeded to enumerate to Mr.
Miller the many good qualities of Mr. Wilmot. Said he, "He was a capital
feller; allus just so. Lively as a cricket; none of your stuck-up,
fiddle-faddle notions. And then he was such a good boarder--not a bit
particular what he eat; why, he was the greatest kind of a man--eat corn
bread, turnip greens, or anything!"

At this speech Kate smiled in spite of her tears, and Mr. Middleton went
on: "But he warn't as handsome as his sister, and I'll be skinned if I
ever seen anybody that was. Tempest can't hold a candle to her, for all
she feels so crank. Why, Kit, or Kate, what's yer name? You're as handsome
as a pictur!"

Mr. Miller probab