That is my story in a nutshell, boys.

I could talk for hours, and even then fail to tell you all I've gone through since I was a little shaver, for I soon learned the sad story of my mother, and how she had suffered because her father refused to forgive.
"My father was only a timber-cruiser, a man with little education, but an honest man at that.

He was never able to make much more than a living, and we have many times gone hungry, while he was storing up treasures year by year, to be lavished upon his one other daughter, who married to please him.

But we'd rather died there in the bush than ask a favor of him, my dad was that proud, and hated Alexander Gregory so for his injustice.
"You understand now what I risked in coming back here; but when I reasoned it all out in cold blood I saw that he could not keep me against my will, for he's never been appointed my guardian that I know of; so I determined to come, and stick with you, no matter what happened." "You mentioned another daughter--is she with him still ?" asked Cuthbert, who had a reason for the question.
"No, I understand that she was also taken away several years ago; her husband turned out to be a bad man, and had to get out of the country, because Mr.Gregory had sworn to shoot him on sight for good reasons.
So, you see, that stubborn will of his, that wanted to bend everything his way, has not brought him very much of happiness.

Still, it's just what he deserves, and I'm not sorry one bit." "Did the other daughter have any children ?" pursued Cuthbert.
"I don't know; but what makes you ask ?" said Owen, raising his eyes quickly, to look his comrade in the face.
"Because, unless I am very much mistaken, I heard a girl's laugh in that big cabin where he has his home, a merry laugh that somehow made me feel as if I wanted to join in with a ha-ha of my own.