Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-08-18
grave, with q more practical inquiry, 'Did

Charles TGompson?" Thompson be
id" said the graye-digger, with great
directness. (Which, if he hadn't religion,
7 think he is" responded the old man, as
he clambeled out Of the grave.
II was, perhaps, on this occasion, that
Mr. Thompson staid later than usual. As
he turned his face toward the city, lights
were beginning to twinkle ahead, and
fierce wind made visible by fog, drove him
forward, or, lying in wait, charged him
anrrily from the corners of deserted sub
urban streets. 1t was on one OF these cor
! pers that something else, quite as indis.
tinct and malevolent, leaped upon him with
an oath, presented pistol, and demand
for money. But it was metby will of iron
and a grip of ,teel The assailant and as.
sailed rolled together on the ground, But
the next moment the old man was erect;
one hand grasping the captured pistol the
other clutching at arms length the throat
of figure surely, youthful and savage.
"Young man." said Mr.. Thompson, set
ting his thin lips together, "what might be
your manner?
Thompson"
The old mans hand slid from the throat
to the arm ofhis prisoner, without relaxing
its tirmness.
"Charles Thompson, come with me, he
said presently, and marched his captive to
the hotel What took place there has not
transpired, but it was known the next
morning that Mr.. thompson had found his
son.
II is proper to add to the above improb-
able story, that there was nothing in the
young mans appearance or manners to
Justify it. Grave, e.icent and handsome,
devoted to his newly found parent, he as
sumed the emoluments and responsibilities
Of his new condition with o certain serious
care that more nearly approached that
which San Francisco society lacked, and
rejected. Some chose to dispise this quail
tity as tendency to "psalm-singing; 9TH
ers saw in it the inherited qualities OF the
parent, and were ready to prophesy for the
son the same hard old age. But all agreed
that it was not inconsistent with the habits
Of money getting for which father and son
were respected.
And yet, the old man did moi seem to be
happy. Perhaps it was that the oonsum-
nation Of his wishes left him without
practical mission; perhaps it is the
more probable--he had little love for the
son he had regained. The obedience he
exacted was freely given, the reform he had
set his heart upon was complete; and yet,
somehow, it did not seem to please him.
In retaining his son, Re had fulfilled all
the requirements that his religious duties
required OF him, and yet act seemed to lack
sanctifcatOn. In this perplexity, he read
again the parable of the Prodigal Son
which he had long ago adopted tor his
guidance-and found that he had omitted
the final feast decentralization. This SEEM
sd to offer the proper ceremonlousness In
the sacrament between himself and his
son; and so, year after the appearance of
Charles, he set about giving him party.
'Iuvite everybody, Charles, he said, dry
", Everybody who knows that l brought
you out of the swinehusks of iniquity, and
the company of harlots and bid them eat,
drink and be merry"
Perhaps the old man had another reason,
not yot clearly analysed. The fine house
he had built on the same hills sometimes
seemed lonely and bare. He often found
himself trying to reconstruct from the
grave features of Charles the little boy
which he had but dimly remembered IN the
past, and of which lately he had been
thinking great deal. He believed this to
be a sign of old age and childishness; but
coming one day, in his formal drawing
room, upon child of one of the servants,
who had strayed therein, he would have
taken him in his arms, but the child fed
before his grizzled face. So that it seemed
eminently proper to invite number of eo-
pie in his house, and, from the array OF San
Francisco maidenhood, to select daugh-
ter.in-law and then there would be a child
boy, whom he could rare up from the
beginning, and loye-as he did not love
Charles.
We were all at the party. The Smiths,
Robinsons, JOneses and Browns also came,
in that fine flow OF animal spirits, uncheck-
ed by any respect for the entertainer, which
most of us are apt to find so fascinating
The proceedings would have been some
what riotous, but for the social position of
the actors. In fact, Mr.. Bracy 1ibbets,
having naturally fine appreciation OF
humorous situation, but further impelled
by the bright eyes of the Jones girls con-
Quoted himself so remarkably as to attract
the serious regard of Mr.. Charles Thomp-
son, who approached him, saying quietly.
"You look i'll, Mr.. Tibbets let me con-
duet you to your carriage. Resist, you
hound, and I'll throw you through that
window This way, please, the room is
close and distressing" 1t is hardly neces-
sary to say that but part of this speech
was audible to the company, and that the
rest was not divulged by Tibbets, wbo al
forwards regretted the sudden illness which
kept from him witnessing very amusing
! incident, which the fastest Miss Jones char
acterized AS 1.-The richest part of the blow
/ out, :" and which | hasten to record.
! 1t was at supper. 1t WAS evident that
Mr.. Thompson had overlooked much law
/ lessness in the conduct of the younger peo'
! pie, in his abstract contemplation OF some
! impending event When the cloth was re-
moved, he rose to his feet, and grimly tap
ped upon tho table. A litter, that broke
out ameug the Jones girls, became epide-
mic on one eide of the board. Charles
thompson, from the foot of the table,
/ -, t..,,aov par,,lAvttsf tIlp'g ~ n