Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-08-05

@Leave the housef' said Mr.. Thomp-
son, rising, with a dangerous look in his
cold, gray eye. "Char-les, how dare
your"
"simmer down. ole man! Sha1s, who's
tn OF bloat2 Ehs"
"Hush, man; here, take tbisr" With
nervous hands, Charles Thompson filed
glass with liquor. "Drink it and 60
until to-morrow-any time, but-leave
us!-go now" But even then, ere the
miserable wretch could drink, the old
man, pale with. passion, was upon him.
Half carrying him in his powerful arms,
half dragging him through the circling
crowd of frightened guests, he had reach
ed the door swung open by the waiting
servants, when Charles Thompson started
from seeming stupor, saying
"Stopr
The old man stopped. Through the
open door the fog and wind drove chilly.
"What does this mean?" he asked, turn
ing baleful face on Charles.
q" Nothing-but stop, for Gods sake.
Wait till tomorrow, but not tonight. Do
not--I implore you-do this thing"
There was something in the tone of the
young mans voice-somethiDg perhaps,
in the contact of the struggling wretch
he held in his powerful arms; but dim,
indefinite fear took possession of the old
mans heart "Who?" he whispered
hoarsely, is this man ?"
Charles did not answer.
"Stand back, there, all of you," thun-
dered Mr.. Thompson to the crowding
guests around him. Char-les-come
here I command you-I-I-T-beg you
tell me gao7o is this man?"
Only two persons heard the answer
that came family from the lips Of Charles
Thompson:
Your SON."
When day broke over the black sand
hills, the guests had departed from Mr..
Thompson's banquet halls. The lights
still burned dimly and coldly in the de-
serted rooms-deserted by all but three
figures, that huddled together in the chill
drawing. as if for warmth. One
lay in drunken slumber on a couch; at
his feet sat he who had been known as
Charlie Thompson; and beside them,
haggard and shrunken to half his size,
bowed the figure of Mr.. Thompson, his
gray eye fixed, his elbows upon his knees,
and his hands clasped over his ears, as if
to shut out the sad, entreating voice that
filed the room. "God knows I did not
set about to willfully deceive. The name
I gave that night was the first that came
into my thought-the name of one whom
I thought dead-the dissolute companion
of my shame AND when you questioned
further, I used the knowledge that /
gained from him to touch your heart to
set me free-only, swear, for that But
when you told me who you were, when
first I saw the opening of another life be-
fore me-then-then-. Oh, sir, was
hungry, homeless and wreckless when I
would have robbed you Of your gold. l
was heart.sick, helpless and desperate
when I would have robbed you Of your
love-"
The old man stirred not From his lux
urious couch the newly-found prodigal
snored peacefully.
"I had no father could claim. Inever
knew home but this. I was tempted.
| have been happy-very happy"
He rose and stood before the old man.
"Do not fear that I shall come between
your son and his inheritance. To-day |
leave this place, never to return. The
world is large, sir, and, thanks to your
kindness, I now see the way by which an
honest livelihood is gained. Good-by.
You viii not take my hand? Well, well.
Good-by."
He turned to go. But when he had
reached the door he suddenly came back,
and raising with both hands the grizzled
head, he kissed it once and twice.
e "Char-lesf'
The old man rose with a frightened air,
and tottered feebly to the door. It was
open. There came to him the awakened
tumult of s. great city, in which the prodi-
gals footsteps were lost forever.-O0er-
lG9od M0nt7sIY.