Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-05-11
~ iste1I ne II s
THE PRODIGAL SON.
BY HELEN HARCoURT.

Robert Bolton and | were old friend
life long friends, say and I may, for We
had been sehoolmates aud college chums
Damon and Pythies, our acquaintance
called as, and i'll truth, we we're insepa-
rsble companions-the one seldom stir.
ring without the other.
We were much nearer, much dearer to
each other than any Two brothers | ever
Anew Of.
Bob Bolton. as folks called him, was
entirely alone il the world. 60 far as rel
asiyes were concerned not SO your hum
Die servant, however. although it needed
but one sweep Of deaths acythe to render
me 30.
/ had one brother, my senior by ten
years. he went to Europe. and settled
down there when l Was boy, leaving me
at + boarding school, under the charge o.
friend oil our fathers.
III write to you, if anything happens
said he, on bis departure.
When he had been absent twen ~
years, | thought it time to write to Lim,
and did SO, very briefly. SO as not &c
tire him.
DEAR JOHN
l am alive. Your afectionate brother
William.
DEAR WILLIAM -
So ain I. Your affectionate brother
John.
l never heard of him again, until his
LAWYER wrote to me as his heir.
Now to return to Robert Belton--for
! must speak of him first.
Being our own masters when we left
college, We went into business together,
and, as we always acted in pairs VIC both
fell in love with the same lady.
She was sweet, noble creature-one
that you might search the world over, and
yet not end her equal.
believe-nay, [ know-that | loved
her first but somehow, l did not tell
Bob and then, when | discovered that
he loved her too, ;th all the strength of
his powerful nature, Why, | just packed
my trunk, asd made it my business k
travel for our firm for the next two
years.
Bob married her long before that, and,
wheu | at last conquered myself and set
tied down, | believe [ was we'll nigh con-
tented as he.
Our business prospered, and, when |
became heir to my brothers large estate,
l left Bob to carry it on by himself, while
l speut my time in rowing about, and Wis
iting the hospitals and prisons, where
found ready work for willing hands.
never let many months slip. by with
out paying flying visit to London, and
we kept up regular correspondence.
Bob's business prospects, his hopes,
his fears-and his only child. son grew
up to manhood, these last were many
we're all familiar topics to me.
His wife died befor their boy reached
his twelfth year, so she was spared the
seeing him fall victim of evil compan-
ionship, and finally. to so outrage his
father s sense of right and duty that the
latter, with breaking heart. disowned
him as his sou, and babe him begone
from his sight.
That was a terrible time. I was sum-
moned to my old friends bedside just in
time to receive his last requests.
L sent him away year ago, he.
whispered in my ear. Search for him
Will, never rest till you find him out
Take care Of the property for him. Tell
him I freely forgive him, and beseech
him to repent his course, and turn again
Heavenward, where / aud his mother
await him. Oh, Will, my boy, my dear
boy
And then ne fell back and died.
I laid him beside his wife, the only
two had ever loved save this same way
ward, prooi.l g II
The boy haa many noble qualities; but
evil companions led b ion away before we,
who 80 loved him, had even suspected
that wolves had broken into eur fold, and
ensnared our one lamb.
So turned away from the graveyard
that peaceful city-and | resolved to
fulfil his fathers request, cost what 1t
might of time, and money, aad patience.
[ went among the youths evil assooi-
ates be had left them long since.
BY every possible means, in every pos
sible place. ! endeavored to trace him.
but all in vain.
Months passed on, and had the case
been one of less vital importance, | should
have despaired.
At last, came back to London again,