The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-15
A Modcrn proi,en..s Return.

THE LATTER WAS GIVEN A NEW SUIT OF
CLOTHES AND INVITED TO RETCRN.
from the Detroit Post, April sth.J
At a late hour one night lust week gen
tleman who occupies q handsome residence
on one Of the fashionable thoroughfares was
awakened by an unusual noise in bis sleep
ing apartment. aud became conscious of the
fact that some person was stealthily moving
about the room. The gas was turned of
and the inside blinds of the window
were closed, so that all was darkness,
but the next instant the intruder
stumbled over a chair near the bed, the
movement revealing bis precise location.
The master OF the house was man OF un-
usual self.possession and determination.
Without utteripg word be sprang from his
couch and grappled with bis unknown an
tagonist. The struggle which ensue1 in the
dark was brief but decisive. The burglar
made desperate attempts to loosen the hand
which grasped his throat, but bis antagonist,
although on the shady side Of fifty, was q
man OF great muscular power, and the fe!-
| lows tff>rts to escape we're fruitlese. Kneel-
ing upon the PROSTATE form Of the painting
| burglar, the victor in the struggle called to
| his wife to light the gas. command which
the lady, who was awakened by the scuffla,
and who was nearly beside herself with fear,
was not slow to execute.
The instant that the gas-jet fl ,oded the
room with light the gentleman released his
| mold upon the throat of his adversary-a
pale, hagsard, ill-clad young man-and the
| latter staggered TO his feet. For moment
the two men confronted each other, and then
With wild cry, in which horror, shame,
and remorse were all expressed, the younger
sank at the feet OF the elder.
"Father!'
"Charlie.'
The recognition was natural; the eXc|ama-
tons rang out almost simultaneously. Ii was
| indeed the rtiinion of Borrowing father and
a prodigal son. Eight years ago the former
was resident Of Wilkesbarrp, Penn, and
| the latter, bis Only child, was bright youth
of twenty, who unfortunately fell in with
bad associates and became proficient 10 all
manner of youthful dissipation. Finding
plrental restraint irk>ome, the boy ran away
| from home and shipped upon vessel bound
for Liverpool. After several months spent
in London, where he lived by his wits,
be shipped as a cook on vessel bound
for Africa, but was prostra'ed by a severe
fever, and was sent back to England. Upon
his recovery he went 10 South America,
where he secured position in the employ
of an extensive stock.raiser; remained there
for four years at the end Of that time hay
! Ing saved several hundred dollars in gold.
Soon the old rowing disposition came over
him, and he dritted OFT to Cuba and Mexico,
and 6naly arrived in New Orleans last fall,
where h- soou lost what money be had
through the agencies Of the Wine-bottle aid
the gamins-.able. During the winter be
worked his way North, and abouttwo weeks
ago arrived in this city from Cincinnati With
only S3 in his pocket.
During all his absence the prodigal had
peyer written hone, and had never heard
from bis plrents. He vas ignorant OF the
:act that they had removed to Detroit, and
he determined to earn money enough. il pos
Sible, 10 take him back to WlIkesbirrr
where he intended to endeavor to live Il
respectable life. Owing to the hard tlmc'
he could obtain no work, and was
finally forced to seek lodgings at the Wood
Dridye-strept station. After sleeping there
several nights he was warned that upon
his mex; viSi. he would be sent to the House
of Correction as A vagrant. That night ne
wandered about the city, hungry, pcnhl'e :,
land desperate: and it was while he was IN
Ibis io.loru, desperate condition that ht
welded to the sudden temptation 10 commit
crilne in OF der to relieve his necessities. Bt
some strange and yet fortunate fatality hc
entered the house Of his own father, and
what followed has already been described.
such was the story which the unhappy
youn. man related TO his yIici-Strlcken pa
rents in the room which he had entered tor
t IT purpose Of committing robbery. lie
protested that, 10 matter what excuses anu
sins he might have Committed, lie had never
before descended TO the preparation OF :
d ShoneSt act. and his remorse and repent
ancc were so uumi>takably sincere that nc
readily received the forgiveness for whIcn
ne pleaded. Fortunately, the circumstance
Of his unexpected return were unknown Il
Other parties. the two female domestics beln-
ABSENT at taIl from which they were not
expected TO return until , or 3o'clock, and tc
divert -u>picion the young man was provided
Nth III Incy, and instructed TO 60 10 hotG
for The balance of the night. The next morn
iDg he purchased suitable appnel and return
ed TO the house, where little jll>il1aoe de-
ccp'ion VAS used, and he WIS welcomed as
il he had not been u previous visitor. The
Young man i apparently sincere in bis deter
mnullun 10 reform. and is occupying desk
in his fathers establishment, where ht
already demonstrates the Possession OF att
rnlab!e business qualifications, and bid, fail
10 become useful member Of society.
This story may SAVIOR somewhat OF The i'm
probab!e, but 1t WAS related TO the writer 10y
Il gentleman Of unmpeacbable veraclty. who
enjoys intimate and confidential relation
with the parties, and who rouchcS for it
entire trulntulncs>.
I-,,,r,>c scIpE IN BROOK