The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-04-15

s ga late hour one night last week, a
.oman well known in the business and
Il circles of this city, and who occupies
,.n,lsome residence on one of the fash
.bIe thoroughfares, was awakened from
rrd slumber by an unusual noise IN
.leaping apartment, and, after listen
;ctently for moment, became con
,rs Of the fact that some person was
.,tbIv moving about in the room. The
mas turned off and the inside blinds of
riodow were closed, SO that all was
,t,I darkness, but the next instant the in
! ..,ier stumbled over chair near the bed,
J 10 movement revealing his precise loca-
4 ~ Most men, rudely awakened by the
. ,,eremclious entrance of a burglar, would
go uttered an exclamation of alarm or a
-, far assistance, but the master of the
'nse was man of unusual selfpossession
] nj determination without uttering a word
h sprang from his couch and grappled
frIb his unknown antagonist. The strug-
- which ensued in the dark was brief but
Ilecsive. The burglar fought on the de-
lsosiye, rather than the offensive, and made
be most desperate attempts to loosen the
hand which grasped his throat like an iron
rice. but his antagonist, although on the
gady side of fifty, was man Of great mus
rIar power, and the fellows efforts to es-
ape we're fruitless. Kneeing upon the
nostrate form of the painting burglar, the
victor in the struggle called to his wife to
fght the gas, command which the lady,
who was awakened by the scuffie, and who
vas nearly beside herself with fear, was
not slow to execute.
The instant that the gas jet flooded the
room with light, the gentleman released
his hold upon the throat of his adversary,
pale, haggard, ill-clad young man, and
the latter staggered to his feet. For mo-
ment the two men confronted each other,
and then with a 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 mutual the excla-
nations rang out simultaneously. 1t was
indeed the reunion Of sorrowing father
and prodigal son. Eight years ago the
former was resident of WiIkesbarre, Pa,
and the latter, his only child, was bright
youth of twenty, who unfortunately fell in
with fast associates and became proficient
in all manner of youthful dissipation. Find
nc parental restraint irksome the boy ran
away from home and shipped upon YES
sci bound for Liverpool. After several
months spent in London, where he lived
by his wits, he shipped as cook on YES
sci bound for Africa, but was Frustrated
bya severe fever and was sent back to
England. Upon his recovery he went to
South America, where he secured posi-
ton in the employ of an extensive stock
raiser, remained there for four years, and
at the end Of that time having saved several
hundred dollars in gold. Soon the old rov.
ing disposition came over him, and be drift
ted of to Cuba and Mexico, and finally
arrived in New Orleans last fall, where he
associated with fast characters and soon
lost what money he had through the agen
ces of the wine bottle and the gaming
table. During the winter he worked hi:
way North, and about two weeks ago ar
rived in this city from Cincinnati, will
only So in his pocket.
During all the long years of his absence
the prodigal had never written home anc
had never heard from his parents. He was
ignorant of the fact that they had removed
to Detroit, and he determined to carr
money enough, if possible, to take him back
to Wilkesbarre, where he intended to en-
deayor to live a respectable life. Owing
to the hard times he could obtain no work
and was finally forced to seek lodgings, a
the Woodbridge street station. Aftel
sleeping there several nights he was warmed
that upon his next visit he would be sen
10 the House of Correction as vagrant
That night he wandered about the cit,
hungry, penniless and desperate, and it wa
while in this forlorn, desperate condition
that he yielded to the sudden temptation
to crime in order to relieve his necessities
By some strange and yet fortunate fatalit.
he entered the house of his own father
and what followed has already been dc
Scribed.
Such was the story which the unhapp,
Young man related to his grief-strickei
PARENTS In tho room which he had entered