The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-10-17


carry him home and he would be con
tent henceforward to farm his fathers
acres aid live rs his father had done.
He had to travel slowly, bnt one
evening ten weeks afterwards, he got
off a steamer and stood once more on
the Campsaile pier. No one knew him.
He stopped a little girl to ask il
Doctor Anderson still lived at the
manse, and then took his way quietly
towards it.
AS he opened the garden gate lovely
girl looked up from her carnations al
him.
He asked timidly for the minister
and she led him into the well-known par
lor, with it's low roof and old-fashioned
furniture.
Mr.. Anderson came thoughtfully in,
looked at Gavin curiously, held out hit
hand, and the moment he spoke, said:
81 thought so. Welcome home
welcome home I promised your father
to say this much for him when this glad
day came round. I'm proud man to dc
it, sir. Lucy, Lucy bring some cakes
and glass of cream. You'll be glad,
Gavin, l know you will, to taste the
wholesome oatmeal again."
And so he ran on while he took of
Gavin's hat and coat, and gave a score
of hospitable orders.
So Gavin stayed at the manse fol
some weeks, and what passed between
the minister and him no one ever knew
but I think Gavin told him most Of
those ton years sins and failure. But
he had come home now, he said, tc
repair his fsther's house and live in it
perhaps, in time, he might win again the
respect of his fathers friends.
Mr.. Anderson heard and rejoiced.
He gave Gavin one hundred pounds,
which he said was rent due to him, and
advised him to begin at once putting the
place in order.
1t would employ him while he looked
around, and it was best not to be in 6
hurry with any plan.
So Gavin stayed all summer with the
minister, and by the end of it-as any
one might have foreseen-he had but
one thought in lfe-Lucy Anderson.
He was almost sure Lucy loved him
too, but he had never dared to speak tc
her. But one night, as he sat full OF
dreary thoughts about his wasted past
Lucy came and touched him.
"Mr. Irwin" she said, "you are sad
and You make me miserable. What il
the matter?"
"I love-and I am unworthy to love.
"Did she say so?'
"Lucy oh, Lucy!"
Love had manifold ways of explaining
itself. These two looked in each others
eyes and saw all they wanted. But the
father was not 80 sanguine.
He remembered the past ten years
and trembled for his Lucy's happiness
"I'll tell you, Gavin, what will do
You shall perform thing I ask of you
and then 1 will say amen to Lucy's yes.
"I will do anything in the power o.
man to do.
"My request may seem eccentric ant
purposeless, but T have good reasons fol
making it. 1t is now the end of August
you shall 60 every night to your father
house at ten o'clock, and sit in his chail
until midnight strikes - every night
mind-and 1 will give you an answer a
the New Year"
"Your wish is q singular one, but
will fulfill it..
"You are to take no company, NJ
stimulant, and no light of any kind ant
you are to keep our tryst in spite Of win(
and weather"
ct will strictly fulfill your orders"
No one spoke more of the strang'
compact, but it was silently fulfilled tt
the letter.
Only on Christmas Eve, the old mai
pressed his hand as he left, aud said
"Be content your trial is nearl.
over"
So Gavin went out of the cozy, lighted
parlor into the dark, cold, lonely hous'
with happy heart.
He had sat about an hour when h'
heard footsteps, and saw the glimmer O
light. The door opened and the min
lister and Lucy entered; but it was Luc.
that kissed him and said:
"Come home, Gavin! Come home
Papa says so, and I am yours, darling
forever and from this hour"
eyes, Gavin" said the minister, al
they talked together afterward, "]
thought tonight is Christmas Eve; ne
better time to forgive and forget, to trus
and love; and when I asked Lucy, sht
said it was God put the thought into my
heart, and so we've both come for you.
"And now, my dear second father
tell me why you put me through such al
ordeal ?"
because I wanted, first, that YOU
should think we'll over the past, and
knew that the lonely walk in all wealth
ers, and the lonely house, 80 full OF ten
der memories, was the best place fol
thought. Secondly, I knew if you had
the resolution and love to keep promise
extending over four months, you might
be trusted with graver promise. AND
now I have double reward for YOU
Here is the order for ten Thousand
pounds and interest for ten years; YOU
father left it with me fer you. We both
knew you would waste the first Thousand
pounds, and very likely, also, woult
wander into the very far countries, ant
feed upon husks before you would come
home, sooner or later, for you were vel
brought up in the way you should go
and this was to be the portion of YOU
second state, Gavin"
"And Lucy, father ?"
"Lucy gave herself to you, and I'm
we'll enough content. am proud of the
way you kept your bargain, and every
body has the good word for you now
Gavin"
"And am glad enough of their goot
word and kind greetings, father. I'll dt
all man may do to deserve both"
"That's right, Gavin Irwin !! If
man doesn't care for the respect of hi
fellow-creatures he will very soon los'
respect for himself, and when self-re