The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-12-04
Thanksgiving day p was the senten.

"Ah so it is. 1 had forgotten it. 1t
is day not down in my almanac"
The girl stopped as if. to say some
thing, but changed her mind and went
on with her work.
A door opened and little fairy of
girl perhaps six years old came in to the
room. She stood with her hands be-
hind her, and watched the oman eat.
His plate was nearly empty. He felt like
one intoxicated.
We're you ever hungry, little one ?"
he asked of the miss, scraping the last
crumbs off his plate.
Lots OF times but never 80 hun
CRY as you. And I don't eat in the
kitchen"
''Nor /, either, always but 1 like
it" said the lieutenaut. rubbing his
mouth on the back Of his hand in lieu
OF napkin. 4" In fact, it's fne."
Don't yes talk too much now, Miss
Laura |" ordered Bridget, kneeling to
baste the turkey. The small girl shrug-
.ged her shoulders and pouted.
80 Is you really tramp ?" asks Laura,
coming a little nearer.
ga first.class one, says the lieuten-
ant. look at my boots, and he bal
'anced his feet on bis heels.
"They's real funny. They's laugh
Ing" said the child, STOPPING over to
tudy the chasms in the toes.
Don't your papa wear such boots ?"
inquired the man. ~7a- >
4" I amt got no papa" the girl re-
piled.
Nor l." laughed the tramp, but the
child was Verv sober,
MY names Laura, what's your
name ?" she asked. moment later.
My name. ?" said the lieutenant, his
face becoming very grave. my name I?
] haven't any. Host it long ago."
Did anybody find it ?" was the ques-
tion sagely propounded. She stood
close to him now, one hand on his knee,
and wistfully looking up into his face.
A something he saw in it overcame
him, and he bowed his head. in his
hands.
"Don't be imperent !" said Bridget.
Lave the man alone think you'd
better be going, sir.
The leftenant raised his head.
CT think 80, too" He looked again
into the child's face--stooped down and
kissed her.
"My hat" he demanded, sharply, as
he turned away.
It was near the dining-room door,
where Bridget's dress had swept it. He
stopped to pick it up. At the same in
slant the door opened and a handsome
woman, richly dressed and not more than
thirty years of age, stood in the door
way. As he rose his face looked into
hers. His hat dropped from his hand
and he staggered back..s
go God |" he cried. 9 1t is Marian"
A quick cry of surprise and Joy came
from the lips of the woman. She placed
her hands on his shoulders and gazed
lovingly and mutely into his face. The
mans head slowly dropped.
Husband, look at me !" she cried,
catching his hands in hers.
ST cannot, dare not. See what
am Remember what I was-to you, F"
he said.
"Always my husband, James, and
always forgiven"
"Always your husband ?" standing
erect and with wild vigor in his atti
tude. Marian, heard that the law
you when was drunk, and in my shame
deserted you when was sober"
" 1t was all false. 1 have waited for
you for five long years. 1 knew you
would come back some day. Now you
are here. Poor, poor husband How
you must have suffered Come with
me- Laura, child, come! The back
way is clear"
Still he hung back. 81 am not fit, u
he said. {" am forever disgraced. Let
me go away and come back again some
time when 1 am no longer tramp"
James, this is Thanksgiving Day.
1t is our day, if anybody's. You must
come. You are no longer a tramp
thank God Come 1t is home again
for all OF us p and putting her arms
around her husband she led him out o.
the room and ont of his bondage.
An hour later the tramp sat at hii
wife's table as a gentleman, dressed il
black clothes, his hair trimmed, hi
beard cut in civilized shape. The trans
formation was complete To his wife
her father, her brother and her brother
wife, he told, after grace, the story o
his self-imposed exile, of the shame ant
remorse which had followed him 70
years, of the strange faith which ha'
brought him back that night to tn
presence of one whom he had supposel
J to be thousand miles away, and for
ever lost to him.
Happy No home ever knew keene
Joy than waited upon this reunion n
home ever had such pathos at its Thanks
giving dinner. OF all his heroism non
was nobler than that which made Lei
tenant Jim once more a husband an
father-the heroism of confessing an
regretting the greatest wrong of hi
life.