Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-10-25

angry TRADE that was delivered in the
breakfaSt-room to the son. who sat, pale
ana calm, though suffering from severe
headache, with his head resting on one
hand, the brown hair pushed back from
the broad, white brow Il slendoryouth,
not more than 20, with the easy, kindly
disposition of the mother, and the tall,
wel-made figure of the father,
In the sublime seltishnesS of the
father it never once occurred to him
that it might be we'll to advise the lad,
to reason with him calmly, and point
out the errors of his way and the ruin
that might eventually follow. lie never
thought Of this. 1t was the disgrace that
would attach to himself that concerned
him, and he drove to the city that morn
ing, i'll his elegant eQuipage, feeling that
he; at least, had done his duty, but that
he was an abused and deeply wronged
man. All! misguided father, you are
making a terrible mistake.
This was some three weeks ago, and,
lin response to his mothers gentle
reasoning, Donald has promised to
reform, but it is hard, so hard, to do;
and tonight, as She sits, listening To
every sound, while it grows later and
later. horrible fear seems clutchiug Mt
her heart and almost stills its very
beating. Oh, God, If, But listen,
Surely that is 4 step, or is il only the
\ wind among the leaves of the chestnut
tree 50 near the house, No, she hears
it again and nearer. There is no mis-
take this time. 1t is Il step crunching
upon the gravel walk that leads to the
house. There is moment of breathless
waiting, during which the increasing
wind howls through the lifeless tree-tops,
and beats the lain more furiously
against the windows, and then il heard
an unsteady hand fumbling at the door.
A groan bursts from the pale lips Of the
mother us she half-riSes to open the door
for her son. but the father harshly COM
mands her to keep her seat, and, walk
ing across the room, deliberately turns
the key i'll the lock. Father" the voice
isa cry of pain, and she is ut his side
now, pleading III MI mothers anguish
for her only child. "Father, you will
not turn the boy away on such II night
rs this--in such II storm. Bear with him
once more, father; for my sake bear
! with him once more.
Nop-the voice was harsh and stern
that answered her" | gave him his
orders and he has seen fit to disohey
them. Now let him take the conscaucn-
ces.' Here he raised his voice 80 us to
be heard by the one for whom his
words were intended. He can never
again count this house a home Of his
| will never own INN as Il son of mine
/ never want to see his face again.
Wildly ragged the growing storm out
side, but above the din of the elements
the waiting son has heard his father =
voice denouncing him, and III his semi
maudlin state it has the effect in some
degree of SOLDERING him. The moon
emerging from thick bank of clouds
gazed down for /, moment upon him,
her sympathetic face all blurred and
dim, and then hid herself from view
will never own him as a son ofmlne. :
The words rang in his ear with terrible
intensity Of meaning, and he turned
away with fiercely-clenched hands from
his fathers door. Out in the darkness,
the driving wind and rain, with wilder
storm raging in his breast, the blackness
i of despair in his heart. Alas, poor
/ Donald
out in the darkness of fate unknown.
On tho untricd ocean OF life, alone.
Two years have elapsed since the
night that Mr.. Mcdonald closed his
doors SO relentlessly against his only
son. Two years since the boy was
driven from home at the very time
when he most needed motherly kind
ness. fatherly advice and protection; two
years, in which, deserted and alone,
ffriendless and disheartened, he has rap
/ idly gone from bad to worse, until the
parents would now hardly recognize in
him their once handsome and polished
Son. They have never heard Of him
since that memorable night, and, in
deed his father took but little pains to
ascertain his whereabouts; and, though
the mothers heart often ached for her
absent boy, yet she but seldom vent
ured to question her husband, for she
dreaded the dark frown that oyerspread
his face at mention Of his name
In low drinking saloon, in a city
not far distant, young man, who has
been lying in state of inebriation the
greater part of the evening, is rudely
aroused by the hloated proprietor Of
the place.
See here, young felIer,' hc said,
roughly shaking him by the shoulder,
its time you was clearin' out. !
amt s-goin' to set up all night 70 ac-
eommodate any drunken vagabond that
happens to be layin about. Come be
.spry now-git.'
I The young man rose to a sitting pos
ture, gazed vacantly about for a mo-
ment, and then rising went out into the
night He wandered amlessly along
lie linhtnl street.. Mltlaut chancing 10