Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-02-28

began to reflect.
They went into the house. and
there, when the minister reap.
peared after making his toilet. his
son noticed that he wore the old
shabby. shiny coat. AT this he
was more than ever astonished.
The supper, also, notwithstand-
ing that il was the first night of
the prodigal's return, was very
meager. Not single extra lux
ury was on the table, and Sam OBJ
served that his father aud mother
took no sugar nor butter. His
own appetite began to fall at see
ing this, and his perception was
sharpened accordingly. He was
now aware that his father looked
very thin, as we'll as sad. Sud-
denly he laid down his knife, and
exclaimed to his sister Katy
Sis, what does all this mean ?
this going without the hired
man, and starving yourselves !?
"His sister looked at him, then
glanced at Mr.. Blake and her
mother, and made no answer.
~ thought said Sam, petu-
lantly,s that Williston's money
was going TO make it easy for you,
father; and here the pinching is
going on Eve times worse than
ever
!" / don't own my friend Will
liston's money, said the minister,
quietly.
OF course not. But the five
hundred dol Sam stoppen abb
ruptly on an entreating gesture
from his sister.
1.-The subject was not resumed.
But before ne went to bed, Sam
obtained an interview with his
sisser alone. He felt,secretly, that
he was responsible for the depres-
sion and trouble which seemed to
fill the household, but that only
made him speak more impetuous-
~, Now, sis,' he began, can i
get two words of sense out of you?'
Not until you ask politely
she replied.
We'll, then, please tell me
what the mystery is.'
1t oughtn't to be a mystery
to you, Sam, that you haven't
done we'll at college. Papa Is ter
ribly Disappointed
~ don't see why he should
commit suicide, If he u.s. Sam re-
torted. Il haven't cost him much
this year.
- oh, yes. you have. DO you
know he actually sold the new
coat?'
'Why?' Sam frowned.
Because he's been trying ev-
cry way to save money since he be-
gan to getreports of how you were
wasting your tlme.'
What for? p asked Sam, though
he began to suspect.
"Well, he--how should /
know ?-Don't you see? He's
ashamed to have had that money
from his old cIass-mate, and he's
nearly saved enough, and he's GO
ing to pay it all back. There, /
was to keep 1t secret, and now I've
told your And his sister burst
into tears. You've nearly broken
his heart, Sam-poor papa =
"The next day Mr.. Blake's son
went off directly after breakfast,
and was not seen again till after
noon.
Coming back, he overlook his
father returning from the Post-of-
fee. t
"'I know all about 1t he ex-
claimed, in his excitement. 'Ka-
ty told me last night. I wish,
though, you'd held on to the new
coat while.'~
Why p asked Mr.. Blake, inn
peiturbably.
g Because said Sam, I'm go
ing to pay my own way now. I've
been off to-day and hired out for
the season to Farmer Hedgebur-
ton. You won't send that money
to WillistOn, will you fathe-?
"'You are too late,' was the
minister's answer. I've just mail
ed the letter to him.
I'm fact, next day the kind mer-
chants eyes were dimmed as he
read these words:
Dear Williston-My boy-it al
most breaks my heart to say So
has not proved worthy of your
generosity. have decided to re-
turn the sum which you sent me
for him last year, and you will find
draft iaclosed for that amount.
BLAKE.
Here interrupted the narrator.
Doesn't this story prove what
| said at the beginning ?" j asked.
mo; for that isn't the end of 1t.
Sam went down to Boston in the
autum with few dollars of earn
ings in his pocket. He had decid-
ed to give up college, and so APP
piled to Mr.. Williston for a clerk