The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-10-23

pend upon III, DIT Ieter, ne VIII come |
back wiser and saddcr." His old eyes
CLEAN at the very thought of his return,
and beautiful smile breaks over his
face as he takes out of his pocket
much-crumplcd and often-rcad letter.
ale hopes to be back by the 10Th, per-
haps little earlier II he have good
passage, and now it's the lAth. l sent
him his passage money. but Joseph |
doesn't know that.
"Never mind, Joseph" cry; "he
will marry the Lady Olivia and you and
Jack will live toge her and be happy
ever after" AS ! speak l see t',e old
weary, watchful eyes glance toward the
window and down the street: from
where he sits he can look right down to
the other end of the road. 1t is one of
those dreary London days-half fog,
half rain, all mist and dirt and misery.
Suddenly the old wrnklcd face grows
very whit, and startled, and he rises
and moves to the window. follow him
and look down the street, but see no.
body and nothing, except two ladies
half hidden IN water-proofs, an errand
boy, and further Off struggling beg
gar, drcnched to the skin and vending
his way to the nearest workhouse. Sud-
denly feel grip ~ Of iron on my
arm. and, looking round. l So, Sir Peter
all changed and transformed. all his
soul looking out of his eyes, and before
| could speak he had passed from the
room down the hall and out at the front
door, out into the filthy, murky air
without hat or coat. He hurried down
the road. following as best l may.
Then l hear half cry, half sob. rs If of
II great joy and longing now fulfilled,
and l see the old man fling his
arms wildly round that beg
gar mans neck and kiss him
on the lips again and again, oh! so pas
sionately!-so then pause, standing
little way off unwilling to disturb SO
sweet and sacred Joy; Then go up,
and, taking both Jacks hands in mine,
say: Bring him home, Jack, and
welcome home, yourself" All. how
shall ever forget what 1 saw in the
hall! Jack and helped Sir Peter in,
feeble now, exhausted, and spent. He
sinks on the hall seat, but holding his
sons hands tight; then Jack falls on his
knees and hides his thin wan face on his
fathers hands. weak as any historical
woman. "Oh. take me back again,
father! know I've been bad son; l
know I've disgraced you all; but I've
fallen so low and l have suffered so
much, and have repented! Oh, give
me another chance!' AS he speaks sew
eral of the servants run into the hall
and gather round them. Then saw in
Sir Peters face the most beautiful look
1 ever saw on any human features;
think it must have been the reflection of
the Divine love of the Great Father of
us all. So, rising, he stands before us,
the poor lad still kncelng at his feet;
then, STOPPING. he raises him tenderly,
holding him in his loving arms-oh, so
closely!-and says, in clear, strong
voice: "See here. all of you; this is my
son Jack, my very own son. He shall
once more eat at my table, once more
sleep beneath my roof"
By and by Jack and are sitting alone
in the dining-room. and IN not ashamed
to own, and know Jack wouldn't be,
that we both broke down and cried a
little. was weak old man, and he a
weak young one. Looking at h m stead
lily, l could see how want and poverty
and hard life had ground him down.
The poor, wan face was pinched and
white, and the blue eyes that used to be
so gay and full of life had hunted,
haggard look. Jack sits in the deepen
ing London twilight and tells me his
weary history. Debt, dishonor, gam
bling and the ever downward career
that we all know so well. He was ask
ing after his old Aunt Betty, when sud-
denly there was q clatter at the front
door, Il tremendous hustle and scuffle
in the hall, and in bursts that redoubt-
able lady, whirlwind of tears, gasps.
fur, Joy and inarticulate halleluahs. In
two seconds her faithful old arms were
rounl Jacks neck and the old lady sob.
bing on his breast; then she would
hold him Mt arms length, looking
him all over, then with another sob
of triumphant delight fling herself into
his arms again. / really feared the
old lady's mind would give way. After
much laughing and crying sic delivered
herself in this fashion, one arm around
Jack and the other dominating me.
might have been Aldgatc pump for all
she cared.
'Hcrc's my boy come back praise
God for that he has come back-and
not leg on of Joscphs nor Il legion OF
devils shall drive him away again. Who
cares for the past! To-day we begin Il
fresh chapter. Who cares for your
moralties and your decencies! Hang
'cm all, say. Kiss your old aunt, my
lad
think sometimes dear Aunt Betty is
too outspoken, but no one thinks OF
that now. Jack kissed her ugly old
tear-stained face, kisses her as tenderly
and gallantly MS if she were his bride,
and then by some strange freak the old
lady falls upon me and kisses me quite
outrageously, till Jack takes her hand
in mine and says: "Aunt, | can't forget
the past, or your patience and love, but
I've come back to redeem it. Be pa
tient and kind to me little longer, II:
you would to a sick man whose fever is
leaving him."
"Kind to you, Jack!" she cries
mantling all over with beautiful pride
and Joy. .'Lcave me alone for that
Why, my darling words fail her
and the eager old arms are once more
round him rs if they would never un
clasp again.
Then Sir Peter joins them, and | &C
away happy to my own home. This il
what happened afterward, excellent ole
Tomkins being my informant. And
must tell you the very end of it all
which is as happy as u fairy story, ant
much more true. Our unprodigal sol
Joseph came back that evening from
the bank in state of serene dccorun
quite beautiful to behold; every thing
! had prospered exceedingly with hin
'.t. Il Il 4, e,nftl IL.