Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-05-23
HECTOR'S MISTAKE.
BY CLARA NJ. HOWARD.

tiOn at 10 o'clock.
OF the half dozen passengers
who Slighted; all save one buried
away to their respective destina-
tiOnS, eager to gain shelter.
This one looked about him as
though undecided which course tC
take. At length, tuttonlng his
great coat more closely about him
and pulling his cap down until be
tween the cap and collar only
pair OF merry blue eyes a good ma
tured nose were visible, he strobe
along the platform in an opposite
direction from that taken by tht
up town passengers.
GA bad night, Dane!" he called
as he passed the conductor.
"NOt the one | would choose for
meeting the through express up IL
the cut answered that official
"But she Is due in twenty min
uteS, and we must be off. Al
abroad ~ he shouted, waving the
signal to move on. "Good night
Gene" and swinging hiu'self on
board the already moving train
he was soon lost to view as the
engine went putting and whirling
away in darkness.
The young man waited until the
last firery spark had disappeared
round the distant curve, then
lighting a cigar, started again on
his way. Taking a street which
led away from the town, he soOI
found himself in the open country
Not until then did be realize hil
error IN not hiring conveyance
"Five miles or this sort of thing
will consume most of the night, >
he thought.
"Well, I'm in for 1t now, as it il
too late to turn back, but morning
may find me standing stark and
stiff in some of these drifts, a ter
rible warning to others not L
attempt a pedestrian feat at mid
night, with the mercury down on
sight"
The wind was blowing "a gale
and the moon, breaking throOgl
the clouds, lit up the long stretc
of lonely road, the broad, desolat
fields, and low line of dark wood
land with a ghoStly light.
"NOt many changes since las
travelled this road~ mused III
lonely pedestrian In half melau
chOly train OF thought. He saw il
fancy the lad of ten years before
fleeing from home and all he hel(
most dear in fit of t,oyish anger.
Eugene Hector ha(l been a high
Is2irited, big-hearted, generous boz
the ring leader in all the youthful
escapades, full of fun and fond {
a joke, altogether, Just the one t
get into mischief. His father
after helping him out of numel
Gus scrapes into which his fII
loving nature bad led him, Z
length lost patience and refuse
hiG aid in the last and wOr'
dilemma. With tho firm resolv
to make a man Of himself yet, b.
had sought and obtained empl ~
Jment, and at the time we make hl
acquaintance he is prosperous an
happy.
His father had long since 10
given him and urged his return
t but Eugene had grown to lOv
. the husy, bustling life he lad lei
e and could not be induced to leav
5 it.
ri a longing to see the old HON
/, had seized HIM, however, and b
S resolved to give the old people
IS IsurpriSe-hence this mldnig
= journey.
Arrived at the farm house, +
gene Hector paused to gaze abo
3 him at the old familiar objects
7, dear to bis boyhoOd, then, NhaklI
= of the feeling of sadness viii
e stole over him, he assembled Il
n steps and raped loudly at t
7. door. The peremptOry sumIno
: brought his father, demandl
: what was wanted at that hour.
- ut Is l, Eugene Don't y
know me, father ?" and sOmethi
- very like a sob choked his uitt
ance as he grasped the old mai
hand.
Entering the hall, Eugene pa
ed on to the sitting room, wh
his father, lamp in hand, went
tell his wife tle joyful news, a
assure her that il was not burgla
but their own dear Gene co
home again.
The good lady laughing
crying together, rushed into
sons arms, glYiug him such a '
come as only a mother can. ii
ing kissed him Tor the hundr
finno cho hofhn-.zhf har Of