The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-12
The FRAME.
Story Told by sTan whose Life Wa.
Seif-IsifghfeB.

In family at one time famous for
its brillianey were several brothers.
saws the n. Y. Chatter. The eldest one
was prominent in the literary world.
The others. save one were genuine
ornaments OF sociely-tnen of integ-
rity, worth. energy. lofty achieve
ments. The only olacl. sheep was !,
Young man. but already his life had
been so grossly misspeut that his rel
atives. TO protect the family from stain.
had to take his wife and child from
him aud banish him to distant lands
by threatening him with exposure.
imprisonment and disgrace The pass
ing years brought added prosperity to
the virtuons brothers aud their hin
Their names were household words
among the beautiful. the good. the
true of the land. The wife of the ONT
east was queen of grace and beauty.
Her son had bis tastes educated by the
choicest associations.
One day the wanderer returned
For years he had been practically dead
to his family. His wife had seemed to
forget him altogether. TO no one
after his return TO America, had ne
told his secret story till he reached the
village of Palenville. He was printer
"A tramp. dusty. unshaven. travel
stained and time-worn. At the Palen-
vile newspaper office he procured
work, aud TO young reporter col
lege student seeking to earn during
vacation his next years tuition-be
unbosOmed himself. the result of an
easily acquired intimacy.
Only a few miles from here he
said, ''are joys which might be mine.
A few hours journey would bring me
once more 10 one of the happiest of
homes whose delights l have lost for
ever"
He was a prodigal, now fully re-
pentant. but his only possible reward
was virtuous future. He was certain
that his family would never again re-
ceive him. If he should show his face
they would bundle him of again to
foreign lands or cast him into iail
During late years his life had been
eproachless-w in Mexico. Cal
lfornia. the northwest, or the south
but he was sure that in spite of prom
ises. assurances, pieadings, they would
never trust him again.
Next night there was concert in a
neighboring town. A great organist
was announced. The prodigal, with a
strange look on his face. accompanied
the student TO the ball. At the door
he paused and skunk into dim corner.
When the celebrity of the evening ap-
peared aud received the plaudits of |
the people he smiled sadly. and at
repeated successes his face assumed an
almost supplicating look.
My brother. oh. my brothers' he /
sobbed. aud when the famous organist |
passed through the vestibule into the |
outer air he was startled Lby the figure |
Of man standing with arms plead /
Ingly outstretche,l toward him. The |
look of sudden surprise was succeeded |
by fine and lofty scorn. The prodiaal /
away
In the morning the tramp was miss
ng Next day he returned at twilight.
The officers are after me. " he said.
II have been all day in hiding.
vent last night to my wifes grand
home. She was with her friends in
he richly furnished. brilliantly lighted
parlors. l erept in the shadow of the
across the lawn and watched
ler. OH what an agony of longing
possessed mel Thank God, she was
happy. though | never was so miser-
IDLE. After a time The people dis
lersed. She was wearied and. with
her sonny boy-walked out on the
grass in the delicious moonlight. We
we're face to face before | could escape.
Bless her for true womani She
iropped the arm of the lad. sprang to
NY embrace with a cry of ioy, and
,lung to my shoulder sobbing and
,alling my name. The boy ran toward
he house shouting for his uncle. Nv
wife swooned l carried her to the
'dge of porch laid her tenderly on
he flooring kissed her half-parted
ips. and He'd"
The penitent fugitive is now a griz-
led. care-woru resident of Australia.
where he edits small mining-camp
weekly in which the name of woman is
lways given greatest honor.