The Sunday morning news., 1891-12-13

ROfCAby CftU60t1 q 1CCAhS VI CArJ A4A44-
gled with regret. Twisting his hat with
both hands, fidgeting and shutting his
clumsy feet, he rejoined:
''They .tould me any man could get
Office and get on top over in this coun-
try, but it's poor luck foreigner strikes
in the most Of cases. There's plenty of
offices, and just about ten men that
wants 'em to the one that gets 'em."
"Heyday, Jason! What's put you out
of sorts this morning? This is sorry
recommendation for Birmingham.
thought you were getting on finely.
You get your pay regularly, and your
boys, too, while you have two strong,
stout young girls to take care of your
house for you. Wasn't those your girls
at the commissary store yesterday
asked one of the foundry owners.
"Oh, yes, I suppose they were. have
a team of youngsters to look after.
Since my wife died things have been
poor and slow for the children"
"Did you marry on this side of the
Atlantic, Jason?'
Jason considered moment before re-
plying, then he drawled his words with
evident reluctance:
"Ya-as, l married over at Wilkes
barre many years ago, but the poor cree
tur died and left gang of children on
me hands, as told you"
By this time Janet was in tremor of
uncertainty and apprehension. Her dis
reputable fathers first name was Jason,
he went to Wilkesbarre, and was then
reported as going south by those who
furnished the last information to her
mother of his desertion.
She felt as if she must know little
more of the man before her. They were
to leave Birmingham on the morning
train. Would she have another oppor-
tunity? If she was only excited by an
imaginary relationship, born of her NOR
tifcation in rememberin. W! !er unworthy
parent, she would give handsome sum
to be assured that he was not one and
the same with the whisky SCARED vet
eran in their presence. She would be
haunted by his face and the painful CO.
incidence of names and places forever,
unless that conviction was dispelled.
Whispering to her husband (who would
as soon have thought of associating
Congo negro with his own paternity as
to have supposed for an instant that his
elegantly attired wife was the daughter
of the Birmingham wage worker), she
begged him to ask his full name.
Her voice, sympathizing with the ten
sion of her mind, was louder than she in
tended, and Jason overheard her.
"As your beautiful lady wants to
know me name, thanks to her notice of
such poor man as meself, am named
Jason Wilson-born near Bristol, Eng
land, mum; been in this country twenty
six years COON next August. Sailed on
the good ship Tempest" falling into his
customary method OF making reply to
all who asked him the same question.
All doubt was at an end. Janet took
in the whole situation in an instant, and
she felt as if she would fall with nerv-
GUS trepidation. Her silence and trem-
bling fingers on his arm caused her hus-
band to look down into her face. She
was pale and evidently suffering. She
dared not attempt reply to his hurried
questions as to whether she was ill, etc.,
for her lips were dry and her tongue
parched. Things became indistinct and
blurred before her eyes, and she would
have tainted had not friendly hands as
sisted her to seat.
Hastily excusing himself, and begging
the other members of the party to con-
tinue their sightseeing and explorations,
he placed Janet in carriage as quickly
as possible for rapid drive to the hotel.
81 never knew you to have such turn
before, Janet. Was it the heat that
sickened you? Well, we must hurry
back home, if you suffer this way. Too
bad, I declare, that you couldn't enjoy
the remainder of the trip, as you have
had such a good time the last few weeks!
You feel better, eh? Well, am glad.
Now lie down and rest until you are
feeling like yourself again" Thus he
consoled, and wondered why his wife
should grow i'll so suddenly, without a
glimmer of the truth entering his mind,
nor had Janet the courage to enlighten
him.
All day Janet tossed on her bed. What
was her duty? Should she cruelty her
husband'spride and put it to open shame?
This poor old man had deliberately for
saken herself and her mother, and had
left them to the worlds mercy. Was he
worth the sacrifice she would make by
acknowledging the relationship? The
gold dollar he sent her by Dennis was
all she had received.
At last she determined to say nothing
in Difference to the duty she felt she
owed her mother and her husband. She
had often turned the probability of his
Homecoming over in her mind. From
childhood up to the present day she had
pictured his face in her imagination.
Perhaps, as she thought, he would repay
their long waiting by coming back with
a fortune to bless her mothers old age,
but the dreadful reality was a shock
that benumbed her whole nature. 1t
was too much for her filial affection or
charity to overcome, and he would never
know, thank God!
Next morning as Jason was on his early
way to the iron works, when the New
Orleans train whirled past with the
special car of the railroad president at
tached, in which the English tourists
were entertained on their trip through
the south, he shifted his tin dinner pail
from his right hand to his left, that he
might vent his indignation by shaking