The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-02-28
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A PRODIGAL SON.
From All the Year Round
CHAPTER L.

On a rough night during the Christmas
vacation the Temple does not look the
cheeriest place in the world. Its windows
are dark and sombre, its gardens bleak and
leafless. The wind rushes shrieking through
its deserted courts and up its gloomy stair
cases. There is no sign of life to be seen
save the form of an occasional policeman
who stands shivering in some sheltered
doorway, or of comfort save the little fire
over which mods the drowsy old night
porter
But the Temple, like everything else,
should not be judged by appearances.
Even on the toughest of nights and during
the deadest of vacations there are plenty OF
snug little spots in it. The staircases lead
ing to them may be cold and gloomy, but
there is no want of warmth and light within.
Their windows may be dark and sombre-
looking. but that is because the shutters
are close and the curtains thick. The wind
may shrek as fiercely as it likes about their
walls: it may hurl itself as often as it
pleases against their doors and windows; 1t
may, ike the sturdy and unmannered
tramp it is, try its strength and ingenuity
by turns to force an entrance and steal
away part of their comfort; but, secure
( behind closed oaks and drawn curtains,
their owners can laugh at its fruitless efforts
and enjoy untroubled the cheerfulness it
cannot disturb.
Old Sergeant Stronge was the fortunate
possessor of one of the snuggest of these
snugsets. 1t was high mp in Kings Beach
Walk. On one side its windows opened
out toward the gardens, on the other they
overlooked the river. In summer the sit
uation was pleasant and picturesque, but ii
winter when the trees, like huge, fantastic
skeletons, ratified their leafess branches il
the wind, and when one heard away in Tho
distance the surge and splash Of the black
cold river as it rolled on in darkness towart
the sea, it was weird and solitary enough
But old Sergeant Stronge, as he caret
little for the beauty of his chambers situa
ton in the summer, cared little for 1t
weirdness in the winter. When the nortl
wind ratified against his windows he onl
= drew his curtains closer; when the rive
=, moaned gloomily between its banks he onl
= stirred up the blazing fire. He was harc
d matter-of-fact man, who paid small atter
5 ton to anything but his creature comforts
d his pleadiugs, and his fee-book..
l. On this December evening, though I'll
wind screamed and the snow flew withou
he enjoyed untroubled the comfort abo'
u him. He sat in his easy chair in the ol
8 wainscotted room before Il roaring tir
On the table stood reading lamp, whic
le threw soft light over the floor, and by
~, ~ was a decanter of rare port, from whit
IN from time to time he helped himself. III
e. curtains were warm, the fire was brigl
!, the wine was good-why should he ca
= what the weather was like?
er Indeed, Sergeant Stronge was in pa
ticularly satisfied frame of mind that nigl
he and he had two very good reasons for
Ter satisfaction. The first was with regard
,iu Miehaclmas Term, which that day h
?. ended. He had just tOtted up his receil
'D' for the term, and the result was all that
lse could desire. Never before had his Il
'';u ;n book for the autumn sittings made so f
ars show
10 The second reason for his satisfacti
ing was that that night his son Charlie was
come to him. The Sergeant was a wide
5 er, and Charlie was his only child. !
lad was at Oxford, and as the Christn
". vacation had commenced his father
expecting him at chambers to spend
70 holidays with him.
As he closed his fee-book the old law
,N smiled to himself with satisfaction.
"Yes,' he muttered, ''that's excelle
Fifteen hundred guineas in about Sc
ring weeks-that's capital My income
! site Ss year is close upon seven thousand
bad for !. man who thirty years ago
y worth exactly nothing at ALL I'm getl
lis rich now. I'm more successful than {
| had ever hoped to be- Hello WI
i'' that p
", This exclamation was due to the I
produced by tremendous burst of "
Sergeant Strongc went to the window, {
aside the curtains, and looked out.
sor "Hum 70 he said, as he turned bac
the fire. ''That's a bad night for Cha
homecoming. Well, well, he's 20
y. strong, and well cared for; it shouldn'
aUP him harm. When was his age, tn
. lbles; les my coat was thin enough, Heaven kr
If wouldn't have cared arush for it "