The morning call., 1892-06-02
AN ASSISTED RUNAWAY.
rCnNCLTDED.l

hnrstiug and the tears refused TO remain
any longer behing his eyelids. at TINS mo
ment home seemed very dear to him, ana
ruuning away had no charms. In order 70
return. however, it would be necessary 10
ask for aduittance and that ne was no'
prepared TO dc. since 1t would De tacit ac-
kD6wIedgment Of Wr0ngdolng.
1--WE been regularly turned our, ne SAID
bitterly while walking slowly down the
lane Nobody wants me around, ana all
hands are glad OF the chance 10 get Iiu Of
me-" -,, -,
in the POSITION Of a martyr ratner IMAM
disobpdient boy, had a soothing effect. ana
he walked down the lane with strong
sense Of injury in his heart
It was only 10 miles 10 the city in which
he proposed to seek his fortune, therefore
there was no particular reason way ne
should hurry. He stopped from time TO
time to rest and the sun had just risen
when he arrived at his destination. Ae-
eording to the plan previously formed, MS
fret care was TO search for boarding
Mace. and this he found with but little dlt-
fcultv. thanks 10 the aid OF friendly Pc
The unusual sights Of the city had pre-
vented him from thinking very mucn about
home until he was usheTed into the tlny,
third-story back room or mouse that u!u
not look inviting, either in its location or us
cleanliness.
You can't expect very much for SIS
week" the landlady said, as she noticed tie
look of disappointment on the boys lace,
and he replied; -
''Ob, it's very nice, but things seem little
different from what they do IN the country,
where I've always lived.
"Of course they do" was the quick reply.
IL feel sorry for boy that is Obliged TO
leave a good home and come into the city 10
work / suppose your mother is uead ana
that is why you are here.
Try as he might Neil could make no an
swer Until this moment be had never
thought of the possibility that his mother
might die aud the mere suggestion caused
him to feel even more unhappy than on The
previous night.
Poor bow" the woman continued, mis-
taking the cause Of his grief, I'm sorry l
spoke as l did, for not until mother has
left this world forever do We realize what
we might have done to make her happy;
but don't mourn. So lar as possible, VIII
make this seem like home
Then the well-meaning but decidedly mis-
taken woman left the room, and Nell under
stood as never before how sadly he had at
times neglected a fellows best friend"
Suppose she were really detdP he SAID
to himself. suppose she should die before
l could get back?" aud picture after
picture was presented to his mental vision,
all of which had but one subleel-a
mothers loving care and sacTInces Tor his
comfort
Jim Morgan would call me a baby" he
whispered, as the longing 10 assure himself
that his mother was alive came with almost
irresistible force. IF I'd never left it
would lie all right. and yoke OF oxen
couldn't pull NE down the lane; but cant
turn around now and let everybody laugh
at me-"
With view to changing the very IN
pleasant current Of thought, he looked out
0nthe court in which his new home was sit
mated. The dilapidated houses. the air,
anything but sweet the dirty paYements
and the clothing stretched from one side Of
the narrow way to the other, Increased
rather than lessened his grief. Action st
such a time was better than idieness, and he
went hurriedly into the street to search for
the work that he fancied would be more
pleasant than labor on farm.
Tie crowds Of people, ali intent on their
own business or pleasure, caused him addl-
tiOnal loneliness and no fellow ever lett
more utterly WTetched than aid Neil when
he asked for a situation at the first shop
that looked inviting. The idea that he
might not readily succeed IN getting en-
plOyment had never occurred to him while
making plans for leaving the farm, and
when the day had been spent in the fruit
less search he began 10 think country boys
were a drug 10 the market.
Not for one single moment did his home
sickness take wings, and the first meal In
his clearinghouse was IN such contrast
with what be had been accustomed 70 that
the city seemed larger, more unfTiendly,
and a less desirable place In which TO live,
than ever before. a short walk on the
street, where lie appeared to be In every
bOdy's way; a few moments spent In What
was by courtesy called the 'parlOr," and
then be went upstairs, wishing, oh, so fer
vently! that he could be with those whom,
short time previously lie had wished to
leave.
I'D 60 back this minute if it wasn't for
meeting the boys" he said to himself.
They would laugh at me. so l must grin
and bear it somehow"
He began to unpack the satehel that his
mother had put into his hands. The cloth
ing so neatly folded, a well-Temembered
purse IN which was a small sum OF money,
and letter containing only good advice,
with not a single reference to the manner 10
which he had left the farm, was all it con-
tanned; but this was sufficient TO kill his
small remnant OF courage.
Jim Morgan can talk about spunk as
much as lie wants 10, but 1t takes a good
deal more TO 90 home than IL did to leave.
Pll do il, whatever the boys may say and no
one shall hear me gTumble again about the
size of the carrot patch"
When this resolution had been formed
the time necessary to Tepack his clothing
seemed like so many minutes wasted, and
then be stole softly out of the house. After
gaining the street he literally ran until, az
irving at the road leading TO the farm, he
walked at his best pace
1t was midnight when he stood at the
foot of the lane and saw, shining from the
window of his mothers room, the light of a
lamp.
''She must be sick - he cried, staring up
at the tiny fame, unable for a minute to
advance another step. II seemed as If all his
fears we're to be realized.
'Oh, why wasn't / man enough last night,
when she-met me In the hail, TO say l was
sorry, and go back like a decent fellow
Now, if she should die, it would be that
killed her,"
There was no further hesitation. It was
possible he had come in time to ask her for
giVeness, and he ran at full speed up the
lane TO the door, where he knocked gently.
It was his mother herself that admitted
him. and there is no necessity for telling
how warmly his ''best friend" gree ted him.
when 1 saw the light In the window ]
was afraid you were sick" he said.
The lamp was placed there for you,
Neil thought it would show you that
was waiting. Since you were an assisted
runaway it seemed only right that some en-
enlargement to return should be given"
And you have been we'll since | left?"
Eyes; but Jny heart has ached from the
moment l heard you talk with Jimmie
Morgan about going, although l believed
You would soon understand how ungener.
Gus it was TO leave Us. In asking you e
stay at the farm few years longer your
father and l were Only striving for your
OVID good"
1T will be many years before l shall
think OF leaving the dear old home
mother"
When Neil was In his own room that nigh
there was great JOY in his heart, and the
knowledge that his mother was where he
could speak to her at any moment, was MOI
the least among the causes lie had fol-
thanktulness.
1t was necessary that he should meet jim
Morgan when that young gentleman called
next morning, and rs the two walked toward
the carrot patch, Jim said in matter-of
fact tone:
II knew you'd come back before many
days."