The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-15
TX
THE PRopIeAL's REruRN.

THE PRoDIGAL's RETURN
That third evening, at an early hour,
Uncle Thatcher said that he felt worn out
and believed he would go home to bed, as
the little sleep he had caught the night
before had not done him any good. There
upon MIR. Ketchum said that he. too, felt
tired. and would go back to the village at
once. Yet two hours afterward Mary
Wallace saw. near her uncle's house, a
man who. from his description, seemed to
be Silas' Boston friend. Uncle Thatcher
became very uneasy. A feeling like a
presentiment OF some impending calamity
oppressed MIN and kept him awake.
While he lay thus, silent and watchiul,
by the side OF his snoring spouse. he
heard slight rsspinR noise, as of a WIN
dow being cautiously raised in an adjoin-
ing room at the back OF the house Rising
nOiselessly. and passing 20 the apartment
whence the sound proceeded, ne reached
il just In time to encounter a man who
had that moment entered by the window
and. clutching the intruder. was about to
deal him a blow, when his hand was
STAYED by the man saying in q hoarsely
suppressed, vet familiar voice:
Look out dad, it's me-"
Sias had come home. The unhappy
father sank down upon a chair and
was silent for a few moments, masterin.
his agitation before he could control his
voice 10 demand:
why do you come in this way, like =
thief in the ni2ht2'
81 d.dn't want 10 wake the family mp. !"
answered Silas in a sulky tone.
Where do you come from?'
Boston"
Why did you leave there?"
81 heard OF a chance for better Job in
New York. and am going down there"
Have you been working steadily In
Boston, and behaving yourself as YOU
promised me you would?"
"Of course"
There was a ring of insincerity in the
young mans voice that did not escape his
fathers notice.
Did you expect to meet friend here?"
Why, OF course, dad; l always expect to
meet you as a friend
Il mean a friend of yours from Boston. &"
"FrOm Boston? No. Why p"
There is man here looking for you :;
has been here two DAYS; saws he is
friend OF yours"
81 as dropped into chair and in a low
voice mutIered an oath.
''St still there until / get a light. I
want 10 have a look at YOU" said Uncle
Thatcher. rising.
NO, no, dad. Don't get a light, or
wait bit. I'll TX il"
Silas quickly stripped of its blankets a
spare bed that stood IN the room and care
iuliy hung them up over the window upon
the shade-rol or so as 10 prevent any raw
of light Struggling through to the outside
His father waited patiently until this
preparation was complete and then went
10 the kitchen, whence lac returned in a
few moments with lighted candle.
"Silas. you've been lying TO me-" WAS
his first exclamation at sight of his son.
well. what d. you want TO ask q Teller
so many questions tOrP was the scape-
grace's logged reply
You have, you young scoundrel. Your
face Isn't that Of an honest working-man
aud your hands-.et me see them Yes
a. l expected. Honest toll makes hands
hard. aud rough, and big, as mine are.
Yours are not go. Now tel me the truth
about what you We been doing, and what
YOU are up TO now-if you can tell the
truth-or I'll break your back, YOU
scamp
well. There's no use a-makin' fuss
about IT, | was al work. Not at ship-car-
pentering but At njing bar. | couldn't
get ANYTHING else to do. And got into a
little bit OF trouble. That's all"
That's ALL eh? WHAT sort of
trsuble?"
silas hssitated; the old man. as he we'll
knew by experience, was almost certain
to look through his most adroitly con.
structed lies, and he did not dare to tell
the truth.
II didn't do nothin'," said he at length.
sullsnIy. 1T was some of the rest of the
boys, and | was mixed 10 with them, as
they were friends of mine-and-I was
afraid OF being srrested-by mistake.
That's all
"Ah! And that's ALL Ell? aud what
did your friends, the boys do?"
IL dunno"
Uncle Thatcher gripped his son by the
shoulder and stood silently regarding him
Tor few moments, az if debating with
himself whether 10 carry out his threat or
not Then his hand dropped, and he said
Something tells me not to ask you.
You'll either lie 70 me or you'll tel me
some truth that, coming from your lips,
would sicken my heart with shame that
you are nv SON."
II didn't do nOthin'. tell you"
"No more uncalled-far falsehoods, Silas.
You have come here for money, haven,
you?"
IF you have few dollars to spare I'd
like 10 have some. I'm broke"
Il don't know why should waste any
more money on YOU"
"Pve always acted like q friend to you,
dad. | could have made a good stake
turnin' up your smu9glin' business here,
bnt / never did," replied Silas In a sug-
gestive tone.
His father looked at him with q counte-
nance full of dis0ust and anawersd