Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-07-25
AIMS HOME COMING
ny ELIZABETH c. snIrMAN.

vauabond OF the llevinsvillc district OF
Barclay lie knew this himself, but
he had never felt it SO strongly as to-
day, when Ann was coming home.
Home! What homc9 He had not re-
allied that he had lived from house to
house, SIX months at one place, a
twelvemonth at another, ever since
he had come down in the world, which
was SO far back that he did not care to
count the years. The mistress Of the
house where he was now living
brought to the door Of his room pile
OF clean, warm clothing, and spoke to
him kindly,
"Now, Mr., Roberts, | want to see
YOU 90 fix yo'se'f up nice and genteel.
These are some things I've been get
tin ready 'gainst Ann come home.
Just do yo' best to look spry, and I'll
send old Uncle Josh in to trim yo hair
little bit"
lie murmured his thanks, his hands
shaking as he took the garments.
"Don't mention it, Mr. Roberts, she
went on coming into the room to poke
the dying fire. "Tm not forgettin' that
the child started away from this house.
| ! can't help thinkin' about her She was
such peart little creature when she
away. An now you say she can just
pick up and play anything she wants
to-"
She looked ut the old man to empha-
size the remark. lie turned one trem-
ulous hand over the other slowly, and
could think Of nothing else to say than
"Yes."
He was longing to cross to the man.
tel-piece and take draught from the
squat, brown bottle which stood there.
Then he would be able to answer, yet
he knew he must not drink to-day, Mrs.
jackson saw the glance OF desire, and
felt constrained to speak, her voice
deepening under the consciousness OF
solemn advice.
"Oh, pray, Mr.. Roberts, don't touch
drop, 1t would make Ann ashamed,
indeed, 70 see her father in drink to-
day.
It yexed him to think Ann was COM
ing home to shameful father; Ann
who used to love him, faults and all, as
no one else could. II he could only
free his tongue from its paralyzing
dryness. His bent head and folded
hands suggested humility that al
most turned Mrs jackson from her
mission.
Ann, you know, is not the same
child she was She is a young lady
now, an expects to find her father
different from what he was, don't
reckon she can stand havin bottles
anywhere but on the sideboad,
trained up as she's been by anyone
as strict an set in their ways as yo
sister Now, don't yo' reckon so,
too?"
Yes" he asseAeed. The remcm-
brance Of his sister came into his
mind and brought with it sense Of
reimbursement. But he inwardly re-
pudiated any thought of change in
| Ann
When the door closed man walked
toward the fireplace, feeling as he
went that he was bowed and shabby.
A glance in the wavering surface OF his
dim shaving mirror confirmed the sem
sation. Shaggy gray hair stood out
around a lined face, ruddy naturally,
red now, and glazed from exposure and
drink He stood pulling at his locks,
at one minute deciding that they
needed to be trimmed, at another
striving to recall how he looked when
Ann went away ten years ago lie
could not remember No need to re-
call her face, 1t was before him every
instant. But how did he appear in her
eyes? Was he as degraded; as dl.
sheveled? Were his hands as rigid; as
Scared were they ashesitating; or had
this come to him during the ten years?
And Ann, during the ten years. had
been ascending till she stood like star
above him. Her letters showed him
that. He had one In his hand now
which he opened and looked at, strlv-
Ing to put together the unkempt,
motherly little child he had known,
and these clear elegant characters.
He turned resolutely 10 dress, and
fought down his feeling. rhe clothes
were fresh and well-httlng, and he
could not help thinking that he looked
more "genteel," as Mrs. jackson said,
In the white starched shirt and dark
trousers. A rap sounded upon the
door, and, closely following It, APP
peared Uncle Josh with the implements
Of his trade He gave an obsequious
laugh.
"Lawd Almighty, Mr.. Robbuts, sub,
'clar didn't know you. You look SO
young
"This hair don't look SO young,
Uncle Josh. | reckon you'll have to
give 1t a right good cropping
Oats so, sub Pears lax har desc
days tuns gray mighty soon"
Seems to me like I've been gray all
my life. Was it this gray ten years
ago."
mo, sub" answered the old negro,
emphatically. "When Miss Ann was
sent away, yo' ha'r was as black as
coal"
lie tucked the towel around the neck
OF the victim and was running his fin
gers through the abundant gray mass
before him, preparatory to his work.
Uncle Josh had the wrinkled hide and
eyes Of great lizard, but his hand
was wonderfully skillful with the razor
and scissors. lie now combed up the
locks and clipped the rough ends SO
that they fell in loose, gray rain
over Roberts face.
"Hits tu'ncd gray. Mr.. Robbuts.