Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1895-07-04
AIMS HOME COMING.
~ ELizABETH Q. sH1PmAN.

vagaDond OF the Bevinsville district of
barclay. He knew this himself. but
ne had never felt it SO strongly as to-
day,a when Ann was coming home.
home! What home? He had not re-
allied that he had lived from house to
house, six months at one place. a
twelvemonth at another, ever since
ne had come down in the world, which
was SO far back that he did not care to
count the years. The mistress of the
mouse where he was now living
Drough to the door of his room pile
OF clean, warm clothing, and spoke to
him kindly.
Nov, Mr.. Roberts, I want to see
you go 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. !"
tie 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. I'm not forgettin' that
the child started away from this house
such q peart little creature when she
away. An now you say she can just
pick up and play anything she wants
to-
n EYES," he answered, pulling ragged
letter from his pocket, Eyes, this is
what she says: 4 have given the last
three years to the piano, and my teach
er says that / am fairly good
pianist -
''Well. WE'LL" sighed Mrs. Jackson.
II reckon I wouldn't know her, little
tousled Annie! l know it's sinful
thing to say, but don't know how
anything could happen better in
the world than TO- yo' sister to die
right now an leave Ann independent. J"
She looked at the old man to empha-
size the remark. He turned one trem-
ulous hand over the other slowly, and
could think of nothing else to say than
ayes"
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, TO see her father in drink to-
day.
It vexed 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. If he could only
free his tongue from it's paralyzing
dryness. His bent head and folded
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 sideboa'd,
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 assented. The remem-
brance of his sister came into his
mind and brought with it a sense of
self-a basement. But he inwardly re-
pudiated any thought of change in
Ann. ..' s-.
II expect we'll all be mighty sur
prised when she drives up, an want
to have you as neat as new pin when
she sees you. If Turk want dog,
believe in my soul I'd put a ribbon
around his neck"
He managed to smile at the image of
Turk with gay colored ribbon around
his great bull neck. The smile re-
joiced the heart of Mrs. Jackson. who.
having reused the fire from its laDguor
to brisk glow, said as she with
drew:
Indeed an deed, we'll all find Ann
grown such fine, handsome young
lady that Mr. jackson says he's sho'
we won't know her excep' by that
pretty voice of hers"
When the door closed man walked
toward the fireplace, feeling as he
went that he was bowed and habby.
A glance in the wavering surface of his
dim shaving mirror confirmed the SEN
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. He
could not remember. No need to re-
call her face. It was before him every
instant. But how did he appear in her
eyes? Was he as degraded; as di-
sheveled? We're his hands as rigid; as
scarred 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, striv-
ing to put together the unkempt,
motherIy little child he had known,
and these clear elegant characters A
fear arose in him, not for the first time
to-day, that she might be that fine
creature suggested by Mrs. jackson;
and what could such as she compre-
bend of debauchery, wild cravings and
wilder Indebtedness that racked the
weak man with misery?
He turned resolutely to dress, and
fought down his feeling. The clothes
were fresh and well-ftting, and he
could not help thinking that he looked
more .'genteel,'' as Mrs. jackson said,5
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,
Il 'clar didn't know you. You look SO
young"
.sThis hair don't look so young,
Uncle Josh. I reckon you'll have to
give it right good cropping"
Oats so, sub. Pears lax har desc
days tu'ns gray mighty soon"
.''Seems to me like I've been gray all
"a ~. - T. - -