Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19

He had no taste for society, and a.
though he belonged 20 several OF the
best clubs in that charming old town,
ne could not be called a eluhman. His
tastes, his cravings, We're domestic
but they remained unsatistied Little
vas known OF his previous history
he was not communicative, and his
business acquaintance were not in
auisitive.
One evening. just four days before
/ Christmas, Mr.. Jennings returned 10
his handsomely furnished residence
and astonished his housekeeper hy
telling her he was going home for
Christmas. She had been in his seq
vice for more than Ave years and be-
lieyed that all his relatives we're dead.
as she had never heard him speak Of
them.
Here's something for you Tor
Christmas he said handing her $40
bill, "and hope you'n enjoy yourself
I'm going east.
Sarah. in her rich, honest brogue
/ thanked him.
There was a new light in his face
Sarah, who was shrewd noticed It,
For IL years this man had been away
from home, and during his absence his
parents had died, while he was riding
wild nonies in Texas or digging gold
IN Colorado or gambling Il away in
Kansas City faster than he had gath
cred II.
AS the train sped eastward over the
level lands oil Illinois and Indiana,
through the rich farm lands OF Ohio
and len amid the wooded hills and
streams of his own native PennsyI-
yania fairer than them all--his mind
travelled backward from the present
Richard Jennings, successful broker
and respectable member OF the ST.
! Louis Merchants Exchange, to the ais
sipated days OF his fresh young man
hood, when his wild life had sepal ated
him forever from one he could never
forget.
As the train approached Philadal-
phia and he looked out OF the window
nj the numerous domes and spires ana
cupolas, he reflected how time. which
had wrought such difference In The
appearance OF the city, must nave
changed the sweet girl Of rs, from
whom his own misdeeds had sundered
him.
They had been sweethearts from
childhood. But old Ezra Kent, har
father, was a stern man, and when
stories got abroad about the disslpa,ed
set Of which Richard soon became tile
leader, and when one day he came
home llom his counting Louise and
found Richard Dick everybody
called him then intoxicated he said it
was the last time Eleanor should re-
ceiye him. She was a dutiful girl II
wounded her life, but she obeyed.
The kents came of stern stutf, and be-
meath Eleanor's gentle womanlinass
lay heroic strength.
After that Richard jennings irtoxi-
Gated habits became public scandal,
and when his sister married viii Nc
Cray. promising young lawyer u2lea-
nor was maid OF honor, he eisap-
peared from home,
Now he was returning very diff
ferent man and legretful that he had
staid away SO long. II was such a
short journey from tho Mississippi to
the 5chuyllSili he wondered that he
had not before summoned enough
courage TO return. seventeen years!
For the twentieth time he .lrew
forth letter and read ii with the
same absorbed interest as IL for the
first time.
Dear Dick VIII met Mr.. Coles last
week. He had just come from ST.
Louis and said he met you there. You
naughty boyl Why have you never
written or come home TO see MS? We
want you 10 spend Christmas with Ms,
All the children are crazy 10 see you.
There are five now. The baby, beau
tiful girl, Is 10 months old and has two
teeth. The children often talk about
Uncle Dick. Eleanor has told them so
many Tom Brown at Rugby sort OF
stories about you when you were at
the university. Mr.. Kent failed four
years ago and died last March. Elea
nor and her mother still live in the
old house They are very poor. Elea-
nor teaches music and sings at Sc,
Brides. Mrs. Kent looks very old,
but she sews beautifully and makes
the prettiest things for the baby. DO
come and spend Christmas with us.
The children are dy!ng TO see you and
so am ] ana VIII. Ever your loving
sister, Mary McCray.
Up. S.-The children's snames are
Mary. Alex he's named after father,
Of oourse-sam Dick after you--and
Eleanor. the baby. She's q little al
gel!'
The street where Richard jennings
home was, where he was born, and
where his married sister still ilyod,
had once been fashionable. You could
tell that from the houses-bIg, broad,
roomy, old fashioned brick residences
Of bygone day, with quaint colonial
doorways, deliberately carved, the lin
tells In many cases supported by the
classic Inoic OF Doric columns affected
nv fhe builders of 4 century ago.