The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-02-01
THE PRODIGAL FATHER.

Il - ISIS KENDALL, sitting in her
"M pleasant room awaiting the call to
4 ~ Y breakfast, heard a strong, reson-
ant voice say at the door below her win
dow:
Good morning, Mrs. Carr; I've come
over as formerly to see if could get some
fresh milk"
certainly, Mr.. Thorp. Come in And
so you are home AGAIN."
eyes. for a time. I drift this way once
in a while.''
Things look about the same here.
suppose?"
Just the same, Mrs. Carr. never knew
a place stagnate so effectually as Melford
does People grow old and die, but other
wise there is no change"
ooh, we have had several new buildings
erected since you went away. BY the way,
where have you been these last four
years?'
MOSTLY in China. Not bad country to
live in if you don't have to work. Things
are very cheap there"
Miss Kendall peeped through the blinds
and saw a retreating figure carrying a
pitcher. 1t was a strong-framed man with
a resolute, handsome, dark-complexioned
face; he. was about so years of age.
who was that gentleman who came
here this morning for milk?" she inquired
when seated at the table.
Mr.. Carr began to laugh.
THAT is our prodigal father; you must
have heard us speak of him."
II think not" returned the summer
boarder.
"He is of restless nature put in Mrs
Carr. after a time, like Robinson CRU
soc or Sinbad the sailor, he gets weary
of home life and starts off for the antlpo'
des. Hardly word is heard from him fol
a year or years, when suddenly he reap
pears"
Has he any means?"
We'll, yes, some, but his main depend
ence is upon his son, who carries on the
business he started, and really, think
supports him in his extravagances.
And SO you call him the prodigal"
It's good name. He certainly is az
much one as the hero of the new testament
story"
i should like to know him." SAID tne
lady" thoughtfully, and when her land
lady said, "No doubt he will drop in soo1
10 chat with Henry she added: Il az
not mean actually to know him, but his ex
per1ences must be entertaining.
Miss Kendall had come to Melford Tor
month, and finding the town attractive
the accommodations pleasing, had pro
ionged her visit into fall-almost to WIN
ter. She was q, intelligent, with an IN
dependence of character which had IN
certain way prevented her from hndlng
cengenial mate. She had some means
put not enough to enable her to become
leader of society, even if she had deslre'
70 play that role, and as for literature 81
or music. neither of these walks MAJ
aroused in her the necessary enthusiasm
20 enable her to reach real mastershlp' an
therefore had never been to her the solac
tney often became to others. She neeoe
social environments. Her nature sougn
companionship, sympathy. friend wa
more to her than any abstraction, wnetn
OF ethical or artistic, and the society Q
me Cars had gradually become soiac
mo ma refreshment after her isolated GU
mat evening she was introduced to IN
wanoerer, who had called over to learn Tn I,
Jews. though in reality 1t was about ~
v Nv" way Of life that the conversation TOO
It's course.
The trouble with town like this" sal
1T Inorp, in answer to q suggestion IIoI
.ne visitor. lis that there IL no intellectG,
hso,vement. It neither rises above nor Ia.
~ certain line. At the best, however
taH average human being 10 not more y
ssnsent than dog-and ought not 70
~, ne mas to earn his living"
Mss Kendall looked interested.