Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-10-15

shufIled uneasily. on the clean ston
step. He was an actor called suddenl.
upon the stage, having no knowledge
of his part. The return Of this prodiga
was not a dramatic success. No on
seemed DESTROYS Of learning whethe
he had lived upon husks or otherwise
and with whom he had eaten. Th,
quiet dignity of the girl, who had re
NAMED behind to do all the work ant
bear all the burden, seemed in some
subtle manner to deprive him OF an,
romance that might have attached IL
self to him. She ignored Ills half-prof
fered hand. and. turning into the lit
tie passage, led the way upstairs.
Stephen Leach followed silently. HI
was rather large for the house, ant
especially for the stairs; moreover, h
had certain burliness Of walk, sucl
as Is acquired by men living constantly
in the open. There was vaguely
panied look in his blue eyes, as II they
had suddenly been opened to his owl
shortcomings. His attitude TOWARD
Joyce was distinctly apologize.
When Le followed the girl across thu
threshold of their mothers bedroom
the old lady was sitting up in bed, hold
ing out trembling arms toward the
door.
Here Stephen Leach seemed to know
better what to do. He lreld his mother
in his arms while she sobbed and muir
INJURED out her joy. He had no words
but his arms meant more than his lips
could ever have told.
1t would seem that the best part OF
happiness is the sharing Of it will
someone else.
Joyce" was the first distinct word
the old lady spoke. Joyce, he has
come at last. He has come! Come
here. dear. Kiss your brother. This Ii
my first born-my little Steve"
The young man had sunk upon his
knees ut the bedside, probably because
it was the most convenient position
He did not second his mothers pro
posal with much enthusiasm. Alto.
gether he did not seem to have discov.
cred much sympathy with his sister
whom he had left in her cradle.
Joyce came forward and leaned over
the bed to kiss her brother while the
old lady's hands joined theirs. Just as
her fresh young lips came within
reach he turned his face aside. so that
the kiss fell on barren ground on his
tanned cheek.
Joyce" continued the old lady, fe.
verishly. 81 am not afraid to die now
for Stephen is here. Your brother will
take care of you, DEAR, when l am
gone"
1t was strange that Stephen had not
spoken yet; and it was perhaps Just
as well. because there are occasions in
life when men do wisely to keep ST.
lent.
HE is strong" the proud mother
went on. Il can feel it. His hands are
large and steady and quiet, and Iris
arms are big and very hard"
The young man knelt upright and
submitted gravely to this maternal in
ventory.
YES" she said, 81 knew he would
grow to be n big man. His little fing-
ers were so strong-he hurt me some
times. What a create mustache! l
knew you had been a soldier. And the
skin of your face is brown and little
rough. What is this? what is this,
stephen dear? Is this n wound?"
YES" answered the Prodigal, speak
ing for the first time. THAT Is sword
cut. l got that in the last war. / am
n colonel in the Gillian army, or was,
before l resigned"
The old lady's sightIess eyes were
fixed on his face as If listening for the
echo of another voice in his deep,
quiet tones.
Your voice is deeper than your
fathers ever was" she said, and all
the while her trembling fingers moved
lovingly over his face. touching the
deep cut from cheekbone to jaw with
soft inquiry. This must have been
very near your eye, Stephen. Promise
me. dear no more soldering"
81 promise that" he replied, without
raising his eyes.
Such was the homecoming Of the
Prodlgal. After all, he arrived Mt the
right moment in the afternoon, when
the house was ready. 1t sometimes
does happen so in real life, and not
only in books. There Is a great deal
that might be altered in this world. but
sometimes, by a mere chance, things
come about rightly. And yet. there
was something wrong, something sub
tie, which the dying woman's duller
senses failed to detect. Her son, her
Stephen, was quiet, and had not much
to say for himself. He apparently had
the habit Of taking things as they
came. There was no enthusiasm, but
rather restraint in his manner, more
especially toward Joyce.
The girl noticed it, but even her
small experience of humankind had
taught her that large, fair-skinned mer
are often thus. They go through life
placidly, leaving unsaid and undone
many things which some think they
ought to say and do.
After the first excitement OF the re-
turn was over 1t became glaringly mp
parent that Stephen had arrived just
I'm time. His mother fell into a happy
sleep before sunset. and when the &c
tive young doctor came little later
in the evening he shook his head.
YES" he said. II see that she Il
asleep and quiet-too quiet. 1t Is &
foretaste of longer sleep; some ole
people have it."
For the first time Joyce's courage
seemed to give away. When size hat