Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-11-19

ing over us, and with so much sick
ness, and poor crops so much OF the
time, it was most more than we could
manage to make both ends meet
But now, he went on cheerfully, the
old mortgage is lifted, and We can
enjoy a peaceful old age
But IL comes too late for you
father, replied the old wife, almost
bitterly.
There is no too late with Godr
he answered reverently. Il used to
feel just so, and as if my life had
neen but failure after all, but be
knows
And looking on the old mans rug
ged, furroughed face Illuminated by
the love and faith OF life time, she
could not say him nay.
'And so Tom ls cashier in a bank,
went on the old man presently, as he
carefully studied the letter head,
where the name of Thomas B. Scott
appeared in plain type.
Tom has been little wild and
careless, but is coming out all right,
and will be a comfort to us yet.
Thomas had always a kind hear,
mother.
sYes,' assented mother but with
secret fear in her heart.
Cashier of bank That meant
to have the handling of money, and
Tom always loved money.
And then her thoughts flew swiftly
back to dreadful time when Tom
had spent three months at the old
home, ostensibly visit, but the
mother heart is natures detective, and
she felt there was necessity for this
prolonged visit, which made the
gloomy, moody man seem hardly the
sane with the llghthearte boy whose
shouts and laughter used to make the
old place ring again.
So it was with secret pain in her
breast that she went about the simple
preparations for her husbands Journ-
ey, which task he watched with fairly
child's delight.
At last the day for departure came
and with many injunctions on both
sides, and parting kiss from father
which made her faded cheek flush
like girls, she saw him borne swift
Iy away by the painting engine, his
kind old face smiling last goodbye
from the Car window. Then she
went home to the lonly house, back
to her daily tasks, with the memory
of that kiss warm in her heart.
But to the old man that journey was
a constant wonder and delight.
The crowd, the rapid motion, the
luxurious appointments of the parlor
car, on which, Tom had insisted, all
flied him with surprise and pleasure,
and strange new excltiment that
stood him in the place of strength.
He could neither eat nor sleep, and
when at last he reached the city, and
saw his sons face among the crowd,
his own face shone with delight,
though his limbs shook under him.
The rest vas like dream; tho i
crowded streets, where people and
horses, engines and vehicles, all seem.
D. to be trying to run each other
down.
The noise, the confusion, all fairly |
dazed the eyes and ears that had
seen and heard but quiet sights and
sounds. 1t seemed to him that they |
rode miles and miles, and when at
last they ratified up before preten-
tious building, it appeared like a
veritable palace to the gentle old man.
He could hardly believe that this
was where Tom lived; in these elegant
rooms where he felt 1t almost sacri-
lege to step On carpets where his
heavy boots gave back no sound, or
sit down upon plush and satin cover
ed chairs in odd contrasts to his
coarse and i'll fitting clothes,
Meanwhile Tom beamed on the
simple old man with look of real af-
lection on his rather heavy face Not
a wicked face but weak one, with q
too thick Tipped mouth, and chin
too retreating for stability OF charac-
ter. A careless, pleasure loving face,
with self written all over it! But
just now it was lighted up and re-
deemed by an expression of genuine
love for the care worn old face and
figure opposite.
Now, father. he said would you
rather 60 out to the grounds to-day,
or just stay here quietly and rest?
To, morrow | can 60 with you, but
today, he stopped and hesitated, while
a strange expression passed over his
face, like cloud before the sun, blot
ting out the love and tenderness and
leaving only look it was well his
father did not Sc.
The old man did lot reply at once.
He dreaded to venture out into the
crowd alone, but the feverish eager
ness that had taken possession of him
from the first, still urged him on.