The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-22
tho little passage, led the way up

as is acquir ed by men living constant,
IN the open. There was vaguely
puined look in his blue eyes, as i
they had suddenly been opened to bis
own shortcomings. His attitude TO-
ward Joyce was distinctly apologetic
When be followed the girl across
the threshold Of their mothers bed.
room tho old lady was sitting up in
bed, holding out trembling arms to-
ward the door.
Hero Stephen Leach seemed to know
better what to do. He held bis mother
in his arms while she subbed and mur-
INJURED out her joy. He had no words,
but his ;lrms meant moro than his lips
could ever have told.
IL would seem that the best part Of
happiness is the sharing of it with
some one else.
Joyce" was the first distinct word
the old lady spoke. Joyce, he has
como at last. He has come. Como
here, dear. Kiss your brother. This
is my first born-my little Steve"
The young man had sunk upon his
knees al the bedside, probably because
~ was the most convenient position.
Lie did not second his mothers pro.
posat with much enthusiasm. Alto
gcthcr he did not seem to have dis
covered 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
tho kiss fell on barren ground on his
! tanned check.
| fcvcrisnly. 81 am not afraid to die
now, for Stephen is here. Your broth
CT "iil take care OF you, dear, when
am gone"
1t vas strange that Stephen had not
spoken yet and it was perhaps just
IT'S well, because there are occasions in
life when men do wisely to keep silent.
He is strong," the proud mother
went on. " | can feel it. His hands are
large and steady and quiet, and his
arms are big and very hard"
Ihe young man knelt upright and
submitted gravely to this maternal in
ventOry.
Yes" she said, "I knew he would
grow to be big man. His little fingers
| we're so strong-hc hurt me some
| Times. What IL great musJache
knew you had been Il soldier. And the
SKIN ol your lace is brown and little
rough. What is this? what is this,
Stephen dear? Is this Il wound ?"
Yes" answered the prodigal,
speaking for the first time. THAT is
sword cut. l got that in the last
war. am u colonel in the Chillan
army, or was, before | resigned.n
The old lady's sightlcss eyes were
fixed on his face lis If listening for the
ccho OF another voice in his deep, quiet
| tones.
Your voice is deeper than your
fathcr's ever was" she said, and all
the while her trembling fingers moved
| lovingly over his face, touching the
deep cut from cheek bone TO jaw with
soft inquiry. "This must have been
very near your eye, Stephen. Promise
me, dear, no more soldering"
| promise that" he replied, with
out raising his eyes.
Such was the homecoming of the
Prodigal. After all, he arrived at the
| right moment in the afternoon, when
| the house was ready. 1t sometimes
does happen SO in rUul life, and not
onIy in books. There is IL great deal
that might be altered in this world
but, sometimes, by mere chance,
things come about rightly. And yet,
| there was something wrong, some
thing subtle, which the dying woman's
duilcr senses failed to detect her son,
her Stephen, was quiet, and had not
| y
~ had the habit OF taking things lis they
came. There was no enthusiasm, but
rather Il 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.skinncd
men arc often thus. They go through
life placidly, leaving unsaid anG un-
done many things which some tlink
they ought to say and do.
After tho first excitement OF the
return WAS over IT bacumo g!aringly
apparent that Stephen had arrived
| just IN time. HIS mother fell into Il
happy sleep before sunset, and when
the active young doctor came little
later in the evening he shook his head.
"Yes,' he said, 81 sec that she is
asleep and quict-too quiet. 1t is q
| fOretaste of u longer sleep; some old
people have it,"
For the first time Joyce's courage
seemed to give way When she had
been alone she was brave enough,
but now that her brother was there,
wOmanlikc, she scomed to turn to him
with a sudden fear They stood side
by side near tho bed, and the young
doctor involuntarily watched them.
Stephen had taken her hand in his
SO natural and 80 eloquent. He said
nothing, this big, sun-tanncd youth;
he did not even glance down at his
sister, who stood small, soft-cycd and
gentle at his side.
The doctor knew something Of the
history of the small family thus mo-
mentarily united and he had always
feared that if Stephen Leach did re
turn 1T would only kill his mother,
This, indeed, seemed to be the result
about to follow.
Presently the doctor took his leave
nc was a young mun engaged in
getting together good practice, and
IN ms own Interest ho had been forced
TO give up waiting for his patients tc
finish dying.
l m'glad you are herc," he said tc
stephen, who accompanied him to the
door. 1T would not do for your sister
TO 90 alone; this may go on for " couple
of days"
Il did not go on for O. coupla of dave