Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-04-08

l.HeSlI B6dcn at the rate OF e1ghE or
ten miles an hour. Harborde was one
of half a dozen passengers, but there
was no one else in his compartment
He sat thinking of all that Had hap
pened. He had heard nothing of those
at home for many months; they might
all be dead How would he have the
courage to 20 to the door with this
possibility? What would he do if Jane
told him his mother was dead? He
covered his face in his hands at the
thought, and sobbed as only strong
man can sob IN the corner of a carriage.
With great jerk the train pulled up at
the station, and Harborde got out. His
fellow-travelers regarded him with
curiosity because his friend the porter
had told every one of them who he was
when he examined their tickets, in
Weighing bitterly the while against the
caustic humor of pardoning an limo
cent man.
Harborde noticed nothing of this
He inquired of porter the next train
on to the junction for Applebury, and
then discovered that he was both hun
CRY and faint for want of food. He
went out into the slippery, muddy
street at the back of the house on the
Parade, and at length found a quiet
little eating house, where he was served
with meal by a girl, who had pity.
ing eye, after consultation with her
superior in command. At three o'clock
he was again on his way in the train,
in the company this time of other fell
l1n ND oil aT-fi-
ed him with a feeling akin to that with
which they would have submitted to
the company of a dangerous animal.
Harborde noticed it after "A time, and
putting his hand to his head suddenly
made the discovery that his hair was
Eoticeably short. After this he realized
that he was a marked man, and no long
er wondered why the lady opposite
drew her warm plaid dress away from
his feet, and the other lady with two
children sided as far from him as pos
sible, and asked the guard to find her
seats in another carriage at the next
station. He was innocent, but how
could he explain it to them? If they
could but know how he had suf-
fered surely they would weep. He
hadn't the paper with him; even
if he had perhaps they would not
believe that he and the Thomas
HarbOrde mentioned in the paragraph
were one and the same. Two men got
in where the lady with the children
got out. They each of them threw him
a glance, shrugged their shoulders and
then became immersed in their papers.
It was quite dark when Applebury
was reached, and Harborde, luggage
less, speedily passed out of the station
without being recognized. There
seemed little alteration in the place.
Several of the shops-now gay with
Christmas goods and finery - in the
main street now had large plate-glass
windows in place of more countryfied
fronts, but were otherwise much as
Is years ago. For moment he stood
confused, staring up and down the
street, regarded by the passers-by with
curiosity. Then he remembered that
he would have to go along the street,
past the grocer's whose window pro-
jected a yard into the footpath, turn
down the by-street, and then again
turning take the road leading to his
home.
In ten minutes he reached the gar
den gate. He had run part of the way,
and now he could not make up his mind
to go up the drive to the door. What
if they were all dead? He grew sick at
the very idea. There was a light i'll
his mothers room, which was at the
front of the house. What if she was ill
dying? At last his legs car
ried him up the drive which swept
around the little front lawn in a semi
circle. He heard the bell tinkle shrilly
at the back of the house. The sound
seemed like home. All at once he re-
how, years ago, he had
banged it with a long-handled broom
till it tangled against it's fellow on
either side.
The door opened. 4 flood of light
out on to the gravel. 1t was
n strange face, and the fact sent an
icy shock to his heart. Far outside
himself he heard a voice he did not
recognize as his own asking if DIR.
Harborde were in. \ year seemed to
pass before the servant said: No."
adding: Did you wish to see hin par.
ticular?"
Yes
He'll be in in half an hour"
Isis Mrs. Harborde in? Is shs
alive?" said the man at the door, throw
tongue consented to frame them
why, Lor' bless me, yes! Come,
zone of that"
But it was no use. The man she had
just noticed had suspiciously short hair
and a strange, Withholding face had
pushed past her. thrown open the sit
ting-room door, stumbled into it and
thrown his arms round n sweet-faced
cid lady who rose in alarm at his sud-
len entrance.
My son! my son!" rang out through
he house. Mother! mother!"
The girl stood rooted to the spot.
hen she ran to Jane, and the two of
them came out into the passage. Ia
he sitting-room with its pink-shaded
amp n woman was seated kissing every
inc on her sons face-every line that
he long wears had written. And he
,troked the hair that still Lag thick.
though white, in a coil at the back of
Ter head.
Suddenly the man started up.
jesse" he asked, huskily.
Some one who had lair. haIf-stunneu
With Joy, in 4 wicker chair well out OF
he range of the lamp-!ight, came into
lis vision.
Jess" he cried. folding her in his
rms whilst the room swan round. |