Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-04-22

possibility? What would he dosif Jane
told him his mother was dead? He
covered his face in his hands at the
thought, and sobbed as only a strong
man can sob the corner of a carriage.
With great jerk the train pulled up at
the station. and Harborde got out His
fellow-trayelers 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 inno-
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 quiet
little eating house, where he was served
with meal by 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
low creatures, who one and all regard
ed him with feeling akin to that with
which they would have submitted TO
the company of dangerous animal.
Harborde noticed it after 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 marked man, and no long
wondered why the lady opposite
drew her warm plaid dress away from
fnn fIe o%h LODI h 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
1t 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 fnery - 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 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 III
| his mothers room, which was at the
front of the house. What if she was i'll
perhaps dying? At last his legs car
ried him up the drive which swept
| around the little front lawn in semi
circle. He heard the bell tinkle shrilly
at the back of the house. The sound
seemed like home. All at once he re-
numbered how, years ago, he had
| banged it with long-handled broom
till it tangled against it's fellow on
| either side.
The door opened. A flood of light
streamed out on to the gravel. 1t was
strange face, and the fact sent an
icy shock to his heart. Far outside
himself he heard voice he did not
recognize as his own asking if DIR.
Harborde were in. a year seemed to
| pass before the servant said: No.
adding: did you wish to see him par
| ticular?''
Yes
He'll be in in half an hour"
| ''Is-is Mrs. Harborde in? Is she
alive?'' said the man at the door, throw
| ing the words at her when once his
tongue consented to frame them.
why, Lor' bless me, yes! Come,
none 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 a sweet-faced
| oiu iduS WIN 1ose III III saC Ills SUI
| den entrance.
my son! my son." rang out through
! the house ''Motheri motheri"
| The girl stood rooted to the spot,
| then she ran to Jane, and the two OF
them came out into the passage. III
the sitting-room with its pink-shaded
lamp a woman was seated kissing every
line on her sons face-eyery line that
the long years had written. And he
stroked the hair that still lay thick,
| though white, in a coil at the back of
her head