The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-30

wife will be surprising you, also, some
Of these evenings by a request to be
spliced again." said n wag to the min
ister
mo, I do not think So" the worthy
man replied. "Rollo would be ashamed
to show his face I'm Coriuth; but even
IL he came back, Mrs. Bently is a wo-
man Of too much good sense to marry
him again."
Doubtless the preacher thought that
he was true prophet, as well as q
good Judge Of human nature. And it
is, perhaps, a trite saying that "it is
the unexpected that happens" Per-
hnps, that will account for the fact
that in less than six months there
after not only had Rollo Bently shown
his face in Corinth, but he had come
to stay. Nay, more; he and Sara were
remarked, at the parsonage, by the
pastor So little do we know what
may happen!
There was nothing else to do" the
minister said when rallied. II really
think Rollo is truly repentent; and I
hope that Sara may be happy at last"
The church seemed to be of the same
opinion, for after a proper profession
of sorrow and repentance, both prodi-
gals Ubough at different times), were
forgiven and received back into mem
bership. And IL did not take many
months for most of the people to call
upon them, as a sort of notice that they
were to he taken back into society.
They ceased to discuss them as soon
as something else happened, fresher
and more interesting. But IL ever prod
igals were made welcome and were en-
couraged to walk in the straight path,
these two were.
Doubtless ii was not always a pleas
ant or an easy one. No one ever knew
what had passed between Rollo and his
wife; but they seemed to be satisfied.
He took up his business with a vigor
that promised well for the future. OF
course, his friends helped him, since it
is hard work to fall into the procession
again, unaided.
AS for the other culprit she recovered
her bloom and brightness, and by the
time she had given birth to three chill
dren she seemed such a different Leora
that people could hardly believe that
she had ever so forgotten her honor and
duty.
And yet-and yet there are at times
fine impalpable something in peoples
manner; in the avoidance of certain
topics in her presence that gave her a
pang in her gayest moments, and she
saw her three pretty little daughters
through a mist of tears. She thought
with a shudder, what IL they should
ever know! But a sick terror overcame
her-what If one of them-And men say
there is no punishment for sin!
But all this is an "old number" in
Corinth. Not many people, in the best
society, that is, remember these things;
or if they do they do not speak of them.
Not that they are so much more chari-
table. 1t is not good form"
But q few years since there was a
kind of sequel which l unwittingly
CHANGED upon.
1t seems that Rollo Bently prosper
ed; and property brought ambition.
And he thought, as did his friends, that
having lived down that little fling"
and being such good fellow" that he
was now warranted to run" for office.
For, in short. no less a place than the
legislature of his state. And matters
were in a fair way of accomplishments; +;
at least as far as a nomination was
concerned, when two gentlemen of Mil
ton happened to meet upon some busi-
ness in the parlor of the Widow Blan-
chard, who also lived in Milton. One
of them said to the other, "Bently of
Cornith is trying to get the nomination
for member of the legislature. What
do you think?"
what Bently is that?" asked the
elder man.
"Whatw cried Widow Blanchard, in
her lively way, "is that Roll Bently,
who ran off with Leora Brayton, trying
to get an office? Well he has cheek"
The gentleman said but little more
before they took leave. But the next
| day one Of them, the elder, who did not
know Rollo, called again and requested
Mrs. Blanchard to give him the par
ticulars Of the incident she had re-
| ferred to upon the previous day. He
| particularly wished to know If the
| story were true.
Frightened at the serious aspect
which the matter was assuming, she
refused, and tried to laugh him off the
subject. But he earnestly insisted up
| on her telling the exact truth, and
| finally he prevailed.
"And you are sure this is true?I wish
| to wrong no one. l am not hunting
| scandal, just to hear some new thing.
1 have a purpose"
It did not live in Corinth," she said,
| but l am sure my friends there would
| have told me nothing untrue. Besides,
| the Braytons used to live in Milton.
| Leora's uncle and aunt are both dead.
/ knew Leora myself when we were
| girls She was flirt from her cradle.
| She would have tempted any man.
| You ought not to judge Rollo Bently
| too harshly, Mr.. Mayberry. Every
! body says that he is really sorry and
| has lived it down. He is good to his
| wife; they have beautiful home-Pm
sorry l mentioned it at all"
II am glad you did l care very lit
| tie to know the particulars; only 10
| know if it We're true. 1 am glad that
| he is prosperous; more glad, if he is
repentant. But the point is this. With
such a record, he Is hardly the man
| who should be sent to legislate for us
| There is too much of that kind OF
| thing now. If the young woman was
| weak, 80 much the more should he have
protected her from herself. as well as
| from his own weakness. You say he
! has a fine wife?"
Yes, indeed. Mrs. Bently is a good
woman as we'll as smart one. Every
body likes her"
"All the more reason, then, to blame
! him. Such things can never be lived
! down. except in a certain way and
! mea re. No amount of repentance
can 20 such a deed. 1 should have
| though. he'd have gone on his knees
before his wife's goodness. But l fai
In As n@M A