Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-01-13

cnlld looked surprised AZ his famf.
liarity. When he shut to the stove
door with click, she waited for him
to speak.
Then he aid brokenly, 'Trotty
little Trotty.-don't you know me?''
and held out his arms to her.
"Are-are you my papa?"she cried,
delightedly, and she flew to him, nest.
ling happily against his shoulder.
eyes," he sobbed, while she re.
peated over and over, "Papa.-my
papa," and stroked his shaggy beard.
'I'm glad you've come" she said,
presently.
"But your mamma, Trotty? What
will she think?"
The child remembered what her
mother had said and shook her head
doubtfully. Then she frightened.
eff you should put your arms around
her and kiss her like this, I think, I
think" but then she shook her head
again, as she thought of what her
mother had said.
His face grew sadder than ever.
| 81 want to come home and live with
you all again, Trotty,' he said, piteous-
ly. "How shall we manage it? What
can / do?"
He went on to tell her of the
Christmas presents which he had
brought for them all-'and tomorrow
is Christmas, but dare not come and
give them to you," he added.
''Oh, yes, you do. You dare do any.
thing" she broke forth after gazing
at him fixedly for moment. Trotty
was very human, and the thought of
the Christmas presents may have aided
her ingenuity.
The words seemed to pierce his soul.
He put her down and began to walk
the floor. His head was raised, and his
step was firm.
"Yes, Trotty-I do dare," he said,
presently. ''Don't tell anybody-not
even your brothers-that 1 have been
here, but will be back by and by
Then he hurried away, and as he
walked he kept saying to himself:
eyes, that is the only way. She des-
pises me because am coward; will
be coward no longer. I will show
her that am brave man, will own
my fault, and I believe she will not
resist me-"
The supper was almost over that
night when there was knock at the
door. Trotty had been listening for
it, and she sprang up in an instant.
'Good evening"" said John Web
ster, Strengthening his tall figure and
stepping boldly over the threshold.
"Good evening, Harriet. I've come
Loa 60, r -; oh
and think that must have been the
reason why deserted you so basely.
1t was wrong, but am sorry from my
soul-and you must forgive me, Har
riet. 1 cannot live any longer with
out you and the children. You must
take me back"
In the woman's face the Christmas
JOY had been playing, but now she
grew pale and stern. She had pic
tured her husband always as the
cringing, weakly man who had left her
three years before. This newcomer,
in spite of his bearded face, recalled
to her the lover of her youthful of
health and hope. She would not even
own to herself how she was shaken.
$50 away" she said, waving her
hand toward the door. ''You chose
another path from ours, and now you
can walk in it. We do not need you.
We don't want you. Go!'
The youngest child began to cry.
Little Trotty came up beside her father
and held tight to his coat tails, gazing
at her mother with white face and
wide, beseeching eyes.
''No, Harriet" he said, calmly, and
retreating not step, "the time for
that is past. You must not shut me
out. l was wrong, but you know
we'll how much had to try me, and
was hardly myself I think was
little crazy-for [ was sick-sick for
six months, Harriet. was taken to
hospital, and when got out 1 was
like ghost grew strong and
found steady work, and have been
saving ever since-saving for you and
the children, Harriet, though didn't
dare to write to you nor see you.
hadn't grown strong enough for that.
But now I cannot live alone any longer,
and neither can you. You have
worked too hard. can support you
all. You must let this poor, hardened
hand" and he picked up her right
hand, with its callousness and grimi-
ness, "you must let it rest now-for
now have come to stay and to help
you to fill the children's stockings this
| Christmas eve.
This speech confirmed the favorable
impression which the visitor had made
from the first upon the children. The
mother felt herself visibly weakening.
Yet ali her wrongs rushed over her
mind and how could she forgive him!
At this point Trotty's recent Sun
day-schooll lessons came to her mothers
assistance.
Mamma" she said, timidly, pull.
ing at her mothers gown, ''you know
what it says in the Bible, mamma it's
Christmas, mamma-and it's peace
and goodwill at Christmas. you know.