Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-01-14

MRS. Observation-Disclosures
ny KATE upsoS CLARK.


dren to bed and to light her mothers
lamp. She received the approving
words of the minister with happy
pride, as he praised her.
Hes nice man, isn't he, mammal
she said, as she closed the door. "Has
has he been talking about--about-
papa2"
The shoemaker pretended not to
hear.
81 WISH" went on the child, timid.
ly, THAT / could see my papa again. "
What do you say that for, TrottyP"
cried her mother, stopping her work
TO look at the child furiously. "You
don't want to see him. None OF us
want to see him. He went off and left
us, and, after doing such wicked
thing, you should never want to see
him again"
The child looked scared, slipped
from her chair and ran toward the
house. Through the brilliantly
lighted pane her mother could see her.
as she moved about the small living
room putting the furniture to rights.
She's nice little thing" the
shoemaker murmured, choking az she
spoke. 'But she has exactly such
ways as no had no spirit-just q sort
OF n good-natured little mush, like.
But it's inst as well that most women
should be that way I suppose"
The good old minister had, in all
innocence, deceived his trusting par
ishioner. 1t was true that he had not
received n letter from John Webster,
but he had seen that individual in
neighboring town the day before and
had been requested to find out, as his
wife had limited, how he might be well
coined in case he should return to his
home.
81 know ! oughtn'tt 10 have left her, ="
the man pleaded, humbly, "but she
harried me and tainted me-good.
Christian woman though she was, till
/ couldn't tell just what | was doing.
She was sick and 80 was Land / hard
ly knew what ! did for the first few
days after left her. Then | went all
to pieces, and they took me to hos
pital in the city. / stayed there six
months. II had been 80 long then
that | didn't dare to go back But
grew strong pretty soon, and I've had
good wages ever since. and now I've
saved up tidy little sum, and for
months I've been wanting to go back,
but she is right; haven't courage.
I'm coward I've let my whiskers
grow, and several of my old neighbors
have passed me in the streets here
without knowing me- ! suppose |
could go home aud not he recognized
for some time-only byher. | couldn't
fool her"
Now when the minister reached
home after his visit to the little shop
he sat down and wrote to John Web
ster (who called himself James John
SON. aud told him that he saw no
hope for him.
"Your wife is very bitter against
you" he began. "She would not re-
ceive you"
Then he told of the success of the
shoemaker, of the health and promise
Of the children aud of tho sweet little
girl, with her fathers sunny hair and
blue eyes.
For days the exile poudered over
the situation. IL was Thanksgiving
lime. He had dim thoughts of cele-
brating that home festival with his
lear ones, but the minister letter de-
Ierred him. Day by day he worked at
his trade, saving every cent he could,
md while he pegged and sewed the
lire within him burned. He realized !
now keenly he had tried his proud |
wife. He had not one resentful thought |
against her. He was only full of hum
Die, penitent love, too humble, for he |
lad had excuse enough for his CON
luct, i'll rs he had been. Tc, he sure
10 should have tried to go hack when
ais health had returned, but there his
courage aud not his will had faltered.
He knew n childless farmer living
lot far from his old home. This man
md his good wife would keep James
|ohnson's" secret. At least he could |
tay with them aad go sometimes To
Saze upon the faces OF his own, from
! distance il need be, aud perhaps
perhaps But he would not allow
himself to think further. though he
vent TO IA store and filled a portman-
eau with toys and sweets. He bought
.lso fine fur cloak--a woman's cloak
and brooch Of gold. Then he
ook train, and in short time he
vas walking the familiar streets which
lie had not seen since he had fed from
hem three years before.
Two or three evenings he strolled
'ast his old home in the twilight.
lie looked through the windows so
ong as the shades were up. The
light of these longed-for faces, day by
ay, put sonnet thing into his soul which