Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-01-14
MRS. WEBSTER==SHOEMAKER
ny KATE UPsoN CLARK.

o'0h w ccu uuu w iibup ucr uOtutr y
lamp. She received the approving
words of the minister with happy
pride, as he praised her.
Hes nice man, isn't he, mamma?"
she said, as she closed the door. "Has
has he been talking about--about-
papa?"
The shoemaker pretended not to
hear.
81 WISH" went on the child, timid-
ly, that / could see my papa again. Z"
What do you say that for, Trotty2"
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 q 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 he had no spirit-just sort
of good-natured little mush, like.
But it's just as we'll 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 letter from John Webster,
but he had seen that individual in O
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't 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 l was doing
She was sick and so was Land I hard
ly knew what / did for the first few
days after left her. Then I went all
to pieces, and they took me to hos
pital in the city. I stayed there six
months. 1t had been so long then
that l 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; l haven't courage.
I'm n 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 and not be recognized
for some time-only by her. 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. and 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 the sweet little
girl, with her fathers sunny hair and
blue eyes.
For days the exile poudered over
the situation. 1t was Thanksgiving
time. He had dim thoughts of cele.
brating that home festival with his
dear ones, but the minister's letter de-
tered him. Day byday he worked at
his trade, saving every cent he could,
and while he pegged aud sewed the
fire within him burned. He realized
how keenly he had tried his proud
wife. He had not one resentrul thought
against her. He was only full of hum
Bile, penitent love, too humble, for he
had had excuse enough for his con-
duet, i'll rs he had been To he sure
he should have tried to go back when
his health had returned, but there his
courage and not his will had faltered.
He knew childless farmer living
not far from his old home. This man
and his good wife would keep James
secret. At least he could
S'"N WIN tuoAh "iu 80 ooHiclihieS W
gaze upon the faces OF his own, from
IA distance if need he, and perhaps
perhaps But he would not allow
himself to think further, though he
went to store and filled portmau-
teau with toys and sweets. He bought
also fine fur cloak-a womans cloak
and a brooch of gold. Then he
took q train, and in short time he
was walking the familiar streets which
he had not seen since he had fled from
them three years before.
Two or three evenings he strolled
past his old home in the twilight.
He looked through the windows so
long as the shades were up. The
sight of these longed.for faces, day by
day. mt something into his soul which