Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-11-11

| him as dead, and no longer hoped thai
one day his form might again darken
the kitchen door.
With William all went we'll. He
pushed his way West. He succeeded
in his first venture, and five years had
not elapsed before his mans had come
to DO known throughout the mining
country. Often he thought of that
home back in Michigan, and frequent
ly he said to himself 81 will write"
Then something would interfere with
the carrying out Of his intention, and
no word would be sent back. Thus the
days, and weeks, and years sped on
until fifth of century had passed.
William Whitley had accumulated
100000 in the twenty years he had
lived and toiled in Colorado, and one
day the desire came to him stronger
than ever to 60 back to the old home
and gaze once again into the old eyes
OF father and mother.
So he returned.
Alone and unknown, the man wend-
ed his way along the county road to
the old house on the hill. He had
crossed the lane below the woods when
he recollected that pail Of milk that
he had hidden in the hollow log TWEEN
ty years before.
II wonder II the pail can be there
yet" he said to himself, and smiled
at the thought. "I'll see."
He remembered the spot as distinct
ly as though he had but left the day
before. He went to the blasted trunk,
kicked away the stones, and moss. and
twigs, and looked down. Yes, 1t was
there; but In 1t nothing. He lifted out
the old tin pail. its sides all full OF
holes eaten by time and rust, and con-
tinued on up the road.
II shall knock at the kitchen door,"
he said to himself, land when mother
answers shall say: Here is the
milk" And William Whittlesy
laughed aloud.
The house appeared unchanged. To
be sure. there were honeysuckles
growing UP the back porch that had
not been there when he went away,
but twenty years is sufficient time for
honeysuckles to live and die.
William Whittlesy assembled the
steps quietly and knocked at the door.
1t was opened by a kind-eyed old lady.
William thrust forward the rusty, bat
tered pail and said: Mother, here's
the milk" The woman looked at him
with wonder in her eyes. Wont
won't-you come in?" she said.
William entered the room. It was
the same old kitchen he had known
when but boy. And there by the
fireplace sat a man. feeble, and
wrinkled. and gray. Father, have
come back" cried William Whittlesy.
The old man turned In his chair
and gazed at the stranger unknow-
ingly.
Don't you see who ami" cried the
long-lost. II am William. / have
come back. I went away twenty
years ago"
A peculiar light came into the eyes
Of the woman. who, during the strang-
er's appeal to the old man at the fire.
place, had stood still at the end Of the
table with one hand on her hip. i
"I-I-I-understand now" she said.
William looked his thanks in his
eyes. He was about to close his arms
about the old lady when she waved
him back. II understand" she went
on. "Arter you went away your mother
died in 'beout year and your pa mar
ried me. Then when he died l married
George there. an we've been Twin on,
tn OIL place ever sence. So yew see
We amt your folks arter all, though
likely ez not yew may have some legal
connection with us"
William put his hand to his brow
and reeled. He staggered to the door
-sobbing. with his head bowed upon
his breast, he walked slowly down the
old country road. And that night he
went back to the West.-Detroit Free
Press.