Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-01-13

observed. Peering over the screen, Fair
man noticed that the old gentleman drop
ped to his knees in silent prayer, and as he
watched he heard smothered sobs that
seemed to fairly shake the venerable mans
form.
"Thcn of u sudden they ceased, and in a
low undertone of appeal he heard the
words Of prayer uttered aloud:
"Our Father, who art in heaven, thou
to whom ma turns in the hour Of trou
BILE, even as the child to its parent,
kneel tonight to implore in the abundance
of thy mercy that my boy, wandering
somewhere in the world, shall this day be
returned to me. 0 God, grant that poor,
wayward Frank, my deceived and foolish
boy, shall see in this time Of peace the OPP
portunity to come back, that / at least
may look upon his face before l I'm called
to the long home. l pray Further ut
terance was abruptly checked by a storm
of VIOLENT grief that in any beholder would
have stirred volumes of pity. To the silent
watcher behind the screen the heartbroken
cry brought more.
His face paled and was clouded with
agitation and profound bewilderment, and
his excitement grew with every word of
the appeal.
The old man had risen to his knees and
paced the floor slowly. Then, actuated by
a sudden impulse, he walked to the win
dow, threw open the folding blinds and
raised the sash. In the chill air with un-
covered head he passionately renewed his
prayer.
at is all 1 ask, all 1 wish for, in what
1sfo l., Lee ,~o %lo% E,,oY ri. eto,1l o%,,,,,
Any why not today, why not now, when
all the bitterness of humanity is buried in
hosannas to thy glory and mans brother
hood? Is it too great a boon l ask that
after all these years he may be again where
he was? Cannot one of those glorious stars
beckon him the way? Surely he lives and
surely he will come home.
"Oh, Frank, Frank, Frank"
Father, I am here!"
Silently Frank left his concealment, and
there by the window, regardless of his mis-
sion, he went to his father.
1t was not in human heart to resist the
appeal. And there they sat, hand in hand,
until the creeping gray dawn silvered the
windows and cleaned on the fallen snow.
In his excited state the appearance Of
Frank at $3.50 a. m. seemed to his father
the most natural thing in the world. But
when Franks misdeed, which drove him
to leave home and all its loving associa-
tions-the theft of money to hide extrava-
gances-had been discussed the happy ia
Their began inquiring as to Franks mode
OF life since that occurrence and now.
Frank, who was sincerely repentant,
had hoped to avoid this by some skillful
lying, but the return of the silver to its
proper place bothered him greatly. More
over, his dark lantern made a bunch on
his breast, which he feared might arouse
inquiry at any moment.
But as he saw the depth of his fathers
love and realized that deceit upon his
earnest love would be more than crime he
wavered. 1t was a fearful thing to con-
fess to his father that he was a burglar,
had been a burglar for the past ten years
and possessed a small fortune in other
mems property and cash. 1t was especial
ly hard to shock the heart which now
overlooked with supreme happiness. But
his father was a clergyman, and to him
confession of sin meant more than to
other men. Perhaps he would forgive him,
and at any cost Frank could never live at
home with that awful shadow hanging
over him. If he failed to forgive, Frank
calculated, he could still catch that train.
At last he found the way opened to him
for confession.
Crank, my boy, it has just occurred to
Inc to ask you how you came to answer
my prayer by your visible presence"
Father, the reason is very simple. l
was robbing your house"
Franks future hung on the next few
words. The answer did not come for some
time, and then 1t was in the form of Il
question.
"How long have you been a criminal,
my boy?'
The words out like a knife, but Frank
did not shrink.
"Ten years, but, oh, father, if you can
forget, my criminal career ends at this
hour. l have no plea to make in excuse.
l fell because I imagined your attacks
upon evil associations were old fashioned.
I have sinned, but repentance and atone
mont will be mine as far as possible il you
will but take me home again. Upon you,
father, rests my disposition of life and
soul. You may save or you may send mi
to prison. I am tired of being hunted
AAoAA PiAAoA w RooV, "o"V w
see mother"
For the first time in a decade tears
stood in the eyes of the iron lierved crimi-
nal. He had risen now and held out his
hands in a dumb plea for mercy. On the
left wrist dangled a rubber ring for the
dark lantern to swing from.
1t seemed like a handcuff.
For just a little while the old man sat
silent, looking at the white face above
him.
Then he rose and took the oGtstretched
hands in his own, and while from the
snowy streets outside there caine floating
the silver murmur of Christmas bells, ia
ther and son clasped hands over a chasm
of crime and sorrow, and Frank Fairman.
burglar, was a burglar no more. london
Tit Bits,