The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-12-28

tleman standing with feet wide apart, back
| to the 1re. and contemplating Z picture
! on the opposite wall.
| "Mr. Brace said he, after greetings
| were exchanged, II must beg your par
don for talking business out of business
| hours, but am going home tomorrow and
can't wait for regularity. My home is lust
like that farmhouse in that picture there,
and I am in a hurry to go in at that little
gate
| His conference soon ended John hurried
| to his hotel again and taking a very shabby
suit from his wardrobe packed it with some
things in large satchel, and then hasten
ing to the station climbed into the sleeper
! just as the long train pulled out for the
East. Arriving at a point 20 miles west
! of his old home, he went to an obscure
hotel and changed his clothing for the old
suit in his satchel.
When the 'leven forty" pulled into the
town of M two days before Christ
mas, the usual crowd of 1oungers OBJ
| served TALL brown bearded man, whose
clothes seemed the worse for wear, step
of the rear platform, and without looking
at anyone strike of toward the farm of
Richard Warren.
Much curiosity was centered on this
event. much discussion engaged in, until
the seediest-looking loafer present said:
That was John Warren, or I'll eat my
hat! Yes, that was John Warren, and
1t wouldn't be for long, though, cause
Squire Cobb has given notice that he's
goin' to foreclose the mortgage he has on
the old mars place"
If they had followed the stranger for
half mile they might have seen the
strong young man shed heartfelt tears as
he leaned against the old oak tree by the
little gate and gaze earnestly on the brown
, house at the edge of the woods. Crushing
the snow with hasty steps, he was soon at
OF thn nd ~ %h0
Flinging down his satchel and catching
up the axe he split an armful of wood.
and opening the kitchen door said in a
voice tremulous with emotion, Mother, is
| this enough wood to get dinner WITH"
A cry OF wonderful joy and the mother
| wept on her sons shoulder while his father
paced the floor shouting. Praise God!
Praise God!" stopping often to clasp his
sons hand and murmur, my boy, my boy"
Then he drew up to the fire and John said:
my anger nine years ago and my cruel
silence ever since?" And his mother said:
My boy, not q day has passed but that we
haven't prayed for your return, and, now
that you are with us. we can take new
lease of life, and'-she glanced at his
shabby clOthing-"we will share our little
possessions with you, my dear, long-lOs
son.
His father reached out his hand, rough
and knotted with hard work, and pressed
mothers words. Then his mother began
to place some food on the table, stopping
every now and then to cry softly, such
happy tears. while his father told him the
neighborhoOd news. John easily parted
questions concerning himself, and his
parents soon seeing that he did not care
to talk of his own doings in the years that
were past, concluded that he had not been
fortunate and introduced other subjects to
make him forget his supposed troubles.
AC fho rnro 1nhy ha1n
his father about the chores, and by skill
fully-planned questions learned all about
his fathers financial troubles He had taken
his satchel up to his own room and was
washing his hands before supper when he
heard light step on the porch, and
bright-faced young woman walked into the
kitchen and, seeing him, stood embarrassed
until he, coming forward, said:
This Is Anna Scott, isn't it,"
why, John Warren, where have you
kept yourself all these years? Oh, how
happy your mother must be!'
And dropping his hand, which she had
been shaking with the greatest enthusiasm,
she flew down into the cellar and threw
both arms around his mothers neck, and
that good lady embraced her, weeping and
patting her shoulder with the empty cream
pitcher which she had taken there to fill.
Mrs. Warren insisted that Anna should
stay for supper, and after a pleasant even
ing, talking over the old schoolmates and
We'll, l declare, it's o'clock! I must
go home. Besides, I am so anxious to
III tA~ foil-s that van oro home and
brother Harry will be just wild to see
you
1t seemed very much like old times when
John tucked her hand under his arm and
they walked over the road they had trav
eled so often years before. Just as they
entered her fathers gateway John said:
Anna, my parents think just you
do hof I hay If
I haven't. I am junior member of a very
prosperous firm in the West, but I want to
keep the secret little while longer, and
want you to help me give them kind of
surprise"
Then he unfolded his plan to her and
her voice rang with delight, as she said:
"Oh, john how lovely that will be-
The next morning, after the old family
Bible was read and heartfelt prayer Of
fered. John asked the loan Of his fathers
horse, and drove straight to Squire Cobb's
Office, and that worthy being in, John said
Squire, 1 came to see you about that
mortgage you have on my fathers farm
mo use, young man, no use. 1 must
foreclose the last of the year; he has al
ready had notice"
You are making a mistake" said John. |
Il want to pay it."
With that he drew from his pocket large |
roll of bank notes and counted down the |
$500 which would release his father from |
worry and misery. Inc squire 1mmedi- |
ately became a man of smiles, and speedily i
made the mortgage over to John, who drove |
at once to the farm of Mr.. Scott and called |
Whoa" just Anna, her father, mother |
and brother came to the gate.
There were hearty greetings, and then |
Anna, all ready for long drive, sprang |
in beside him. How bright the morning !
was! How happy were they as the bells |
jingled and the sleigh moved with purring
noise over the wilderness of snow and
through the deep woods. What mysteri-
GUS bundles they bought out of the stores
in the large town of F. until when,
at last they arrived at Annals home, the
sleigh was loaded with enough to stock a
store" as Harry Scott remarked.
Christmas day dawned bright and glorious
with sun and snow, and early in the morn
ing Anna appeared and she wanted to help
get dinner" soon John brought the horse
and cutter around and asked his mother to
take a ride with him, and finally, after much
urging from Anna, Mrs. Warren put on her
shabby cloak and hood, and with a warm
soapstone at her feet was tucked into the
sleigh beside John. He noticed the cloak
and gave little look of entreaty to Anna
who only smiled and said: II wish you
would call at mothers before you come
back" Away they drove toward the mill
and down by the river. and then stopped
at Farmer Scott's. Soon Mrs. Scott was
showing Mrs. Warren her new Quilt. lust
taken out Of the frames" and the picture
II Cousin William, who is on the board Of
rade," and these two good old women talk
I'd over q hundred harmless things which
constituted their everyday life John finally
suggested that IT was time thov u,oro uo;nsx |