The Afro-American advance., 1899-10-21
A FAILURE

viRor In it--but steady, unexciting
drip, drip. in which there was neither
pleasure nor hope; nothing but de-
pressing repetition Of an already weari-
some theme.
Dull gray clouds overhead. sodden
green fields below, and through the
dreary scene one solitary figure, trudg.
Ing on with certain dull persistence
that seemed MS hopeless ns the monoto-
nous falling OF the rain. Now squelch-
ing in the mud. now splnshing through
puddle. he went steadily on, his head
bent, his hands thrust deep into his
pockets. the collar OF his shabby coat
turned up In vain attempt to keep of
the all-pervading rain. He was young
In years still, though there was little
OF youthful elasticity in his step. and In
his heart-tiod knowsi-no youthful
hopefulness. nothing but disappoint-
ment, and disllusion, and dogged de-
spair.
He glanced mechanically o, the ia
millar country familiar from child.
hood. though now unseen for seven
long years@but this homecoming left
him little spirit 10 look about him, and
such slight changes ms there were
Though he noticed them, every one. In
a dull. impersonal kind Of way) failed
TO interest him. To get home, to say
what he had 10 say, aud be done with II,
that was all he could think Of now. ~
II was all he had lived for during many
weary week, Afterwards--
But Ralph Wroughton's mind refused
10 consider what would happen after
wards. The future was a blank TO him.
Presently the ground fell away before
his feet and at the bottom OF the slope
he saw the old homrstead-the low,
rambling house with its lattlced win.
dows and quaint, twisted chimneyA;
the old thatched barn and farm build.
lnRa. the garden, aud the group of shell
teriug elms beyond. lie drew his breath
sharply for IA moment and stood still
while thousand memories rushed over
him. useless memories. that could but
make the present harder. more bitter
lie moved restlessly ns though TO shake
them or and tramped on.
The tall, white holly hooks stood
drenched aud detected, ON either side OF
the tagged garden path, aud the con.
slant drip, drip Of the rain sounded
mournfully In his ears "a he lifted the
latch.
There was a murmur Of voices within
which ceased abruptly. with sudden
gesture he flung open the door and en-.
tered.
Two women stood In the low, rafiered
kitchen. the red glow OF tho fire behind
Them one old and gaunt, her lank gray
hair struggling from beneath rusty
black cap, her keen black eyes glaneinp
with hawklike vigilance above thin
hooked noSei the other. young and
eomely. chestnut-haired and gray-eyed
with a finely nodded figure and beauti'
fully poised head, the simplicity of the
peasant in her spotlesK print gown. but
Of IA peasant with the carriage Of a
queen.
They looked at Ralph In silence for q
minute OF more, and he looked back al
them, hoping, perhaps, that they would
speak and make his hard task some,
what easier. but II 40 he hoped In vain
"l~have come back" he said. al
length.
n see thee hast, lad. the old woman
assented, hrusquely. "but why9"
He made little deprecatury gesture,
and she laughed grimly, The younger
woman said never word.
Hast come back as poor IA thes
went?'' the cracked voice went ON.
Poorer, have failed"
II never looked for thee 60 do anghl
else. Well. welll and after thy big
words and ALL Thy schooling has not
done much for thee, beyond giving thee
notions above thy station Ia life aud a
sinful pride that would take none OF
Gods good gifts without theu eonlds,
pay for them. and put down shilling for
shiliingi thou, bsggared before thou
vast borns who, but for the charity Of
neighboTs. hadst drawn thy hrst
breath In the workhousel hut thou
hast come back and there's an end"
IAN end, /" he echoed. wrarily. "lwas
bn, d fool for my pains; know II now. "
Hear 10 him." with shrill dcrision.
"natt learned that much, and vet canst
say thou hast come back poorer than
thee went2 Nay, lad; one bit o. com.
mon sense like ,ha, II worth all thy
books and learning, not 20 speak o. the
few bits o. brass. Hut there, sit dow n,
and let me get on with my work. have
no time TO waste with thee now, for
there's deal To be done in the dairy
and Phoebe here"
She broke OF, aud. with keen glance
at the silent woman beside her. elat.
tered out of the room. closing the door
as she went.
Her footsteps echoed noisliy down
the paved passage and died away in the
distance. There was long silence. In
whieh the pat,ering Of the rain against
the window seemed 10 grow louder and
full OF strange persistence.
since that iir1s look on his entrance
be bad not once glanced ~ the younger