Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-11-15


take possession of Government House,
and that the believing mob that not
month before had doffed their caps be-
fore Adams face, now showed him on
the pavement without seeing him,
stamped and raved and shook his first
over the people, as if he would brain
them.
They slept at Onchan that night, and
next day they reached Kirk Maughold.
And coming on the struggling old house
at Lague, after so long an absence
Adam was visibly moved, saying he had
seen many a humiliation since the
days when he lived in it, and might the
Lord make them profitable to his soul;
but only let it please God to grant him
peace and content and daily bread, and
there should be no more going hence
in the years that were left to him.
At that Greeba felt tingling on both
sides her heart, for her fears were
many of the welcome that awaited
them.
1t was nigh upon noon, and the men
were out in the fields. but Mrs. Fair
brother was at home, and she saw the
three when they opened the gate and
came down under the elms.
Now, I thought as much" she said
within herself, land I warrant I know
their errand."
Adam entered the house with what
.L,o,, 90 fooo he could command being
hard set to keep back his tears, and
hailed his wife in a jovial tone. al
though his voice threatened to break,
and sat himself down in his old seat
by the chimney corner, with his black
thorn stick between his knees and his
hands resting upon it. But Mrs. Fair
brother made no answer to his greeting,
and only glanced from him to Greeba'
who tripped softly behind him, and
from Greeba to Chalse, who came sham
bling in after them, vacantly scratching
his uncovered head. Then, drawing her
self up, and holding back her skirts
she said, very coldly. while her wrin
kIed face twitched:
here?"
IAN ill wind indeed, Ruth Adam
answered, ''for it is the wind of ad-
versity. You must have heard of our
misfortune since the whole island now
knows of it. Well, it is not for me TO
complain, for God shapes our ways, and
He knows what is best. But am an
old man now, Ruth, little able to look
to myself, still less to another, and
While he spoke, Mrs. Fairbrother
tapped her foot impatiehtly, and then
broke in with:
"Cut it short, sir. What do you
want?"
Adam lifted his eyes with stupefcd
look, and answered very quietly, Il
want to come home, Ruth
''Homew cried Mrs Fairbrother
sharply. "And what home, if you
please?"
Adam sat agape for a moment, and
then said. speaking as calmly as be-
fore. What home Ruth? Why. what
home but this?"
This. indeed This is not your homi.
said Mrs. F'airbrother.
mt my home!" said Adam slowly
dropping back in his seat like ore
dumbfounded.
Not my home! Did you say that this
was not my homer" he said. suddenly
bracing up why, woman. 1 was born
here; so was MY father before me. anG
my fathers father before MIN. Five
generations of my people have lived
and died here. and the very roof raft
ers over your head must know us
.'Hoity-toityr' cried Mrs. Fairbroth-
er, "and if you had lived here much
longer not a rafter of them all would
have been left to shelter us. No, sr
I've kept the roof on this house arf
it is mine"
1T is yours, indeed" said Adam slow
ly, "for I gave it you"
You gave it mer' cried Mrs. Fair
brother. Say, I took it as my right
when all you had was slipping through
your fingers like sand. as everything
does that ever touches them"
At that word old Adam drew himseis
up with a great dignity OF bearing. and
said:
There is one thing that has indeed
slipped through my fingers like sand
and that is the fidelity Of the woman
who swore before God forty and ode
years ago to love and honor me''
Crinkleum-crankumr' cried Mrs
Fairbrother "a pretty thing. truly
that 1 should toll and moil at my age
to keep house and home together ready
and waiting for you, when your zany
doings have shut every other doo
against you. Misfortunes, indeed. !,
fine name for your Mistakes
II may have made mistakes. madam.
said Adam; "but true it is. as the wise
man has said, that he who has never
made mistakes has never made any
thing
"Tush" said Mrs. Fairbrother
Ruth, do you refuse to take me in?"
said Adam.
This house is mine" said she: mine
NV low o0d daad &c tipht nc U-ay cap