The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-09-06

ions. And SO once more, John Tell 10
work discounting the delightful future;
his first appearance in the family pew
his first visit to his uncle Greig, VINO
thought himself so great a financler,
and on whose purbIind Edinburgh eyes
4 John was to let in the dazzling day
light of the West; and the details In
general of that unrivaled transforms
ton scene, in which he was to display
to all Edinburgh porsly and successful
gentleman in the shoes of the derided
fugitive.
The time began to draw near when
his father would have returned from
the office, and it would be the prodigafs
cue to enter. He strolled westward by
Albany Street, facing the sunset en-
bers, pleased, he knew not why, to
move in that cold air and indigo twi-
| light, starred with street-lamps. But
there was one more disenchantment
waiting him by the way.
At the corner of Pitt Street he paused
| to light fresh cigar; the vesta threw,
as he did so, a strong light upon his
features, and a man of about his own
age stopped az sight of it.
Il think your name must be Nichol-
son." said the stranger.
1t was too late to avoid recognition;
and besides, as John was now actually
on the way home, it hardly mattered,
and he gave way to the impulse of his
nature. .
Great Scottr' he cried, "Beatsonw
and shook hands with warmth. It
scarce seemed he was repaid in kind.
so you're home again." said Beat
son." Where have you been all this long
timer"
I'm the States" said John-"Cali-
fornia. I've made my pile, though; and
1t suddenly struck me it would be a
noble scheme to come home for Christ
mas"
II see," said Beatson well, I hope
we'll see something of you now you're
here"
"Oh, I guess So" said John, little
frozen.
We'll. ta-ta," concluded Beatson, and
he shook hands again and went.
This was cruel first experience. It
was idle to blink facts; here was John
home again, and Beatson-Old Beatson
did not care rush He recalled Old
Beatson in the past-that merry and af-
fectionate lad-and their joint adven-
lures and mishaps, the window they
had broken with a catapult in India
Place, the escalade of the castle rock,
and many another inestimable bond of
friendship; and his hurt surprise grew
deeper. Well, after all, 1t was only on
a mans own family that he could count;
blood was thicker than water. he re-
membered; and the net result of this
encounter was to bring him to the door
step OF his fathers house, with tenderer
and softer feelings.
The night had come; the fanlight over
the door shone bright; the two win
dows of the dining-room where the
cloth was being laid, and the three win
dows OF the drawing-room where Maria
would be waiting dinner, glowed soft
lier through yellow blinds. 1t was like a
vision OF the past. All this time of his
absence, life had gone forward with an
equal foot, and the fires and the gas
had been lighted, and the meals spread,
at the accustomed hours. At the accus-
toned hour, too, the bell had sounded
thrice to call the family to worship.
And at the thought pang of regret
for his dement, seized him; he remem-
bered the things that were good and
that he had neglected, and the things
that were evil and that he had loved
and 1t was with prayer upon his Inns
that he mounted the steps and thrust
the key into the key-hole.
He stepped into the lighted hall, shut
the door softly behind him, and stood
there fixed in wonder. No surprise of
strangeness could equal the surprise of
that complete familiarity. There was
the bust OF Chalmers near the stair
ratings. there was the clothes brush in
the accustomed place: and there. on the
hat-stand, hung hats and coats that
must surely be the same as he remem-
Dered. Ten years dropped from his life.
as pin may Slip between the fingers.
and the ocean and the mountains. and
the mines, and crowded marts and
mingled races of San Francisco, and
MS own fortune and his own disgrace,
became, for that one moment, the fig
ures OF dream that was over.
ITO BE Continued,