Evening journal., 1900-01-09


green isle and of Jonnny-s future in
the dazzling land Of independent man.
hood. As the night came on tho talk
awindlcd to a mere thread OF dis
course that grew less bright and
sunny. rs the sunshine faded in the
sky.
At last the old man said: Come.
boy, let's be moving along toward the
shop. It's getting little cold out
here"
Slowly they wended their way to.
ward home-or all that in the whole
world could take on this name for
them
The windows Of the little shop look.
ed dark and forbiddlng. The old man
knocked at the door. quietly az first.
and then little louder-poor soul, he
was afraid TO venture upon more than
an apology of a knock-and then
awaited in dumb patience the storm of
angry words which he so well knew
would follow the opening. lie held
the child's hand tightly IN his own. II
seemed a trine odd that the storm
did not break on the instant
Suddenly the door was thrown open
/ with jerk and the face OF an angry
woman confronted them. She was
! framed into the bright light, and look.
ing past her into the open room be-
/ yond the shop they could see a we'll
filled table. A Whit of the hot coffee
that was borne to their hungry senses
made the outer world seem darker
and colder than it had been before.
l. There was a pause. The boy took "a
step forward, but a firmly set foot
barred his way.
Il though SOL" said the woman.
L. Now I'm through with this. once and
for all. You hear? I'm done with the
both of yous. You're no good to me.
eating my bread and earning none for
yourselves. You can just clear out.
You can't come in now and you can't
come In again. Git now and never
come back"
For the second time that night the
door was slammed in their faces.
The old man looked up the street
and down again. He looked at the
lowering sky and then at Johnny He
took out his old pipe. filled It me
chanically and put IL back into his
locket. Never come hackl" Was
This bis baby Annie OF so long agog
The words seemed TO ring ia his ears
with curious persistence. like the
buzz OF insects on a summer night
lie gazed at the blank face OF the for
bidding door as though the pain at his
heart would force Il open. He felt a
little tug at his hand and saw upon
the pinched face npturned to his a
quivering lip and eyes upon which
. was the dew Of gathering tears.
"Grandad what did aunt Annie
mean? Is she mad againg I'm so
tired and little hungry. Amt we to
80 in, grandad?" The big tears be-.
gan to run slowly down his cheeks.
} They were walking along the empty
! streets now. The little feet Jagged
; and the boy hung back with a tired
air
"I'll carry you a little. Johnny. I
? guess you're about wore out" He
b gathered the light body up into his
arms-as he had carried Annie once.
: He had no definite destination in
! mind. 1t mattered little where he
)l went now. There was no roof under
Z the sky to welcome him tonight
e There was nowhere on this side OF thc
ocean, a tie of zinship to draw him Id
= itself. His heart was as heavy as his
! head was light.
e The air had grown colder as he
e moved on toward the dock and he
saw before him the wide and emit,
4 slip just beyond. Peace brOoded up
= on its surface; rest seemed to be tho
= invitation Of its deepening waters
l. There was nowhere upon its expanse
4 the angry voice Of an ungrateful child
no room within its eternal majesty fol
O. human passions of the littleness Of hu
q man strife The boy was asleep IN
4 the tired old arms. and a white face
A was uDtmned to the sky.
y The eyes Of the old man filled with
q tears. He ought to be with his dear
e mother" he whispered, and then there
/. came a thought of his own mother in
3. the far-off days, and of the wife he had
l. loved, who Was asleep tonight under
the green old sod.
J. The world seemed to sink away
d then, and he and the boy were alone
with his memories and the quiet wa
It ters before them. He moved SLOWLY
# to the edge Of the wharf.
with his mother he whispered I,
L himself. There's no room for us here
/ and want to go"
II He gathered the boy more closely
d into his arms and kissed the cold ant
e sleeping face. There was one look a
the sky, a ripple upon the surface o
d the water-and that peace which pass
e eth understanding flowed into thes,
e two retired souls.--N Y. Mail and lex
e press.
d. xiIfed ~ Ante