Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-03-08
The Town Reprobate.

The day Lucius Mcknight came PACK
IN town. after a term Of six years ana
four months in the penitentlary-he
had been good-time mana NUMBER
of citizens made it a point to DE DIT
the station. They wanted to see no"
he would brave it out.
He swung off the platform almost
before the train stopped, and lifted MS
hat frankly but unsmilingly to every
body he knew.
mo covert glances there" COM
mented one.
mo" said another, nor yet any
dragging of the left foot. Doesn't seem
to have any of the signs that you reau
about by which convict may be de-
tected.'
"Those weren't the government
clothes he had on, either" added the
first man. HE must have made the
raise of another suit
Meantime, the man of whom they
were talking was walking briskly up
the main street OF his village, speaking
gravely to all whom he knew. lie
passed the bank where he had once
been a trusted officer, and where he
had BETRAYED the trust reposed in him,
and he had looked up at its ungraclous
facade with casual interest.
Hes got nerve all right enough,
agreed his townspeople, unable to de-
eide whether to condemn or to admire
this hardihood of demeanor III had
been he, you would never have caught
me back in this town again"
Mcknight went to a cheap hotel far
I'D the street and asked for room.
Some of the meaner spirits rejoiced at
this. remembering how in the old days
there had never been anything quite
good enough for him at Red WILLOW.
But after he had secured his room he
came out again and walked toward the
country, passing the pretentious house
and grounds which had once been his,
and which he had sold for the benefit
OF his unwilling creditors In the days
Of his disgrace. He looked at the place
with interest. appeared to notice WIN
satisfaction some changes which had
been made in it, and then he walked
on.
There were plenty to mark where DC
went. Those who watched saw MIN
pass the chalk quarries, and strike the
old outrageous road that led to tEe
cemetery. He was going to his moth
er's grave. 1t was a fresh grave, Du
there were no flowers on 1t. lie wen
to a neighbours and borrowed hoe
and made the ground around about th'
for a
plants, and then he went back to town
At supper time he appeared at thu
table with the rest.
Some who had known him in the OLE
days tried shyly to make overtures.
Glad to welcome you back, Nc
Knight" said they. IF we can be
any service, call on us"
The thanks were made with
strange quietness which disconcerte'
those who received them. They fel
that in some way which they could no
understand the soul Of this man dwell
apart. 1t had known peculiar and per
haps terrible experiences. 1t wa
broodins in some solemn place OF 1t
own, and for the time being it was un
approachable.
Mary Lester, the school teacher, ha
a theory about 1t. 1T is not so cas-
to liberate the soul as 1t is the body.
she said. II suppose his soul has nc
yet got out OF its prison stripes"
There doesn't seem to be anythin
hang-dog about the man." observed tn
one who was talking to her.
"Why should there be-" she In
quired, with some spirit. HE mad
what restitution he could for his Grim
before he went to the penitentiary {
all. He has been punished as he d.
served suppose he reasons that this
helps to wipe out the score. After
child in my school has been punishe
according to his deserts / restore hi
to his rights and privileges. A mor'
coward would never have come bac
10 this town again. But Lucius M
Knight has como back here where Il