Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-06
Mary Hudson's Son.
Continued from last Saturday,.
By J. OTIS SWIFT.

feared the paper across the street
would have a beat in the morning.
AS Fun Ting entered the hot eye of
the editor lighted on him. Here was
Il scapegrace worthy his ire. If the
boy had not found the story-and of
course he hadn't-hc would drive him
out with call down that would at
least relieve his. the editors, pent-up
feelings.
"Well?" said the editor scowling
ominously.
Fun Ting laid the letter before him.
Tho man stared at it for minute and
then opened it. He grew white and
then red. He jumped up with roar.
He suspected some sort of a forgery.
Where did you get this
why, l went to the place where he
killed himself and looked around in the
bushes. as anyone would said the
boy unfiinchingly.
"Cadworth." shouted the editor, do
you know Blamford's writing?'
Yes. sir" And after a glance at it
the financial reporter said, THAT is
| his
Come on duty at noon tomorrow"
said the editor to Fun Ting in an en-
tirely different manner. Go up now
and interview Blamford's wife about
the suicide" Fun Ting went. He
didn't see the wife, but he saw the
butler, and returned with a good story.
And for four years he had not had
time to think straight. The editor
liked him. Fun Ting wouldn't fake.
He told the simple, straight truth in Il
plain style that made him friends
among those who presided at the copy
rca ding table.
| lie had not written to Title Bruce. He
wrote regularly to his grandm"th"r AMI
| she always managed to slip his letters
| into Titles hands in some way. Tillc
was frightened. and almost hcarthroken
when she found that her bantcring had
driven her young sweetheart from home
and into the many dangers of the great
city. She alternately hoped for him and
then gave up hope. She read the TRACE
dies in the metropolitan papers with h"r-
r"r. and once her heart sWcllcd with
| pride as she read of how the reporter Tor
the 'Exclaimer." one +. Ting from Maine
rad rescued many women and children
from burning snip i'll the harbor. Sn'
thought a great deal Of him. He was
with her waking and sleeping. and tn"
burden of h"r prayers was for his safety
Fun Ting met many charming and
lovely women in the course of his day
I in the metropolis. lie fen into tcmpt1-
i!tii ttu. blit tft ol line ann
her sweet face and honest heart kcptshiiu
from sin lilly as much as the excellent
training which his grandfather and
grandmother had given him.
And now. at eleven o'clock one Iun"
night, Fun Ting in his swell New York
summer suit. broadway pcrchcd non
handsome head. and his very metropolitan
and polished person resting in pcnSivr
attitude against one of the marble pillars
IF the Grand Central Station. was wait
ing for the starting Of the midnish;
r. Ting the crack reporter had sur
prised everyone by asking for vacation.
II" was going home TO Maine l." Sc
were very old. and a neiShbur had written
to the boy telling MIN that il would bring
| great sunshine into their hearts If he
would come down to oxford for little
| while.
All through the long night as the train
swept across Connecticut he lay awake
thinking over the old life, his walks and
talks with Title and the friends of the
mystic ravinc. 1t seemed an age since H."
had thrown himself down upon the bank
of the stream and comm med with me
friends of his childhood. He wondered Ii
Rulfo was still there, squat and h"meiy
and selfish as ever. And had Rama the
frog learned to walk upright yet
vt Worcester he got w and dressed
In Boston he had an hour to spare u"
that night Betty sent il to ,Tilie. asking
her to come over the next day
That night. after Fun Ting. looking
| very swell and happy. and good to see
had talked his grandparents to sleep ne
put on his hat and walked down the road
to the overgrown path to the ravine. In
four years the blackberries had oblitera-
( ted the path he had worn through the
prised to find just as he entered the
/ ravine. that the path by which Tile hah
/ ALWAYS come to meet him there was still
well worn and distinctly marked. The
moon was bright. and sifted down
through the branches overhead in graz
patches OF silver everywhere The d"ar
the ambitious frog. was there and
| Splashed into the brook as Fun startled
| the IA vine with his strong step.
"Hullo. RAMA called Fun Ting mer-
| rily.
There was a moments hush. and Their
the sound of Rama scrambling from the
Ting. is that you, old chap" he croaked
Sure said the boy. laughng-but at
on the old white stump. in great patch
OF moonlight That idea'ized her whoie
| figure, sat Tiie. her face aglow and her
soft chin resting in the palm Of her hand
while her elbow was on ner knee. she was
looking at him with tears of happiness
swimming in her gray eyes -
Neither spoke; but Title lie held out h thr
/ white hand and drew him down on inc
:TilIie." he said after little, 'Tilie.
dear, I have come for you.
| And | am ready. Fun ing. nave
waited for you. am proud of you; dear
oh so proud And knew you would come
| here tonight. We have all been waiting
| for you for an hour. Sir Reynard has
| been scurrying back and forth through
| tho woods between here and the house to
| tel us when you started. He and Skip
| per. your tame fox are great friends;
| They have arranged that all our oid
| friends should be here to welcome you.
Fun Ting listened and could hear the
| voices OF the sarsaparilla Plant. the
| Pitcher Plant. and all the other dehiZcii''
| calling him to listen to them. -
"Sometime." said Fun Ting: we VIII
build a rustic cottage here in the ravine.
The End.