Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-08-01

81 knew you would cried the old
man, Il knew you would, | told YOU
you'd be glad to come back"
II am glad to come back, father"
The old man nodded as if with salts
faction.
Its a bitter world. Mary-a bitter
world for those tkat disobey and rise
against their elders and fiaunt their
foolish pride"
THE world is very much what we
make it, father"
And what have you made of il. Ma
ryT'
Il have tried to make the best of it.
father"
And you have come back
Yes, father"
The smile of triumph dcepened and
widened.
"You have come back, as l said you
would" cried the old man. you have
had your day of pride and folly, and
you have come to the husks and the
| humiliation. Then you thought of the
dear old home. the one place where you
would find a welcome and a shelter,
and you have come back. | knew it;
| knew it all these years. | knew the
punishment of the prodigal would
break your naughty spirit knew
! you would come back
! His voice had risen as his vehemence
increased. but it dropped at the closing
words. and he sank back in the chair.
Then Mary went around the little ia
Bile and faced her father.
Father" she said, and her voice was
clear and calm. you are quite wrong.
| Your dream has been a false one. Look
at me. my father" And she drew her
self up before him. and his smile faded
as he gazed up at her with troubled
eyes. DO | look like the prodgal sup
plicant? Do l look like one whom the
world has cast off? No. my father:
am an honest woman and good wom-
| an, and there is naught in my past OF
| which | should be ashamed. II is not
the story Of a prodigal that | am about
to tell you. 1t is the story of woman
who went out into the world and fought
her way upward and kept herself I'M
smirched through the struggle. Your
dream was all untrue. my father"
She paused and leaned her hand upon
the table when I went from you"
she resumed. II was determined that
would not return until | had shown my
Independence. You called it a wicked
pride, but it was that that kept me up
and spurred me on. The great city
seemed cold and forbidding. but | did
not despair. | found a place where
honest work was honestly rewarded.
was faithful and loyal, and my serv-
ices were appreciated. | made friends
as | rose, one of them a young man in
whose ambitious hopes became deep
ly interested. Perhaps il seemed fool,
ish, but we fancied we could be OF
greater help to each other If we were
married. Now we know that we were
right" She paused again. Your
dream was all untrue, my father"
The old mans smile had quite faded,
and there was no tenderness in his
voice.
Your pride is still your master" he
said But you are a married woman?"
Yes, father"
"You have home"
Eyes; a beautiful home"
Children"
II had two. but God took one from
me. 1t was that, think. that turned
my thoughts to you. We have a boy,
a sturdy fellow of -. Do you care to
know his name? 1t is Gilbert Blair
Hamerton. Some day you shall see
him."
The old man WINGED little.
your husbands name is Hamer-
TOM"
"Yes. father; Philip Hamerton."
The old man nodded his head.
81 shall not forget the NAME" he
muttered. "It is the same as the new
senator's
Mary smiled.
'The same name and the same man,
father"
The old man started up.
"Your husband!'
"Your son-in-law, father"
your husband" the old man muir
INJURED; 1.-THE idol of the public. the man
who may be president
"Yes. father" said Mary. And when
he comes he will tell you that in all he
has accomplished | have been his adj
wiser and his faithful helper"
Coming hereY' cried the old man.
"Yes, father left him behind at
Judge Northmore's, with instructions
to follow me in an hour. He will soon
be here"
The old man clutched the arms of
his chair and stared at his child. The
scales were dropping from his eyes.
The blindness of prejudice was gone.
He saw that she was a beautiful wom-
an. straight and supple of figure, clear
Of eye, with dignity and character ex-
pressed by every movement A warm
wave surged across his old heart.
And as he caught her glance a tender
smile overspread her face.
The old man dropped his gaze. His
hands tremhled.