Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-08-28
said again, as If he loved the sound Of

Yes, Iatner.
II knew you would" cried the old
man, Il knew you would! told you
you'd be glad to come back"
IL am glad a. come back, father"
The old man nodded as IL with salts
faction.
Its a bitter world, Mary-a bitter
world for those that disobey and rise
against their elders and faunt their
foolish pride.'
'The world is very much what we
make 1t, father"
"And what have you made of it, Ma.
ryT
Il have tried to make the best of It,
father"
"And you have come backY
Eyes, father"
The smile Of triumph deepened and
widened
"You have come back, as 1 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 welcome and shelter,
and you have come back. l knew it;
l knew 1t 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
1 yunrdc nd hr nv,Iy ho al To- he oh
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 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 prodigal 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 l should be ashamed. 1t Is not
the story Of prodigal that l 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 l went from you,"
she resumed, 81 was determined that l
would not return until had shown my
independence. You called 1t wicked
pride. but 1t 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 it seemed fool
ish, but we fancied we could be of
greater help to each other IL 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 womanY
Eyes. father"
"You have a home"
Eyes; beautiful home"
"Children?'
81 had two, but God took one from
me. 1t was that, think, that turned
my thoughts to you. We have boy.
a sturdy fellow Of II. Do you care to
know his name? 1t is Gilbert Blair
Hamerton. Some day you shall see
him."
The old man WINGED a little.
your husbands name Is Hamer-
ton?'
"Yes. father; Philip Hamerton."
The old man nodded his head.
~ 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 husbandw
"Your son-in-law, father"
"Your husband" the old man MUIR
INJURED; ''the idol Of the public. the man
who may be PRESIDENT
Eyes, father" said Mary. "And when
he comes he will tell you that in all he
has accomplished have been his ad-
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 tender
smile overspread her face.
The old man dropped his gaze. His
hands trenibled.
"Mary," he murmured, sit was a
wicked dream--a wicked dreamv'
She was on her knees by his side in