Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-12-21
The Burden of Forgiveness.

The Burden of Forgiveness.
an elderly man came limping down the
Green Meadows pike. He carried bun
die knotted around with n faded hand
kerchief. II was just after a November
sunset, and a splendid light still shone
between tie mountain gaps. A few rust
c0i0red leaves wayered down the crisp
air. A star fared out over a bare and
swaying tree.
At the gate ;f the last house in Green
Meadows an elderly woman was stand
ing. She looked ~ the road mt the sound
0f the limping footsteps. The man halt
Cd and laughed uneasily.
Don't yo know me- Sara FOXT
She stared Mt him uncertainty, and
tlen with sudden recogntion:
is that yo'. Job Norris?"
We'll, it's a pretty note if 20 don't
know yO'r own brother, Sara Fox He
laughed uneasily again.
What yo' been dom with yo'self all
this timer The voice was an accusing
one.
Il stayed here, an then l stayed there,
ain -"
What yo' comm back fo'?''
We'll, thought I'd sort q settle down
now"
''Yo' better go back where yo' come
from. We done without 20 mighty well
He came step nearer. Flows
ADELAIDE gettin' aiongY"
'iFirst-cass. Her father left her the
house an the land, an she's worked like
man mornin' an night. She don't need
yo' a'-tall.'
''Yo' think she'll give me a bit o SOME
thin an nights ludgin'?'
No"
lie came still closer. She saw how
much grayer his hair was than hers.
Sara, ADELAIDE was mighty naggin' at
times"
Don't yo' 20 excusin' yo'self to me.
lob Norris. Yo' were lazy, an she was
naggin'. But what was the matter with
the baby, Id like to know
lie tramped on down the pike. She
looked after him 4 little bush At the
gate shook all ITS leatless stems with a
sort of thin, crying noise. The leaves
cracked out in the road. Ii seemed rs IL
there were ghosts about.
Job"
He stood still
If ADELAIDE won't have anythin to do
with You, come back here to me.
''All right, Sara"
Here and there the lamps were lit in
the village windows On one side the
gables showed solid and black against
the splendid west; on the other the east
lay like stretch of crystal beyond them
A woman came to front door and
called her children. \ dog ran after
Job, shifting and barking. His leg,
ached; he hogan to feel sorry for himself
Halfway down the only street and bach
in an orchard rose the house he knew st
well Its panes glittcred behind the
stripped apple trees lie opened the gatt
and followed the beaten path to the bacl
door.
The lamp that was set in the Kitchen
hat a
hricrS outside aud the apple AQughs he
You'd He drew behind the h@erS auc
out of the light. A good many thing,
went through his brain as he Waiteo
there. homeless. uncertain and yet witt
the air OF "A swaggerer. Several episodes
ar his aimleSs life came upoermoSt al
that moment, and he wondered what ht
wife would say il she ever heard 81
them. The dusk was closing specifically
around him He felt sorrier than eve
for himself.
a figure passed and repaSSed before tn,
Kitchen window Ii was that Of slim
girl, with her hair COiied ON the top "a
her head. She SauE as she went hacl
and forth. and her voice had Il thrill ljk
child's. He could almost underStan,
the words out there in the dusk. Tn
door opened and a foot sounded ON til
wooden steps. The girl called OUT:
Don't yo' bother ahout them shutter
tonight, mother I'm goin' to tend {
them rs soon as Ina through"
Shut the door, Marg'ret Ellen, No1
catch cold
Mrs Norris went carefully alorg til
side OF the house. closing the shutters on
after the ether. She came 10 the kirCl
en- window The girl was again singing
\ limping figure started up from benin
the rose bushes Don't b, frightened
ADELAIDE: its me"
The bar of golden light lay hctwee
them. They ctarcd across at each Other
where's that woman you went ava
wifh?"
Lawd, there wasn't any woman. Ad
lade. had as mu, h as / cod do to tax
care o. myself"
lie had been deboualr young fellow
and some memory of it came 10 him no,
as he stood therc swaggerng Ii
Strengthened up and tried 10 hold ra,
that wrath of his youth
What did go 90 away fo'f"
Il guess l couldn't think ot anythin
else 10 DO, ADELAIDE"
She mounted the stens aud Stoppr
with her hand on the knob of the dool
She was a tall woman; her height gay
her biblical aspect.
This land is mine. an this house
mine. an every stick of furniture is min,
Father left me some. an | worked TO tn
rest. | took the money 20 left benin
vG' when yO' run away from me an tn
baby an bought tombstone for yo'
folks ND there IN the churchyard
couldn't We used ii on myself Iii a
soon flung it out ON the pike"
Amt yo' goin' TO give me a bite q
bread. Ad'laide?'
mo. Go away from here, job Norris.