Smyrna times., 1901-07-17

L knew you would" cried the old
man, Il knew you would. I told Won
you'd be glad to come back"
Il am glad to come back. father"
The old man nodded as If with salts
faction.
Its bitter world, Mary-a bitter
world for those that disObey and rise
against their elders and fiaunt their
foolish pride"
1.-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 back?"
'Yes, father"
The smile of triumph deepened and
widened.
'YOu have come back, as l said Won
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. 1 knew it:
l knew it all these years. l knew the
punishment of the prodigal would
break your naughty spirit. 1 knew
you would ccNae 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 ta-
bic 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 prOdigal sup
plicant? Do l look like one whom the
world has cast off? No, my father; ]
am an honest woman and a 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 un-
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, Il 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 l did
not despair. l found a place where
honest work was honestly rewarded. l
was faithful and loyal, and my serv-
ices were appreciated. | made friends
as l rose, one of them young man in
whose ambitious hopes l became deep
ly interested. Perhaps it 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. "YOul
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 married woman|
Eyes, father"
"You have homer
eyes; a beautiful home"
"ChildrenY
81 had two, but God took one from
. me. 1t was that, 1 think, that turned
, my thoughts to you. We have a boy
a sturdy fellow of u. Do you care It
know his name? 1t is Gilbert Blai
> Hamerton. Some day you shall Sc
q him."
( The old man WINGED little.
p Your husbands name is Hamel
D tOnY'
b "Yes, father; Philip Hamerton."
: The old man nodded his head.
e 81 shall not forget the name," h
muttered. 1T is the same as the neV
: senator's"
d Mary smiled.
O '"The same name and the same maj
n father"
d The old man started up.
}: "Your husband"
r "Your son-in-law, father"
"Your husband" the old man mu
INJURED; "the idol of the public, the ma
who may be PRESIDENT
IS 16S, IdIneT, sdlu MARY anu We
n he comes he will tell you that in all
has accomplished l have been his a.
r. wiser and his faithful helper"
Coming hereY cried the old man.
>" "Yes, father. l left him behind
pr Judge Northmore's, with instruction
Dr. to follow me in an hour. He will SOC
be here"
N The old man clutched the arms
rr his chair and stared at his child. III
id scales were dropping from his eye
The blindness of prejudice was gon
He saw that she was beautiful wol
ne an, straight and supple of figure, Gle
d. of eye, with dignity and character e
I'd pressed by every movement A war
wave surged across his old heart.
And as he caught her glance tend
n smile overspread her face.