The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1901-08-15


to me and said you had come back, I"
he cried in querulous tone.
Eyes, I have come back" returned
Mary as she bent again over her
cakes.
'It's really you, Mary. is it?''
EYES,"
Muttering softly to himself, the old
man turned from the doorway and
sought his accustomed place by the
freside.
AS he seated himself smile crept
over his features. 1t was a smile of
triumph.
When Mary had the meal quite
ready. she left affairs in charge of the
young woman and sought her father.
He looked up as she paused in the
doorway. He had been nodding at the
fire. The smile of triumph still lin
gered on his wrinkled face.
$50 you've come back, MaryY he
said again, as II he loved the sound Of
the words.
Eyes, father"
II knew you would" cried the old
man, II knew you would! I 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, Maya bitter
world for those that disobey and rise
against their elders and flaunt their
foolish PRIDE"
"The world is very much what we
make it, father"
"And what have you made of it. Ma
ryY'
81 have tried to make the best Of it..
father"
"And you have come backw
eyes, father"
The smile of triumph deepened and
widened.
"You have come back, as I 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 shelter,
and you have come back. knew it;
knew it all these years. 1 knew the
punishment of the prodigal would
break your naughty spirit. 1 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 false one. Look
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 I 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 am about
to tell you. 1t Is the story of woman
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 l had shown my
independence. You called 1t a wicked
pride, but 1t was that that kept me up
and spureed me on. The great city
seemed cold and forbidding, but l did
not despair. l found a place where
honest work was honestly rewarded. 1
was faithful and loyal, and my serv-
ices were appreciated. 1 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 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 married woman"
Eyes, father"
"You have a home"
Eyes; a beautiful home"
"Children?"
81 had two, but God took one from
me. 1t was that, l think, that turned
my thoughts to you. We have boy,
a sturdy fellow of IL. 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-
toni"
eyes, father; Philip Hamerton."
The old man nodded his head.
81 shall not forget the name," he
muttered. 1T 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 - tho old man MR.