The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-31
THE RETURN OF MARY.

father"
And you have some back?"
Yes. father"
The smile of triumph deepened and
wideneG
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 10 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. I
knew it all these years. I knew the
punishment of the prOdigal va I'D break
your naughty spirit I knew YOU would
come back
His voice had risen as his vehemence
increased, but it dropped at the clos
ing words, and he sank back in the
chair, nodding and trembling.
Then Mary went around the little
table and faced her father.
Father, she said, and her voice was
clear and calm, you are quite wrong.
Your dream has been d false one.
Look a t me. my father" An6 she drew
herself uD before him and his smile
faded as he gaZe1 up at her with
troubled eyes. DO l look like the
prodigal supplicant? Do I look like one
whom the world has cast off? No, my
father. l am an honest woman, and a
good woman, and there is naught in
my past of which | should be ashamed
1t is not the story of a prodigal that
am about to tell you. It
IS the story of a woman who
went out into the world and fought
her way upward and kept herself
| unsmirched through the struggle. Your
dream Was all untrue. father She
paused and leaned her hand upon the
IA BILE when l went from YOU" she re-
sumcd, I was determined that I would
not return until l had shown my indie
pendence- YOU called it wicked pride
! but IL was that that kept me up and
Spurred me on The great city seemed
cold and forDidding, but I did not de-
spair- found q place where honest
work was honestly rewarded I was
faithful and loyal and my services We're
appreciated. ] made friends as | rose
/ one of then. Il young man in whose
ambitious hopes 1 became deeply in
terested- Perhaps it seemed foolish.
but we fancied We could be Of greater
help TO each other If we We're married.
Now we know that we We're right
| She paused again Your dream was
all untrue, my father.
The OLD mans smile had quite faded
But 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 %
Yes. a beautiful home"
''Chldren2'
Il 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 u. Do you care to
know his name? It is Gilbert Blair
Hamerton- Some day you shall see
i him
The old man WINGED little.
Your husbands name is HamertOn %
Yes. father Philip Hamerton.''
The old man nodded his head.
Il shall not forget the name" he
= . no pNK-
( senator's
( Mary smiled.
The same name and the same man,
! father"
The old man started up.
! Your husband"
Your son-in-Iaw. father
Your husband the old man muir
INJURED; the idol of the public. the man
i who may be president"
/ Yes, father. said Mary. and when
he comes he viii tell you that in all he
1 has accomplished I have been his ad-
: wiser and his faithful helper"
! Coming here?" cried the old man.
Yes, father. I 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
I blindness of prejudice was gone. He
3 saw ltldL she was u beautiful WO-n3Il,
straight and supple of figure, clear of
eye, with dignity ana character ex-
: pressed by every movement 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 trembled.
/ Mary" he murmured, lit was a
! wicked dream-a wicked dreaml''
She was on her knees by his side in
I a flash with a loving hand caressing
( his gray locks.
Yes. my father she softly said, lit
! was a wicked dream, and like all
wicked dreams. the sooner we can for
/ get it the better. But, father dear. let
/ me have the prodigaIs kiss of forgive
: ness"
Nary the cid man brokenly muir
I INJURED.
There she cried, as she arose. And
now for the supper-the supper that is
/ to show you that haven't forgotten
the lessons I learned in those early
/ years. Harki there is Phillip / hear
/ his footstep on the graveled walk
The old man arose as she turned and
hurried to the door. There we're. tears
/ in his eyes.
Mary has come back he murmured
very softly