Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-08-15

You have come back, &s l said y01
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. | knew it;
knew it all these years. l knew the
punishment OF the prodigGl would
break your naughty spirit. / knew
you would come back"
His voice had risen as his vehemence
increased, but 1t dropped at the closing
words, and he sank back il Il, c..aA'
Then Mary went around the liItIe Ia
BILE 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 | look like one whom the
world has cast OF? No, my father;
am an honest woman and good wom-
an, and there is naught in my past OF
which | 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, 81 was determined that l
would not return until l had shown my
independence. You called 1t q wicked
pride, but IL was that that kept me up
and spurred me on. The great city
seemed cold and forbiddin9, but did
not despair. l found a place where
honest work was honestly rewarded.
was faithful and loyal. and my Serv-
ices were appreciated. l made friends
as l rose, one Of them a young man In
whose ambitious hopes l became deep
ly interested. Perhaps 1t seemed fool
ish, but we fancied we could be OF
greater help to each other II 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 womanT
"Yes, father"
you have homer
"Yes; a beautiful home"
"ChildrenT
81 had two, but God took cne from
me. 1t was that, / think, that turned
my thoughts to you. We have q 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 little.
Your husbands name is Hamer-
tonY
"Yes, father; Philip Hamerton."
The old man nodded his head.
81 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 husband"
"Your son-in-law, father"
"Your husband" the old man muir
INJURED; 'the idol Of the public, the man
who may be PRESIDENT
"Yes, father" said Mary. "And when
he comes he will tell you that in all he
has accomplished l have been his Sd-
wiser and his faithful helper"
Coming hereT cried the old man
"Yes, father. left him behind ut
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 eI-
pressed by every movement. A warm
wave surged across his old heart
And as he caught her glance a tender
smile overspread her face.
The old man dropped his gaze. His
hands trembled.
MARY" he murmured, at was q
wicked dream-a wicked dreamW
She was ON her knees by his side In
\ fash, with a loving hand caressinG
his gray locks.
Yes, my father" she softly said, "it
was q wicked dream, and, like all
wicked dreams, the sooner we can for
get II the better. But father dear, let
me have the prodigals kiss Of forgive
ness"
Mary" the old man brokenly mur-
INJURED.
'"Therer she cried rs she arose. And
now for the supper-the supper that 10
20 show you that 1 haven't forgotten
the lessons l learned in those early
years. Hark! There is Philip! 1 hear
his footstep on the graveled walk"
The old man arose as she turned and
hurried to the door. There were tears
in his eyes.
Mary has come back" he murmured
very SOftly.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.