Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-02-23


voice rang over ;he ae.ds: "Lemu-el.
Lemr-ei oh. IemU-eii'
Was il str7r ger tAe bearded men
that ore Cay csrrc 1it~ the road. with
Sow s.eps. 20 kirg re ard there as
if half in q dream? sck from tie hills
,r,ss faint echo mucli" and he
started ard prcssef forward. he
turned uuerrtng'y i-:o the gate. pcssc6
through tie open Co. ~. and. throwing
airse'f on his knees hurie5 his face in
the old woman's lap. rs she sat by the
tab'c. "Oh. mother. mother."
why. fatheri" she said. with on.
a faint surprise iu her tone. she haii
put out her hand rs IL 10 stroke his
hair. then drew IL back. The man ros,
and brushed his sleeve across his eyes
"She does not know me-"
Mary stood and grasped The table.
looking az him sreechlessiy FOR mo-
ment Later she l-oke cut: "Oh.
Iem. is il you2 Why. why have you
never sent us WORD an these years."
Never sent a wordi" be echoed.
Didn't I write again and again and
this is all got-mv own letter re-
turned" and he drew from his pocket
an Old envelope with postmarks of an
cicnt date.
"Oh. father," Mary murmured. ar-
/ then she turned away 20 stop the fast
| flowing tears.
where is father?" the man asked
sterner note coming into his voice.
"In the churchya I'd. this many
year" she answered. And he sat down
heavily.
The Old woman glanced az the new
| comcr furtively. hut silently. The
other two fell into talk in low. sup
| pressed tones. going over briefly the
life that lay between this and their
parting.
ayes. I sowed Wild oats enough at
first" the man said. "but managed 10
work my way across the ocean, and
then there came over me great dis
gust Of myself and my evil ways. Faith
er was hard enough on me-but was
wrong. too. very wrong. and Tor moth
er's sake I should have been patient
and tried 20 Go better. Please God my
boy shall have no such experience"
'Your boy ?" Mary asked eagerly. her
b face lighting up.
AYE. my boy-bless him. He's a
great lad. Well 7 settled down 81
England. in good. sizeah'e village
p after awhile. and I Gid fairly wei.
e Then I married and we had this ou'
boy and girl"
where are your wife and Chi ,rcu %
lie turned his face away for mo
ment 20 conceal its quiver.ng. "rl
boy Is with me-the other two lie uu
= der the sod. When they were con
T. Lemuel and I didn't care 20 stav. =
b we've been wandering a bit. Then !
p came over me that 7 must see The o.
place once more. and here am"
"But where is your boy2" presse
Mary.
o Hes down at the hotel. Iiust want
" ed to walk around and take my bca,
u ings erst-it's all so changed eNcer
J. this house"
$ eyes. mother always wanted th
q kept just the same against yen So
= back. How like you've grown 20 fatl
q er. Lem. Is your boy like you?"
q At every mention OF his son the man
~ face lighted up. "Yes. I suppose he
o like me some. but he's talleraud rosie
'r tco siuce he's English born. and Will,
I see look OF the mother in him
- hihS Hih4- Malg tA4SN- III pa
q. ing 10 see him"
" Yes. TT go and fetch him now"
nj said. rising. Its seldom we're 50 lor
5 separated"
CT So she hustled about tidying up q
ed always neat little house and lockii
~ into the glass 10 give some touch Of IL
er provement To her own person NJ appeo
al ance. of which. poor soul. she scarce
rc ever thought. but she had . suede
wish 20 be pleasing in the stran.
er. young eyes.
he The mother wandered around res
rn lessly. going again and again TO q
IL door and looking ont toward the hi
m but saying no word. And thus III
he waited. At last the click Of the Ga
lly sounded and the two. father and 50
ne came up the path, the latter looki'
Pa around with questioning eyes. As n
se- entered a wild cry rang out. and I
re- Old woman threw herself upon the L
I'd with passionate caresses. eSelaimi
'ut unconsciously in the words OF Ser
10 ture:
in. 20 my son! my son! He was de
ol- and Is alive again! He was lost and
oy. found"
ler "Humor her, lad" the father WI
'rd pered, and the boys rosy cheeks gr
He roster as he stopped 10 her embrace.
'es, Then she drew away. yet sill ciil
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