The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-07-19
said again, as If he loved the sound of

Il knew you would" cried the old
man. II knew you would! told you
you'd be glad TO come back"
~ am glad to come back. father
The old man nodded as If with salts
faction.
"It's bitter world. Maya bitter
world for those that disobey and rise
against their elders and faunt their
foolish pride"
THE world is very much what we
make 1t. father"
"And what have you made of IL, Ma
ry|'
II have tried 10 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 | 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 welcome and a shelter,
and you have come back. | knew it;
i knew ii all these years. knew the
punishment Of the prodigal would
break your naughty spirit. knew
you would come back"
His voice had risen as his vehemence
increased, bur IL dropped nj 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
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 off? No, my father;
am an honest woman and a good wom-
an, 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. 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 | went from you"
she resumed. Il was determined that l
would not return until l had shown my
independence. You called it a wicked
pride, but it was that that kept me up
and spuircd me on. The great city
seemed cold and fOrbidding, but / did
not despair. | found a place where
honest work was honestly rewarded. L
was faithful and loyal, and my serv-
ices were appreciated / made friends
as | rose. one Of them a young man in
whose ambitious hopes | became deep
iy 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 a married woman?"
Yes, father"
"You have homer
Eyes; a beautiful home"
"ChildrenT'
IL had two, but God took one from
me. It was that, | think, that turned
my thoughts 10 you. We have boy,
n sturdy fellow Of -. 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
tonT
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 husbandw
"Your son-in-law, father"
"Your husband" the old man MUIR
who may be PRESIDENT
Yes, father" said Mary. and when
he comes he will tell you that in all he
has accomplished | have been his adj
wiser and his faithful helper"
Coming here?" cried the old man.
Eyes, father | 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 blindness of prejudice was gone.
He saw that she was beautiful wom-
an. straight and supple of figure, clear
of eye, with dignity and character ex
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. cit was a
wicked dream-a wicked DREAM