The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-07-25

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 a welcane and a shelter
and you have come back. l knew it;
| knew 1t all these years. | knew the
punishment of the prodgal would
break your naughty spirit. l 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 fatner.
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 of? 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 prodgal that | am about
10 tell YOU 1t is the story of woman
who went cut into the world and fought
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 | went from you"
she resumed, Il was determined that |
would not return until had shown my
independence. You called 1t a wicked
pride but 1t was that that kept me up
and spurred 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 l became deep
IL interested. Perhaps 1t seemed fool
ISL. 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"
YES, father"
you have homer
"Yes; beautiful home"
"ChildrenT
Il had two, but God took one from
me. 1t was that, think. that turned
my thoughts to you. We have n boy.
sturdy fellow of 10. 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-
ton|
"Yes, father; Philip Hamerton.'
The old man nodded his head
Il 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.
''lou husbandr'
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 | have been his ad-
wiser and his faithful helper"
Coming here?' cried the old man.
"les. father. | left him behind at
Judge korthmore'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 tender
smile overspread her face.
The old man dropped bis gaze. His
hands trembed.
Mary" he murmured. sit was
wicked dream-a wicked dream
She was on her knees by his side In
flash. with a loving hand caressing
his gray locks.
Yes, my father" she softly said "it
WAS a wicked dream, and. like all
wicked dreams. the sooner we can for
get ii the better But, father dear. let
me have the prodeal's kiss of forgive
ness"
"Alaryr' the old man brokenly muir.
INJURED
There" she cried as she arose. And
now Tor the supper-the supper that is
10 show you thar | haven't forgotten
the lessons | learned in those early
years Hank. There is Philip. hear
his footstep on the gravelea 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.
story Told by the Bones.
HE was probably a man Of means,
with large family of daughters the