The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-08-20
The Return
Of Mary.
BY W. z. ROSE.

eu! how rev changes 10 years 0aQ
wrought No doubt the greatest change
was to confront her within the old
home. She slipped through the I'M
locked doorway into the kitchen. There
was a young woman there, a young
woman who looked up with startled
eyes when Mary entered. But Mary
explained her presence In a few words,
and the young woman, whose heart
was tender, listened with q suspicion
Of tears in her eyes and gladly second
ed her suggestions. And Mary learned
\ that the young woman was the daugh-
ter Of a neighboring farmer, who had
come over to care for Gilbert Blair and
his home. No; the old man was not, as
Mary had feared, In failing health. He
was feeble, 1t was true, and kept to his
chair and his reading more, but he was
not ILL., Yes, he was In the sitting room
now in the old rocker by the fireplace.
The young woman had just fixed the
lamp for him, and he had taken up his
book. Would Mary go to him now?
No, Mary would wait little.
AS she looked about the familiar
room memories rushed upon her that
filed her eyes with tears-the gentle
mother who had passed away when she
needed a mother most; the aunt whose
rigid rule had imbittered the child's
life; the father whose iron will had
found in her will fully as strong and
whose harsh words had driven her
from his door and into the great world
! beyond Perhaps she had been wrong
to brave him as she did, but her soul
rebelled against the narrow limits Of
her life in the dull little hamlet. She
wanted knowledge; she wanted society.
There had been wordy strife, and she
had gone forth.
Later on, when she had established
herself in the city by the lake and the
cruel days of the early struggle seemed
passed, she had written to him, but he
had not answered. She wrote again.
Her letter was returned. He was very
hard and very unforgiving. Occasion
ally she heard of him In indirect ways.
Once she met man from the neigh
borhood, and he told her that her ia
Their never spoke of her and never per-
mitted her name to be mentioned In
his hearing.
And so the years passed, 10 of them,
and then great longing to see her ia
Their came to her. 1t came to her after
the death of her child. And so she
was here.
Mary put huge apron over her trav-
oIs,<, duoce opd xryap% ~ Shn
had not forgotten her cunning. The
abiding places of the dishes came back
to her; the recipes. of long ago were
swiftly recalled. The young woman
watched her quick movements with
fascinated eyes. Mary wanted to pre-
pare the evening meal alone, and she
had her way.
Presently she glanced a little anx-
iously at the clock. Then she smoothed
down her apron and went forward to
the sitting room door. The old man
did not hear her approach. She looked
at him a moment before she spoke. No;
he was not greatly changed-grayer
and thinner; that was all.
"Father," she said.
He looked around.
"Why, it's Mary" he said. Il was
Just dreaming of you. had fallen
asleep. So you have come back"
Mary did not move from the door
way.
eyes," she said. 81 have come back"
A whimsical smile fluttered across her
face. do you want wheat cakes for
supper tonight, fatherY'
The old man stared little. Then
he nodded and turned and looked closer
at his prodigal daughter. But she did
not wait for him to speak.
every WE'LL" she said and vanished.
She laughed as she came back to the
kitchen. There was suspicion of sad
ness in her merriment, but she nodded
as if satisfied with her reception.
at is the right way" she said.
She was busy with her cakes when a
slight noise in the doorway drew her
attention. She turned and saw her
father looking at her.
81 dreamed just now that you came
to me and said you had come back"
he cried in querulous tone.
Eyes, | have come back" returned
Mary as she bent again over her
cakes.
"Its really you, Mary, is it?"
eyes"
Muttering softly to himself, the old
man turned from the doorway and
sought his accustomed place by the
ireside
AS he seated himself smile crept
over his features 1t was smile of
triumph.
When Mary had the meal quite
ready. she left affairs in charge of the
young woman and sought her father.
He looked up as she paused in the
doorway. He had been nodding at the
fire. The smile of triumph still lin
gered on his wrinkled face.
$50 you've come back. MaryT he
said again, as If he loved the sound OF
the words.
Eyes, father"
81 knew you would" cried the old
man, Il knew you would told you
you'd be glad to come back"
III am glad to come back, father
The old man nodded as If with salts
faction.
ITS a bitter world, Mary-a bitter
world for those that disobey and rise
against their elders and fiaunt their
foolish pride"
'.The world is very much what we
make 1t, father"
And what have you made of 1t. Ma
ryY
81 have tried to make the best of it,
father"
''And you have come back2"
Eyes, 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
1 would find welcome and shelter,
and you have come back. l knew 1t;
| knew it 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, but 1t dropped at the closing
4 words, and he sank back in the chair.
/ Then Mary went around the little ta-
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