The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-12-06

the tower, the avcnu Of trees of the
sCaryl place in Carylville.
It looked just the same as ever; but
when he left the coach and was walk
ing up the approach, he saw that ey-
erything showed signs of decay. The
grounds were q mass of weeds; some
of the trees had been cut down; in
short, Caryl Hall was very different
from what it had been in his fathers
time. q
He mounted the steps and rang the
bell, something like remorsea in his
heart that he should have squandered
SO much.
A middle-aged woman, the sole re-
naming servant in the place, opened
the door, uttering an exclamation at
sight of "Mr. Ralph" and he pushed
past her, impatient to see his mother.
7 Where are they?" he asked.
""In the dining room; it's Just sup
per time" was the answer.
And he went along the well-remem-
bered passage. to the dining room,
which had been grand carved oak and
walnut-resplendent with. shining sill
yer. -
The oak and the walnut panelings
were still there, but all the other
grandeur had departed.
Two women sat at a small table at
the end Of the room. There was an
odor Of tea and hot cake in the air.
Both figures ros as Caryl appeared,
and the elder one uttered an exclama-
ton.
ut is Ralph!" and she came forward
to embrace him.
1T Is your long-lost child!!"" airily
said Ralph. Home returned to love
and thee mamma. Do I bring joy to
your fond hearth"
"Of course you do" was the reply.
"But where have you been, and what
did make you stay SO Pit has been diff
flcult for me to reply to everybody, as
II l knew where you were, when I had
not the remotest idea. I've mentioned
Baden, a general remark about the
Rhine, and so on, until I was at my
wits end, and everybody in Carylville
inquiring for MIR. Ralph"
"How kind Of them!" he said. II
suppose it was all affection and no Gu.
riosity on their parts. Is that Julia!"
The other figure came forward at
this, and extended her had, which
Ralph took, kissed her, and exclaimed,
in real earnest:
II vow, the Caryl's are a handsome
family, Jue! should say you had i'm.
proved, and there was nc particular
need of that; you we're beautiful when
I saw you last. Where in the deuce
are the men? I should say you ought
to have been snapped up long ago!"
THANK you, brother, you are very
good" said Julia, in q quiet, satirical
voice; "but men are not SO eager to
snap up a girl without q penny. Aid
then, again, there isn't a man In this
miserable little village"
"You ought to go to some large city,"
said Ralph. you'd find q parti there,
without doubt" =,
Zone can't go to a large city without
money-unless you have found the
way to do SO, Ralph,",was the meaning
reply.
Nonsense, Julia!" he responded.
Don't begin haunting me at the first
moment. l don't set up for a saint,
and If you were q man, I think you'd
not be much better than I am"
Il would go out into the world, at
least" Julia said.
Come, Ralph-come and have .
cup Of tea" interrupted Mrs. Caryl.
And please don't begin sparring as
500 as this"
The three sat down at the table.
which was very sparingly laid, and
when the mother mentioned the fact,
Ralph said:
Don't mention such q thing to me;
I've been or short rations myself too
much lately not to think this is lux
ury."
Reckless though he was, Ralph was
not sufficiently hardened not to feel
uncomfortable at the thought that
intruded itself very strongly here-that
it was owing a great deal to his guilt
Inexpensive habits that his mother
and sister obliged to scrimp IA
their daily food. But he allowed none
of that feeling to be seen. He gay and
chatty, told stories, made thegtw0l wo,
men laugh, and enlivened them great
~.
"'But- how did it happen. Ralph, that
you went to Europe so suddenly?"
asked Julia, looking sharply at her
brother.
Don't be curious, Jule," he said,
with perfect self-possession. "You
ought to know by this time that 1t is
not always for fair women to know
what brave men are doing. / was in q
scrape-that's enough to know"
well, I hope you'll tell the minis
ter's wife the same story that I did
about it, that's all. 'Twouldnt be
pleasant for them to differ in that re-
spect." {ss
Decidedly not! And IL youth kindly
mention to M your version Of the IT.