The Elk Mountain pilot., 1903-03-17


as you used to be. The city can't af-
ford to lose good workmen like you,
They're too scarce!" and he smiled
genially as he signaled his horse to
trot on.
Yes; he was getting old. Bernard
Dunn realized that fact as he drew his
sleeve across his eyes. which strange
mist had blinded several times during
the afternoon; but he was not going
to stop until plump 5 o'clock. he
thought, for his heart was in his work,
as it had ever been.
If America had done well by Supt.
Merrill, it has certainly done well by
Bernard and his children, and with
gratitude he pondered the superintend-
ents words. letting his mind run on
his comfortable home, his steady work
and the good wages which it brought
him. and then to his children-the old
est daughter beautiful woman, wife
of the judge of the circuit court; his
Oldest son pastor of fiourishing par
ish in a nearby town; another son
surgeon studying in the hospitals
abroad; a daughter who, as buyer in
the lace department Of a big Boston
house, commanded a salary larger
than that of many a government con-
sul-all we'll and doing well, except
the youngest child! Alas and alack!
Where was he to-day, his birthday? No
wonder the mist rost before the old
mans eyes, shutting out the sights in
the city streets.
That they had all spoiled the lad
the father remembered with a sigh,
but who could resist his sway, hand
some young tyrant of the household
as he grew to be, accepting as his
right the sacrifices of his brothers and
sisters; he. his mothers idol, his
fathers pride!'
The college where his. brothers had
received their education seemed too
slow and steady-going for him, and
So in the fullness of time, he had been
sent to Yale, and had established him
self in luxurious quarters, bent upon
getting all the good time there was
out of life. Slowly but surely the
knowledge forced itself upon the ador-
ing little family at home that all was
not as it should be, and there came a
time when boyish escapades were ex-
changed for disgraceful and dishonor-
able conduct, and then his father had
interfered.
1t hurt the old man even in mem
ory to recall the rebuke which he had
felt obliged to give his son. and the
sullenness with which it had been re-
ceived. That very night the lad had
disappeared-ten years ago, and not
one word had been heard from him
since.
Every 18th of March the lads moth
er had prepared for him those little
birthday dainties which he used to
like in the old days. when dainties
meant luxuries to the struggling fam
lily.
Each Patrick's night during the
nine years the old man had gone hope
fully homeward straining his eyes for
glimpse of his wife, as he pictured
her, coming out to wait for him at the
gate with the CHEEKY announcement:
Father. dear, our boy has come back
to us,"
1t was almost time to go now, and
unbidden the picture rose in his mind
THE poor wife, God help her, 1t
comes hardest on herl" he said tender
ly, as he thought lovingly of the wom-
an who had been the joy of his youth,
the pride of his manhood and the So
lace of his later years. And then, with
deep sigh at memory Of his absent
boy, he added:
May God guard him il he's living,
and receive his soul if he is dead!"
and the old man went solemnly about