The Elbert County tribune., 1903-01-22
THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN.
,cepyrlsA.. lscs. .sy Dsay s.ory pao. G,
BE- R. G. pITzER.


Ono hot August afternoon a trump
walked listlessly down a dusty Iowa
lane There was nothing about his
clothes nor general demeanor to dis
tinguish him from other tramps, yet
his face seemed prepossessing. and his
forehead was Intellectual. Finally he
cAmc within sight of q group OF trees.
whose green freshness spoke eloquent
~ Of rest. He increased his pace and
was soon seated on a shaded bank.
Behind him was picket fence. and
farther back was substantial farm
house. half hidden by its grove Of
trees. After lighting his black pipe.
the tramp clasped his hands behind his
head and gazed refectively into the
green leaves above him.
you'd better not let father catch
you there or-or-"
He had Strengthened up In surprise
Before him stood q self-confident
young woman. with features worry like
his own. A look OF wonder came Into
her eyes when she saw his face. and
she hesitated and stopped confusedly.
"You are Mary, are you not?" he
asked. his voice trembling with re-
pressed feeling.
"Yes, and you are-you arc"
"Will, come home again"
~Oh, Will WIFI You've come back
TO us agalnl You don't know how
we've missed you. willr' Needless OF
the dirt. she threw her. arms about his
neck and kissed him.
"Id hesitated. Mary. | didn't know
whether they'd want me now or not"
Indeed. VIII, It's you"
''In fact" he interrupted. Il wasn't
sure that was coming at any time.
| got as far as Glenwood, and then
had to walk over here and see If the
old place looked the same. But l
wasn't going 20 stop unless"
"Unless you were welcome" she
finished. "You are. viii. We need
you here. Father is growing old, and
mother wants her son. And-and Flor
ence-she's still Florence. dear"
He kissed her And they won't
mind my clothes?"
why, of course not, you foolish
boy. Come along, quickl We must
go and SEQ them"
Mary caught his hand and half
dragged him to the gate and down
the lane.
"oh. how you've changed" she
chattered. 81 didn't know you at first.
I took pity on you because father and
Tow hate tramps so. Wasn't that
fun?"
''Im glad that they won't cat this
tramp. anyhow. But you've changed.
too, Mary. Why. I've always thought
OF you In braids."
She tossed her head. Il took those
up the year you went away. You've
been gone four years. bad boy"
Don't talk about that. Mary. for l
want to forget it II | can. You had
better go In and tell mother"
Mary ran Into the house, and In an
instant white-haired old lady came
to be caught up In her sons arms.
The prodigal's homecoming was all
wished. VIII was home. and after
the first transports were over, the
quiet of absolute content settled down
on the farmhouse. Then he went to
his old room, untouched for four
years, and shaved and dressed him
self. When he came down stairs again
his father. still in his field overalls.
was pacing up and down the room.
The old gentleman's face lighted up
with pleasure when he caught sight
OF his son.
"Will," he said, "we1l forget the
past. was hasty, my son, and you
took after your father. l suppose" A
smile fiickered about the corners OF
his mouth for an instant. your
mother and got to know Florence
better afterwnrd. She's not like the
old man. always disliked Barnes
quarrelsome fellow--licked me when
a boy-don't forget such things. But
there. it's all right. You're all dressed
UP HIM! Hope you're not thinking OF
going over there tonight" r...
why. lid like to, father IT,"
"Well, l don't know. You'd better
stay at home tonight Barnes'll be