The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-11-19
Al MopERN PRonIGAL.

The old man slightly started, and his keen gray eyes rested on the strangers face.
 'It's Jim, is it?''
 Its Jim. How's dad?"
 "No complaint" The old man paused and grimly smiled. Come back hun gry?"
 'sVery hungry, dad"
 T said you would"
 There was a note of triumph in the old mans voice.
 That's what you said, dad. You were right. I am hungry. Been get ting up an appetite for the last one-and- twenty years"
 He slipped down from the fence, a tall man with little stoop in his shoul- ders and a tinge of gray in his thick hair, and fell into step with the older man.
 Things haven't changed much,'' said the father.
 You haven't, dad.'
 The rugged old features relaxed in a frosty smile.
 That cord of hickory wood you ran away from waited for you for twenty years. sawed and split it myself last year.,
 Sorry, dad. I always meant to come back and finish the job. But no doubt the wood grew tired waiting."
 T grew tired waiting" said the old man. ...~.
 There was little silence. How has the world used you, dad?'' T told you I make no complaint Live still got my health and I've got the farm. It keeps your aunt and me. owe five hundred dollars borrowed mon- ey."
 Secured by mortgage?"
 NO. My personal note." He paused and looked at his son. "I'Ve no money to lend" he said. "And none to in- vest.''
 The stranger laughed. Good" he said. That's very fail warning" He looked at the old mans bent figure. Any objection to shaking hands with me, dad?' The. old man hesitated. .. .. 'I've been waiting long time tc have you come back and say you were sorry for your disobedience.' he said. .Of course I'm sorry, dad;" the youn' ger man cried, and their hands met And yet I know I should certainly dc it all again."
 The old mans face hardened. .., You're worse than the prodigal," ht harshly murmured. "He repented." They were near the porch. They hat walked slowly. An elderly woman who was watching them, came from thu kitchen and awaited their approach. The younger man smiled and wavet his hand. t.
 Aunt Mary wears we'll" he said. The older man slightly nodded. Tn, woman on the porch regarder then anxiously. @
 Jim has changed a good deal, hasn' he, Abner?"
 'No,'' the old man sharply replied The hasn't" The woman softly sighed. F. Dinner is Waiting," she said.
 It was not a cheerful meal, although the newcomer did something toward relieving the depression. The old mai said but little, and when the meal wa ended he arose and muttered somethinl about work that required his attention and left the newcomer with Aunt Mary Father doesn't forget,1 the strange said. 'No,' said the woman. "He has littl to think about, and that's one of tn memories that comes closest to him."
 Poor old dad. Perhaps you don know that have written to him seve ral times and received no answer. Bu I've managed to keep posted regardin his health and his prosperity. Can yo1 keep a secret, Aunt Mary?" .. T should enjoy the sensation of try ing it. she vehemently answered.
 You know he had borrowed five hun dred dollars.''
 "Yes." Well, loaned it to him."
 You, Jim?"
 .'Yes, Aunt Mary. I found out he wa little pinched for money, and so sen the stuff to Squire Allen, and told hir to offer it to dad. See, here's the can celed note. Put it where he'll find some day"
 The woman regarded him with dazed expression.
 For mercy sake, Jim Halford, don tell me you've prospered"
 T can't complain, Aunt Mary"
 Tt will break your fathers heart t know it, Jim. He's been clinging to tn idea all these years that you woul come back poor and hungry" can't help that, Aunt Mary. Fer tune has been very kind to me-"
 The woman suddenly laughed.
 "It's quite too good to be true. Di you make it out of poetry or story wri ting?"
 The man laughed merrily.
 T gave all that up long ago." he ar swered. I'm serious man of bushes now. Father didn't like my poetry, di he?"
 "He said it would bring you to rag and the poorhouse. I heard him say many times"
 Father didn't understand me. W didn't understand each other. Br there; that's a bygone that can't be re called.
 And you've prospered, Jim Halfort I'm almost as much surprised as Brotf CT Abner will be. But tell you, Jin it's going to hurt him dreadfully whe he knows it. He's set his old heart o seeing you come back poor and wortf less"
 "I'll have to break it to him by dt