Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-03-13


the task OF leaving the open trench for
the night. directing Number Seventeen
ns he lighted the warnin. lanterns and
pu, up the danger sign.
II seemed foolish to hope: yet. as he
ncarcd his coHcy cottage. with Its well.
kept grounds. Bernard Dunn strained
his eyes. ms he had 80 often done be-
fore. for sight of the good wifo
standing In the doorway ready to an.
nouncc the glad tidings which he 50
ycarncd TO hear.
hut. also! She was not there!
Perhaps II was the disappointment:
perhaps. MS the superintendent had re-
minded him. he was getting old: bus
again the confusing blur came before
his eyes. and he leaned heavily upon
the gntc. too dazed TO 20 farther.
After time he was sensible OF .
strong arm supporting him: and then
he lost himself In the mysterious iim'
bo OF inconsistencies
When next he opened his eyes 10
was to gaze upon the familiar objects
In the little home parlor. and IL seem.
cd but natural that the big. blond
giant. well dressed and prosperous.
looking. should be Gerald. standing
there beside his fearful. but radiant.
mother: and there were mutual cx.
plantations. during which tn, mists
that had cloudcd the old mans eyes
and brain seemed to be enectunlly dis
sipatcd by the sun Of happiness.
His was not tale OF fabulous mug.
gets picked up in the gold fields OF
Nome; but more prosaic one OF
years of work In the great wheat ware
houses skirting the river front ut Ia
coma. all the time he had cherished in
his heart the bitterness OF resentment
against the father who had rebuked
him. and the determination to remain
away from his home and those whom
he loved with n great. heart sick love.
in spite of his boyish obstinacy.
Then had come a day when his
steadfast honesty had been the means
of saving from great fraud and loss
the men who employed him: and as
the senior partner had called him into
his private Office to acquaint him Of
the promotion which meant a share in
the partnership later on, the elder
man had said. with gravity:
II praise you. Dunn. but most OF all
I praise the father and mother who
brought you up! II you had not had
good training, a man OF your years
could never have resisted the tempta-
tion to go in with our enemies and to
ruin us while helping YOURSELF"
And then had the obstinacy of tho
boys heart been touched with grati-
tude and love for the mother who bore
him, and. like another prodigal. Ger
aid Dunn had said pcnitently with
himself:
81 will arise and go unto my faith
err"
He had brought his mother little
keepsake from the West-a shamrock
in green enamel. with a great diamond
blcZing like dewdrop in its leaves.
Again there arose n mist before Ber-
nard Dunn's eyes: but this time II was
the blur of happy tears; and, as he
eased his tired head and let his gaze
wander to the opposite wall-where
hung the same Madonna clasping tho
Christ. child which the orphans In Che
home revered-in this case n gift
which one of the elder sons had
brought his mother from the Eternal
city-there came back to him tho
promise of Gods holy word which had
been his solnce and his hope during
his years OF anxiety and doubt and
suspense as to the fate Of his youngest
born.
"For have never seen the righte-
Gus man forsaken, nor his seed beg
glng bread"