The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-03-18

do anything but walk carefully down n
hill, Mt least for two-thirds Of the way.
Through the village, In n cloud of dust,
we swept, catching n glimpse Of q well
known face here and there and flinging
a salutatiOn as we passed, leaving the
owner Of the face rooted to his place in
astonishment at the sight Of Graeme
whirling on In his old time, we'll known
reckless manner Only old Dune Nc
Leod was equal to the moment, for az
Graeme called out, Hello, Dunc!' the
old man lifted up his hands and called
back in an awed voice:
"Bless my soul! Is 1t yourself2"
islands his whisky well, poor old
chap" was Gracmc's comment.
AS we neared the church he pulled
up his team. and we went quietly past
the slcepers there, then again on the
full run down the gentle slope, over
the little brook and up to the gate. He
had hardly got his team pulled up be-
fore, flinging me the lines, he was out
over the wheel, for coming down the
walk, with her hands lifted high, was
a dainty little lady, with the face of
an angel. In a moment Graeme had
her I'm his arms. I heard the faint cry,
"My boy, my boy!" and got down on
the other side to attend to my off
horse, surprised to find my hands trem.
bling and my eyes full Of tears. Back
upon the steps stood an old gentleman,
with white hair and flowing beard,
handsome, straight and stately,
Graemc's father, waiting his turn.
welcome home, my lad" was his
greeting rs lie kissed his son, and the
trcmor Of his voice and the sight of the
two men kissing each other, like wom-
en-, sent me again to my horses heads.
There's Conner, motherV' shouted
out Graeme. and the dainty little lady,
In her black silk and white lace, came
out to me quickly, with outstretched
hands.
"You, too, are welcome home" she
said and kissed me.
1 stood with my hat off. saying some
thing about being glad to come, but
wishing that I could get away before
l should make quite a fool Of myself,
for as l looked down upon that beauti.
ful face, pale, except for q faint flush
upon each faded cheek, and read the
story Of pain endured and conquered,
and rs I thought Of all the long years
or waiting and of vain hoping, 1 found
m 'throat dry and sore, and the words
would not como. But her quick sense
needed no words, and she came to my
help.
"You will find jack Mt the stable"
b said, smiling. lie ought to have
been here"
The stable! why had 1 not thought
Of that before7 Thankfully now my
words came:
Yes, certainly, I'll find him, Mrs.
Greene. 1 suppose he's as much of a
scapegrace as ever" And off I went
TO look up Graeme's young brother,
who had given every promise in the
old days Of developing into as stirring
a rascal as n could desire. but who,
as / found out later, had not lived
these years in his mothers home for
nothing.
"oh, Jacks a good boyr' she an
swered, smiling again, as she turned
toward the other two. low waiting for
her upon the walk.
The week that followed was a happy
one for US all, but for the mother IL
was full to the brim with joy. Her
sweet face was full OF content, and In
her eyes rested a great peace. Our
days were spent driving about among
the hills or strolling through the ma.
pie woods or down into the tamarack
swamp. where the pitcher plants and
the swamp lilies and the marigold
waved above the deep moss. In the
evenings we sat under the trees on the
lawn till the stars came out and the
night dews drove us In. Like two Low.
ers, Graeme aud bis mother yvousA