Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-01-02
and the men grasr

( ffltG. Al ldsi. anu ibt men kIAtP
/ ed hands.
Then followed a brief and impres
| sive silence. during which each eager
ly scanned the features Of the other
and which Mr. Burritt was the first 10
TO break
James" he said. and there we're
traces OF Considerable emotion in his
voice, you are much changed. !
/ should hardly have known you"
Changed. exclaimed the other
somewhat bitterly: and in twentY
years. Is It to be wondered al
/ Then. with an alteration OF tone, ''Bul
should have know you anywheFs
silas@
Twenty years. repeated his friend
All well 40 II Is, How quickly tie
years have flown. II seems nothing
| Hike that to me.
1t is that. all the same said tae
| other 1t Is twenty years to the veTy
| day. This Is the 2ith OF April, 1854
/ IL was the 18th Of April. 1864, wheH
( you said goodbye 10 me on board the
Yesse! in which I vas To sail to nes
country"
1T is a long time TO remain an
exile--a voluntary exile said Mr.. Bur
| rlit: you might have returned year
ago had sou chosen"
The other man shook his hcsd
gloomily. Il have kept my wort
! he said. You remember my las
speech to you7 said. I an
going TO begin new life-to maka
my fortune In twenty years. II have
cone 50. shall return. By that time
I may hope that my crime viii have
been forgotten. IL may be that Ia
twenty years some Of those who knoS
my Wretched story will be dead MAJ
even be dead myself; but. II not.
shall return 70 the country | am nos
about to leave behind; for surely Ia
twenty years the disgrace which nos
furnishes my name will be biotted ont
and forgotten. Until then. farewell,
And nov" he continued. the tern
of my seIf.lmposed banishment i At
an end have kept my word and
have returned"
Mr. Burritt laid his hand upon his
friends shoulder
You Judge yourself too harshly
be said the word crime Is too Sc
we're a one to apply to that youthfuI
indiscretion-sin. II you sill-repentet
of as soon as com mitted
Repentance: cried the other. la
patiently. what j. the good Of repent
snce7 VIII 1t recover a lost repuiA
tiOn and sipe out a stain upon the
past, The fortune ~ent to seek is
mine. bat ] would give II all for an
unhlemished record, 20 that ! miEti
not be ashamed TO look any man In The
face. Al. silas' Il Is a terrible thine
to think that a child of mine shoulf
ever blush for her father
You are married. then ?. inauired
Ar Burritj. gladly seizing the oppof
tuuity thus offered OF changing u
dismal subject Is your wife vie
you?
II am vidoxer.1 was the repiT
NJ wlfe died twelve years ago. leaF
ing me with ore chiId-a daughter +
Tell me all about your daughlsr.
said Sir aursttt and how you cane
TO make Up your mind 10 part Siib hei
for 20 long, have a daughter q M
owu-aB veil a. the son who wa doTn
before you ieft EngiaHG-a and thoazh /
have been threatening To pack heI on
TO boarding school for the last ioui
OF Ave years. never could reco1eile
myself to the idea OF the separai on
And now she's too oiG-nlaeteeu asst
birthday. and her father shook bis
head over bis own weakness and snii
I'd an fnduigent. parental smile
That's the age Of my Agnes v ain
a year said the other. "strangs hat
we should have daughters 50 bsarly
the same age,s
He looked at his companion straase
iy.
4 am in your hands. silas. be aid
you can ruin me In my chIid's eFes
as well as in the eses Of the Vorld.
whenever you please"