The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1904-11-19
The Pr0digal's Return


the elements of true happiness were
hers nevertheless she was dissatisfied
When Charlie Forester married her
their lives babe fair to be reasonable
happy. Neither rich nor poor, lie had
enough to support Il family in comfort
and introduce his wife into society
she had seen nothing of before for her
father was Il poor man. Then came
their boy, Harry, and there was moth
ing more to ask for
Perhaps that was at the bottom of
the trouble nothing more to ask for
When all that is necessary for a rea
sonHblc enjoyment of life is accom-
pliShcd we begin to sigh for the unrea-
sonable. Maud Forester began to tire
of the humdrum of life. Charlie did
not caress her as often as formerly,
and when he did it failed to elicit the
same response. When they were en-
gagged she had been blind to his faults:
now she saw his faults and was blind
to his good qualities. She tired of his
friends and pinned for the smart set.
One man, Cameron Cook, who was in
the latter, took Il fancy to her and
made love to her.
Then came loss of confidence be-
tween husband and wife-first crimi-
nation and recrimination. then collu-
sion between the wife and her lover.
Forester was too broken hearted to
fight He could only refuse his assent
to divorce, though he at last yielded,
with the proviso that the child should
be left in his possession. The Wife de-
INJURED, but was persuaded by her lover.
She aSSCnted, and Il divorce was secured
The lovers, in consideration of the
opinion of the social world, did not
care to have it appear that Mrs. For
ester had secured the divorce for the
purpose of remarriage. They doubted
II Cooks fortune was large enough to
guarantee her entrance to his set I'M
less the cloud overhanging her was
made as light as possible. 1t was not
that the set as Il whole objected to
the REIMBURSEMENT of marital partner
shpS-that is, they were pardoned.
But Mrs. Forester had vet to be in
troduced into the charmed circle, and
the pardonS granted even to the mem
berS were metcd out in proportion to
the wealth of the sinners.
year passed, and preparations were
making for the wedding. 1t was not
to be Il grand affair on account of the
bride being divorced woman; only
choice collection from among the
groom's friends, whose seal of appro-
baton placed on the bride would stamp
her, like sterling silver. 800 per cent
pure. AS the wedding day approached
the groom noticed that the woman he
loved wore look of sadness rather
than gladness. But this, he argued,
was natural-a final breaking with the
old by an entry into the new. Once
launched on the new the old would
fade rapidly.
But unfortunately the day before the
wedding the bride eXpectant heard one
Of her friends whisper to another:
"They say he will die"
80 | hear. How unfortunate, COM
ing at this time"
The two speakers looked askance ut
the one who had overheard
TELL me- she asked quickly, sis it
Harry
Then it came out that Harry was
down with a fever. The doctors said
the crisis was at hand.
That night yelled figure appeared
before Charlie Forester's house, paus-
ed, looked up at a window where there
was dim light. passed around to
side door and entered.
ha fof
over his boy, trained nurse standing
at the foot Of the bed, the man where
the mother should have been, the nurse
in the fathers place. A shadow was
thrown in from the hall, followed by a
step. Forester turned and saw the
agonized face Of his boys mother.
In II twinkling he forgot that she had
deserted him for another. He knew
that their son needed his mothers care
and love to help him to live He had
been craving that love and care not
only for the boys sake. but that he
might resign Il responsibility that
weighed heavily upon him. \ natural
feeling controlled him. With sob, he
took her hand and pressed it. The
pressure was returned.
At midnight little man with 4 bald
head and his coat buttoned tight
around him. carrying a doctors satchel,
entered the room unannounced. The
nurse was dropping some liquid from Il
vial into spoon. The father was sit
ting by q window. The mother was
holding the child in hc; arms. The doe
tor saw her and started, then with re-
newed composure went to the nurse
and scanned her report.
when did the temperature change"
he asked IN a whisper.
IAN hour ago-just after his mother
came"
Good! Her presence has probably
turned the tide in his favor"
He turned to the others. The father
had risen and was standing by the bed.
The mother had laid her boy, who was
sleeping, on the pillow and was stand
ing beside the father. The doctor said:
THE fever is broken. If he has I'D set
back he will recover" Then, beckon-
ing to the nurse. he left the room.