The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-04-01
VOL. 4O.--NO. 24,


borde cot out. His fellow travellers re-
garded him with curiosity because his
friend, the porter, had told every one Of
them who he was when he examined their
tickets, inyeighing bitterly the while
against the caustic humor of pardoning an
innocent man.
Harborde noticed nothing of this. He
inquired of porter the next train on to
the junction for Applebury, and then dis
covered that he was both hungry and faint
for want of food. He went out into the
slippery, muddy street at the back of the
house on the Parade, and at length found
a quiet little eating house, where he was
served with a meal by girl who had
pitying eye, after consultation with her
superior in command. At 3 O clock he
was again on his way in the train, in the
company this time of other fellow creatures,
who one and all regarded him with feel
ing akin to that with which they would
have submitted to the company of q danger
ous animal Harborde noticed it after
time, and putting his hand to his head
suddenly made the discovery that his hair
was noticeably short. After this he real
lied that he was marked man, and no
longer wondered why the lady opposite
drew her warm plaid dress away from his
feet and the other lady with two children
sidled as far from him as possible, and
asked the guard to find her seats in another
carriage at the next station.
He was innocent, but how could he ex-
plain it to them? If they could but know
how he had suffered surely they would
weep. He hadn't the paper with him;
even if he had perhaps they would not be-
lieve that he and the Thomas Harborde
mentioned in the paragraph were one and
the same. Two men got in were the lady
with the children got out. They each of
them threw him glance, shrugged their
shoulders and then became immersed in
their papers.
1t was quite dark when Applebury was
reached and Harborde, luggageless, speed
ily passed out of the station without being
recognized There seemed little alteration
in the place. Several of the shops-now
CAV with Christmas goods and fnery-in
the main street now had large plate-glass
windows in place of more countrihed fronts,
but were otherwise much as fifteen years
ago. For a moment he stood confused,
staring up and down the street, regarded
by the passers-by with curiosity. Then
he remembered that he would have to 60
along the street, past the grocer whose
window projected yard into the footpath,
turn down the by-street, and then again
turning take the road leading TO his home,
In ten minutes he reached the garden
gate. He had run part of the way, and
now he could not make up his mind to go
UP the drive to the door. What if they
we're all dead He grew sick at the very
idea. There was light in his mother :
room. which was at the front Of the house.
What if she was ill-perhaps dying? At
last his legs carried him up the drive which
swept around the little front lawn in a
semi-cirele lie heard the bell tinkle
shrilly at the back of the house. The
sound seemed like home. All at once he
remembered how, years ago, he banged it
with long handled broom till it tangled
against its fellow on either side.
The door opened. A food of light
streamed out on TO the gravel. It was a
strange face, and the face sent an icy shock
to his heart. Far outside himself he heard
a voice he did no recognize as his own ask
ing If DR. Harborde were in. A year
seemed to pass before the servant said :
''No;" adding, did you wish to see him
particular p
.'Yes.
o'He'll be in in half an hour.
sIs-is Mrs Harborde in? Is she
alive p said the man at the door, throw
ing the words at her when once his tongue
consented to frame them.
s'Why, Lor' bless me, yes Come,
none of that.
But it was no use. The man she had
Just noticed had suspiciously short hair and
a strange, wild looking face, had pushed
past her, thrown open the sitting-roon
door. stumbled into it and thrown his arms
around sweet-faced old lady who rose in
alarm at his sudden entrance.
My son my son rang out through
the house. Mother mother
The girl stood rooted TO the spot, then
she ran to Jane, and the two of them came
out into the passage. In the sitting room
with its pink shaded lamp woman was
seated kissing every line on her sons face
every line that the long years had writ
ten. And he stroked the hair that still
lay thick, though white, in coil at the
back of her head
Suddenly the man started up.
jess ?" he asked, huskily.
Scme one who had lain, half-stunned
with JOY in wicker chair well out of the
range of the lamp-hght, came into his Wis
ion.
jess y he cried, folding her in his
arms whilst the room swan round, my
jess
''Tom I came the answer.
but am old, said he; $50 old. >
And [ also, with the sadness and lone
illness of waiting. But now-now | am
young again.
The voice of the elder woman broke the
silence after moment: ''For this my son
was dead and is alive again.
And they began to be merry.