Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1905-09-29
pr .coeded in the direction of che lord

| ATT1YlnR at LNdJ IdIuOuo HDbtSIy ne
made a certain inquiry OF the waiter
who came forward to meet him. To
which the reply was, that the gentle
man referred TO had crossed by the
boat that morning and had engaged a
private sitting room, leaving word that
he expected friend from town. who
was to be shown up Immediately on
giving his name.
my name is Burritt," was the reply.
Then please to walk this way. sir"
The man ushered him up flight of
stairs and along a corridor, then, in
dicating a particular door, said: This
is the room the gentleman has taken"
Il will announce myself" said Mr..
Burritt, and the man withdrew.
Then, after a pause of few sec
onds, he tapped lightly at the door. A
voice from within cried: Come in"
and answering the summons he turned
| the handle and entered. The occupant
| Of the apartment, tall, lean, elderly
man, who was looking out of the win
dow, turned round sharply and con-
fronted the visitor. A look-a strange,
wondering, intent look-passed be-
tween them Then, the stranger,
made step forward. "Slasl" he
cried. cat lasti"-and the men grasp
ed hands.
Then followed a brief and impress
sive silence, during which each eager
ly scanned the features of the other,
and which Mr.. Burritt was the first to
to break
James," he said, and there were
traces of considerable emotion in his
voice, you are much changed.
should hardly have known you"
Changed" exclaimed the other,
somewhat bitterly land in twenty
years! Is it TO be wondered at?"
Then, with an alteration of tone, But
should have know you anywhere,
Silas."
Twenty years." repeated his friend.
"Ah, well, so it isl How quickly the
years have flown. 1t seems nothing
like that to me-"
1T is that, all the same" said the
other 1T is twenty years to the very
day. This is the oath of April. 1884.
IL was the oath of April, 1864, when
you said goodbye to me on board the
vessel in which | was to sail to a new
country"
1T is a long time to remain an
exile-a voluntary exile said Mr. Bur-
rift; you might have returned years
ago. had you chosen"
The other man shook his head
gloomily. 81 have kept my word"
he said. you remember my last
speech to you? said, 4 am
going to begin new life-to make
my fortune. In twenty years. if have
lone so, l shall return. By that time
may hope that my crime will have
been forgotten. 1t may be that in
.wenty years some of those who know
ny wretched story will be dead-I may
wen be dead myself; but, if not, I
'hall return to the country l am now
lbout to leave behind; for surely in
wenty years the disgrace which now
arnishes my name will be blotted out
md forgotten. Until then, FAREWELL
And now" he continued, the term
# my self-imposed Punishment is at
n end. | have kept my word and
ave returned"
Mr.. Burritt laid his hand upon his
riends shoulder.
You Judge yourself too harshly."
e said; the word crime is too Sc
ere a one to apply to that youthful
if you will-repented
t as soon as committed"
Repentance" cried the other. i'm
what is the good of repent
nee? Will it recover a lost reputa-
on and wipe out a stain upon the
asst? The fortune | went to seek is
line, but l would give it all for an
nblemished record, so that l might
ot be ashamed 10 look any man in the
zee. All. Silasl it is a terrible thing
think that child of mine should
yer blush for her fatheri"
You are married, them" inquired
r. Burritt, gladly Selling the oppor-
nifty thus offered of changing the
small subject. as your wife with
,u?"
Il am a widower," was the reply.
dy wife died twelve years ago. leav-
& me with one child-a daughter"
Tell me all about your daughter"
id Mr.. Burritt, 'and how you came
make up your mind to part with her
so long? | have daughter of my
mas well as the son who was born
fore you left England-and though |
We been threatening to pack her on
boarding school for the last four
five years, | never could reconcile
fself to the idea of the separation
Id now she's too old-nineteen last
'thday,' and her father shook his