Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-05-05
in ragged garments and her faee VA

it.
1t was Agnes Mason, seeking recon
Citation n forgiveness. She had tried
10 find him for many weary weeks. for
her child was often on the verge OF
starvation and her mothers heart was
lacerated by the child's suffering.
Mrs. Amer was there no longer, aud
the new landlady knew nothing OF MIR.
Mason! Agnes had sought him la vain.
and now she saw him coming.
Robert, she cried, raising her hand
to place IL on his arm.
He looked at her stupidity, but she
did not notice the dull appearance of
his yes and the wooden expression OF
his face. He pushed her aside roughly
and passed on. She sank with a moan
TO the pavement. He had pushed her
from hts life. he did o want her.
She arose hurriedly as a Thought
struck her. Catching the child by the
shoulder, she pointed 60 the retreat
ing figure, which vas still only a few
yards distant.
Go to that gentleman. Bobby. and
tell him that yo are his little sonny.
as you tell m sometimesi He is
your daddy. Take this letter n tell
him / wrote il for him. Don't let him
go, II he tries to leave you cry loud.
He has the pennies to buy you some
thing to eat and he will give you some
thing. Tell him that you are hungry!
She pushed the boy along with fever
ish haste. running with him almost 20
the man h had spurned her. Then
she left the child to give the message
as best he might and hid herself IN
a doorway to watch the result.
Her heart beat high as she saw Rob-
ert Mason stop and listen TO the boy.
She saw him take the letter. An inl-
pulse prompted her to run To her nus
band. III she crushed 1t down. She
might spoil all by lntruding. Robert
would probably care for the boy, 1t was
his responsibility, but he would not
want her-he did not want her! Some
thing in her heart told her that the
child would be all right. 50 she turned
and fled from the spot.
Robert Mason tried 30 read the letter,
but his eyes were dimmed. What was
the child talking about.
He caught the boy in his arms ana
moved on with him. He didn't know
what he was going to do exactly, but
the haze was clearing from his brain.
BY the time ne had seated the child on
@ chair In a cheap tea room. holding
him with one hand, Robert Mason was
not far from sober.
It's truei' he gasped. "The boys
the very image of her. What's 1t mean?
Yes, this note. He read it and his face
became ashen in hue. Did your
mamma give you this? Where is she?
The child replied in two or three
broken sentences, and Mason gathered
an idea of the truth. He caught up
the child again and literally ran back
10 the spot where the child had come
to him, as nearly as ne could remem-
her, but he found no trace of Agnes.
She had slipped from him once more.
.z4lz. 4.n. .rn,~, Lnx.o r,,,a os,2
they have wrought a great change in
Robert Mason. The entrance of The
child into his life. the constant remind
er of his lost wife in the boys strik-
resemblance 10 her, had been he
means OF turning him aside from the
path he was following and making him
work with logged ~stubborness to gain
a name as a journalist and author.
After much hard work the tide had
turned and he was on the road to sue
cess.
His great opportunity had come in
connection with a play for a provincial
touring company a nan for whom he
did a good turn in an unexpected man
ner gave him his opportunity and he
was aole to take It. This was such a
success that his reputation spread n
he was soon represented on the London
boards" but the public did not know
him as Robert Mason.
And SO it came about that Agnes,
watching for a sign Of her husband,
heard of the fame of Marston More,
dramatist and novelist, and did not
know that it was Robert Mason's as
sumed name.
Now, Bobby" exclaimed Robert
Mason gayly TO his 5-year-old son.
'I'm going to take you to the theater
to see the ladies ana gentlemen say
ing the things that dad puts down on
the paper.
Il like the ladies and gentlemen"
declared Bobby. comfortably.
IF this company treats you as the
others did at rehearsals, you ought to
| like the ladies and gentlemen" laughed
his father. They'll spoil YOU
Business began. Little Bob was
placed in a corner, and for the time
his father forgot him. The manager
J had allowed some relatives of the SUI
pernumeraries to be present in the au-
ditorium, Just as a treat for them. and
to avoid the rather depressing effect
which al crspty heater would nave on
the actors at rehearsal.
AT least that was his explanation, but
everybody understood that his good
nature prompted him to allow poor
people to come in at times. out OF the
cold or wet, and he also rave them a
coin as a souvenir.
Extraordinary conduct, as some per-
sons said, but he was an extraordinary
man altogether. which probably ac-
counted for the position he had ac-
quired.
In the midst OF an important scene
Bobby became tired OF inactivity and
suddenly ran forward. At the same
moment one OF the actresses, IN the
performance OF her part, rushed across
the front of the stage.
There was a collision, Immediately
followed By a cry of fear II pain
from the child and a general shout
from the other members of the COM
many. The two sounds drowned one
more that was uttered at the one
by a woman standing in the thater
at the side. She sprang forward and
scrambled to the stage.
My boy, my Bobby" she cried.
You have hurt him. oh, let me come
to him."
She was a pitiful object, in rags and
faint from exposure and want. She
staggered forward, but the effort 10
get on the stage had exhausted her.
She reeled. threw out her arms for sup
port. n was caught By the author
of the new piece.
Thank heaven," he cried fervently.
while the spectators looked with wide
opened eyes. II have found her again. Z
The sound OF his voice sent a CULVER
through her frame. She opened her
eyes to gaze at her lost husband, and,
seeing nothing but the deepest love and
sympathy therein, h instinctively
nestled nearer to his breast and wept
tears Of JOY.
Me. tool said a child's voice.
And Bobby struggled to obtain a