Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-01-04
The prodigal's Return
[original.l

moved In choice circle of society;
her husband was devoted to her; all
the elements of true happiness were
hers; nevertheless she was dissatisfied.
When Charlie Forester married her
their lives babe fair to be reasonably
happy. Neither rich nor poor. he had
enough to support family in comfort
and introduce his wife into a society
she had seen nothing of before. for her
father was 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-
sonable enjoyment of life is accom-
plished 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 We're 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 a fancy to her and
made love to her.
Then came a 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 assented, and 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
IL 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 whole objected to
the readjustment of marital partner
ships-that is, they We're pardoned
But Mrs. Forester had yet to be in
troduced into the charmed circle, and
the pardons granted even to the mem.
bers We're melted out in proportion to
the wealth of the sinners.
year passed, and preparations were
making for the wedding. 1t was not
to be grand affair on account of the
h,;la
choice collection from among the
groom's friends, whose seal of appro-
baton placed on the bride would stamp
her, like sterling silver, 925 per cent
pure. AS the wedding day approached
the groom noticed that the woman he
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"
so hear How unfortunate, com
ing at this timer
The two speakers looked askance at
the one who had overheard.
Tell me-" she asked quickly. sis it
Harry?''
down with fever The doctors said
the crisis was at hand.
That night.a yelled figure appeared
before Charlie Forester's house, paus
ed, looked up at window where there
was a dim light. passed around to a
side door and entered.
The desolate father was bending
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 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 responsibility that
weighed heavily upon him. A natural
feeling controlled him. With sob, he
took her hand and pressed it. The
pressure was returned.
At midnight little man with bald
head and his coat buttoned tight
around him, carrying Doctors satchel,
entered the room unannounced. The
nurse was dropping some liquid from a
vial into a spoon. The father was sit
ting by a window. The mother was
holding the child in her arms. The doc
tor saw her and started, then with re
newed composure went to the nurse
and scanned her report.
when did the temperature changer
he asked In a whisper.
AN hour ago-just after his mother
came"
Good! Her presence has probably
turned the tide In his favor"
He turnad 10 tba others The father