The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-12-29

away In night. was II any WOn0ef,
then, that he proposed giving up the
farm and moving to the city, Were
they to continue there, with noses to
the eternal grindstone, merely eking
out living? The mother agreed,
faith in her son being deep and abid-
ing; but Jonas said No, and when,
after months of argument, Billy an
nounced his intention of going alone,
Jonas rose In wrath and showed him
the door, bidding him with curse to
"Go, and stay, and never show your
face again" Now, in his bitterness,
weak and weary, Jonas sat down by
the side Of the road and wept quietly
the first time in years. Oh, If he could
only find Sonny" ''Sonny" would
forgive him. His heart went back to
the old home; to the sorrowing mother,
who had pinned away grieylng for her
son. He did not know that on the day
Of his departure, Billy, prosperous and
generous, having heard of the ap.,
preaching sale, had appeared before
the astonished Squire Barlow and up
set that individuals prophecy by salts
flying all demands and rendering the
sale unnecessary; nor that for weeks
Billy had been advertising all over the
East for his father to come home.
It was New Years eve. Jonas had
been on the road over a month. With
out knowing how, or, indeed. why, he
had proceeded steadily north, through
the mountains, and now, as the bleak,
winter day drew to a close, he was ap.
preaching the great city Of Pittsburg.
From afar he had seen the heavy
smoke lying low on the horizon. The
road was lined with beautiful resi-
dences, and as dusk came on, lights
appeared In the windows. There was
warmth and cheer: Might not food
and shelter be there too for an old
man? He could not keep up much
longer. His shoes were worn through.
He was sick with hunger. In despera'
ton he followed the driveway of a
palatial residence and made his way
back to the sta ble. The hostler
came at him savagely. "Git out O.
here" he growled. ''This amt no
place for hoboes." Jonas turned and
went out again. He would not beg
from common stable-hand. He
would push on to the city.
As he passed the side Of the house
he glanced up at the roof and stopped
suddenly. There was glow In the
attic window. The glass shivered and
a gush of smoke and flame told him
instantly that the house was on IRE.
With quick steps he ran to the front
and up on the broad porch. The door
was locked, but he pounded on it with
his fists. "F1RE!" he shouted: and
again, FIRE! FIRE! The dooropened
suddenly, showing the white, scared
face Of q woman. "FIRE" Your
house is on fre!' he cried, as he
pushed past her. H..
Women screamed and children ran
hither and thither. Hardly knowing
why Jonas hurried up the broad stairs.
As he turned into the upper hall
cloud Of smoke enveloped him. He en-
tered the first room and ran to the
window. Opening 1t, he shouted into
the still night air, FIRE! FIRE. He
heard mems voices, but as in q dream,
for the smoke was sitting him. He
must get back or die, like = rat in a
hole. As he CROPPED his way he fell
against a bed. A tiny voice startled
him. It was q baby, choking in the
dense smoke. He reached out blindly;
his hands came upon the child strug-
Cling beneath heavy coverings. He
grabbed it up, dragging on the blan'
kets, and wrapping them around the
little ones head and body.
Somehow he reached the door, stag.
sered into the hall and found the stair
way. As he started down he tripped
over the end OF a blanket, and rolled
down, down, over and over. His head
struck q sharp corner at the foot of
the steps, and he lay still, the precious
bundle clasped in his arms.
= An Unreasonable space of time
passed-then Jonas awoke slowly. He
knew. that he was warm, and that he
lay on soft bed; but his eyes were
heavy and he could not lift the lids.
Then a familiar voice sounded in his
ears. "Father, father," it said. Surely
that was 'sSonny's" voice, and he was
back in the old home, and it was time
to get up and milk the cows !. He
struggled against the heavy sleep
His eyes opened and looked up into
Billy's face. Sonny, is it yon?" he
asked, weakly. Where am l, Sonny?"
Eyes, father, it's me, Billy" came the
strong, familiar voice. Don't you
know me, father? I've been hunting
you everywhere. You're right here at
home, my home.
Slowly the truth dawned upon him.
He closed his eyes again, trying to
remember s'Sonny, there was q Dire,
and bab 8