The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-03-10
THE RETURN OF
THE PRODIGAL
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aYCE RICE BARrLEY


mail pleasure steamer that made
Snort trips between Bar Harhor and
I,ne.port twice and thrice a week.
r0e man seemed somehow out OF
,,,re among the st0rekceprs and small
,ralcsmcn. who had brought babies. bot
A., ana biscuits. anu were having an
outing.
The lIt,le steamer kept close IN shore
aner leaving the hagbor and the man
cooked up at the giant red cliffs. their
samglt crow ned with crisp salt grass.
As every landmark vas familiar.
las hand was brown and sinewy like
himself and he cigar he held be dropped
overheard as The tiny craft came in sight
* sdbr.dge.
There is no pier there the leyiathan
,rsronly stops there when ogdered. To
eet ashore the boat gently noses the
sAuelc and passengers ANONYMOUSLY
walk the plank"
TAenan looking shorewards took out
& fresh cigar. and. as ii would not light.
1eaela IL In his hand. looking still shore
WARDS. ana his hand essentially the
hand Of worker trembled
rent IN the ciif cuts 5idbridge in
ha.i
Looking up from the sea one sees
houses on either side 81 the assure;
sauare lowered stone church crowns all.
A. has been said, there is 10 pier or
landing stage and bare legged little
fellows We're rolling about on lumber
colored nets spread out TO dry
Good GOD and there seemed no
SAVIOR OF irreyercnce as the maa spoke
tie words. and his keen gray eyes were
me- not q speck OF change not a
spea6, 30 railway apparently no pier,
10 anything after ~ years, And I've
come 1000 miles % see you and find
yoa igst as / lett YOU.
I'll eh? It's my body that has
grown OLD. not nay heart
10 sou get of here sir?'
"Ye. purser and look out for me Oh
Your was back What quaiutolc place
this seems 10 be.'
Tho purser laughed
They say ol Sldbrdce that no one
ever lies there and no change has taken
place lur So years or more
IAN. it's different ON ny side. I'm
from the other sideoi the world
Herbert seaton walked the plank, the
Only passenger TO aiight, leaving buns
anC babies behind him. and. carrying
his agip he went up the main street,
lookl- keenly from hand 10 hand
The names on the few stores were IA
milar 10 him. lie nodded and gave
Good Day" 10 an old lady summing her
self upon the doorstep, who returned
Als greeting with no sign Of recognition.
The old order changeth, giving place
TO the new
And God fulflls himself in many ways
Le quoted and walked on, grip in hand,
his eyes glancing hither and thither.
Behind the coast guard cottage is a
small square You enter il from the
main street by a narrow passage that
looks like cul dc sac. but il opens out
into tiny quadrangle. where the sound
u the sea scarcely peneuates
The houses all OF one pattern ARE
lime washed and tiled with green shut
tiers. and the rust from the hinges has
stained them almost red in patches.
And the man made his way towards
one with feet that Jagged The green
shutters. the hall mark OF responsibility.
hung aNry and their hinges were rusted.
lie turned % the next house and knocked
al the door
Az the house OF his quest the front
door swung to and fro.
Can you tell me where Mrs Haygarth
has moved to-"
have never heard the name. sir"
"Dd not Mrs Hay garth-her name
wa Radiord before her marriage
here 70 live on her wedding day."
Rallord is a common name here sir.
There are three Margaret Radfords in
TIE parish now
But the Margaret mean married the
New York broker 20 years ago"
That is long before my time. sir
Bur the broker | have heard. was killed
on his wedding day
Give me the address OF these Mar
saret Radfords. I've been clean away
for many years"
The Yankee speech slipped back to the
mans tongue. and the young woman
laughed. for at first the man spoke with
the twang OF a foreigner
Well. she said. the laugh still upon
her lips. there's Margaret who's gone
clean away. Margaret who bides to
saicombe. and the schulz mistress-her
What bi0es tew Peak schule
What n bonny maid, Is that yours?
There mite,"
And he put gold piece into the ready
little palm
Who am TO thank sir?"
Herbert Seaton"
And not tinge OF recognition came
over tie woman's face
lie was as forgotten as II he'd never
oided tew Sdbridgc. and the woman
be was talking TO and he were sweet
hearts 20 years before.
SO he made his way to Margaret Rad
ford who bided near the church. and
finding the announcement that apart