New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1906-04-04

I'D tDa stone really tnOugnt ne was
dead. 1t had been so long. And
might have married and been big
amist!' she f1ared at the tramp, who
stood In downcast silence. Il might
have been married this minute. could
have been What then r
"If you'd been married again. Har-
riet-I didn't think you would. though
but If you had I'd never let you know
I was alive And don't mean to bur-
den you. There's lots of work in me
yet" he quavered.
"You don't look it, and there was,
never any too much at your best, but
of course you've got to stay. guess
he can do errands and mind the boy.
Johnny
| John shook hands heartily with his
unfamiliar father, whom he could not
remember, introduced his wife and ex-
| hibited the child named for his sup
posed defunct grandfather.
you've got to clean up and shave
and have that shag@ Of hair clipped.
There's some Of your old buds upstairs,
decent ones" Mrs. Spencer laid down
| the law, then turned to John again. Il
expect it'll raise great racket, selling
the tombstone and all, and couldn't
have sold it If I hadn't recognized him
/ last night, Johnny. Dear knows What
folks'll say She flashed scorn at the
prodigal, who dropped shamefacedly,
but with twinkle in his eyes.
eve got some things at the depot
he explained meekly when she stopped
i Things! didn't know tramps car,
lied baggage she snorted
I'm not professional tramp; only
in the way Of running from Dan to
Beersheba. That was always my fail
ing, you know, Harriet. But I'm get
ting
you're getting too old and worn out
to stand it, else you likely wouldn't
have come home now" she interrupted
little bitterly.
"You always had good heart, Har
riet," he said gratefully. Il would e
that last time, but thought was II
for good thing in mining out there
and when everything failed Yes,
know, everything always seemed tt
fail with me" he interjected in answer
to look on her face. when every
. thing failed was ashamed even t.
write, and kept going from one thing
, to another, thinking I'd do better, til
the first knew was getting old ant
gray and realized that I'd left you t
tug along and raise Johnny alone. II
never come back only
"Only you couldn't do anything else
she put in again, unable immediatel,
to forgive the long desertion.
'And to think of your shaving an,
putting up tombstone for me and Civ
ing the little shaver my name! Nv
treated you dog mean, Harriet" hi
voice trailed, shakily, into silence.
"Well what's done's DONE" she sai6
regarding him more kindly 81 dom
know as we can help the way we'r
made, and don't suppose it's Away
been easy for you any more than fo
us. Well make the best Of it, won
we, Johnny? eYour father can 10
about enough for his keep"
'sYes, that's SO, father" John lai
his hand on the old mans shoulder
We'll soon be jogging along as
you'd never been away"
"Bless your hearts. so you will tax
in the poor old good for nothin
tramp The bent shoulders straigh
ened, he sprang nimbly up the step!
seized Mrs. Spencer and kissed he
soundly in spite of her shocked resis
fance, then grasped Johns hand ''Yo
didn't let me finish about coming bacl
Harriet. I got over being failure.
went up to the Klondike and caught u
70 with the luck I'd always been CHASING
and-and Johnny, boy, you can buy OF
J. the whole little town if you want t
o and Mrs. Spencer, ma'am, let's begi
over again with the wedding trip "
,, missed the first time"