The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-16
BRANTLEY'S HOME COMING
ever Lite Story of Southern Pde and SOuthern HOnO
BY LUCILLE J. wOOLF, MontRomery wMWaMGM w WH Mg gW WH M HM EH M E UHB a1HBH@H @1

logger my son. He shall not dwell under my roof!r But, Ben" pleaded Mrs. Winfronte, "he is your child still; God forgives. why can't you "
 ''No I will not! Shelter ieserted in my house? No, never! If -<e had join ed the Union army the low would have been hard to bear, but not so hard aS this. that our old age should be disgraced by a deserter! When he comes, I shall not see him; you may, but tell him, l denounce him!
 Mrs. Willfronte left the room weep ing. Her husband arose and walked the ficor with great agitation. In his walk he passed the table, on which lay the old ambrotype his wife had been gag ing upon. He took up the picture and looked at it. His eyes softened; his hard face relaxed, and he stopped and pressed the image to his lips. He con- tinued looking at pictures of the boys, at different ages, until he came to group of himself and the three boys taken just before they left for tho war. His features grew hard as he looked To think one was deserter. At last he put the picture down: T wonder what he looks like now!"
 Who, father?" asked a deep musical voice from the doorway. The Major started-"What, Brantley! You here? How dare you come? I--
 T know. father, know; but you must forgive me; l know l did wrong to go away and leave you and the others to bear it all; but after l was mustered out at Appomattox, I started | home; came as far as White Oak, but when I saw how homes were destroyed, and the country laid to waste, 1 could not bear to come back, and see our home in ruins; so after I ascertained that you were all safe. and returned home I went West with Rex Woodley, and from there I went to Cuba" | Well, 1t seems as though you thought a deal of ne, not to let me know, if you were dead or alive-be- | sides"
 Why did you not get my letter I sent by Albert Gray?"
 No: Albert was murdered while on | the way by a band of guerrillas, and his body was afterwards found in the swamps of Mississippi"
 Were there no papers found on him?'
 ''Yes, there were, but they were not legible." The Majors voice tremoled DO you know what they have been saving about you, Brantley?'
 NO; what?"
 That you desertedr
 Brantley's head went higher and his dark eyes flashed, "Who?" he demanded
 Neu lCtti WILL A'i 'hlltiNS the door: Where are you going?" ask ed the Major.
 'I am going to settle with him. he said taking down his fathers sabe1 from the wall
 Stay, Brantley," cried his father God has settled with Ned for that lie he is dead
 "Rut what did Mabel think? Did sh' think hard of ne?"
 No: she Relieved in you even wheT I turned against you. When Ned ac cusod you of desertirs ' knock al hin down with my fist and told him h' lied; but the seed Of evil thought haC been sown. As time went by and I di, not hear. I believed it myself and wa very bitter against you. God forgiv' me for my injustice and SD will you. and the Major held out his hand. Brant lev hlasped t.
 "Yes, father, l forgive you. hav my narole pansrs which I will show to all my friends and so clear my name vou say Mabel believed in Te?'
 Yes. she did. indeed; whom Nod WI i'll she would not go near him. thoubf he called her name all the time.
 Where is mother? I will go to he at once."