Evening star., 1906-09-09


be taken too, and clung to his father passion
ately.
To this his father had made no answer, but
had just held him close in his arms for long Z
time He held him until one of the mer
that Tommy did not like stepped forward ant
touched him on the shoulder. At this he hat .
started and shivered 1ittle-Tommy felt him
Then for one little moment he strained the boy
to his breast. After that he gently disengaget
himself though Tommy fought hard to hole =,
him. crying bitterly all the time, and rising.
went out Of the room without a word. The
switched off the light and followed him.
Tommy cried himself to sleep.
Afterward the servants told him that his
father would never come back any more and
Tommy S childish mind conceived the idea that
he was dead like his mother. He wished he was
with them. Oh how he wished it, as he sat
there waiting for the man who was to take
him to the orphan asylum! Then suddenly
a shadow fell across him.
Slowly he raised his tired little face, and then
gave glad cry of surprise; for 10! his father
stood before him. He stood there just he
used to stand when he hearing Tommy's
lessons, and yet not quite the same About
his face there was a subtle change. 1t had
grown much older, somehow, and grimmer,
and he was very white and worn but the
love light in the eyes was the same-so eloquent,
SO tender.
Tommy noticed all these things in the instant
that he sat wondering and looking. Then he
flung himself into the loving arms, and at last
the tears that had denied him burst their gates,
and he cried his little heart out against his
fathers breast.
Presently he raised his face and looked in his
fathers eyes: They told me you would never
"They thought that never would" his father
replied gently, but they did not know They did
not understand that love- love- is the strongest
thing in all the world stronger than bolts bars
life death shame ard disgrace. And oh
my boy" he went on his voice trembling strangely,
Il love you very dearly. l have wronged you
Tommy, very deeply l have wronged you. ust
how you are too young to understand now, but
when you are older you will remember what say
and think what my repentance must be when
know that the thing love must suffer for my
help; but oh! believe that from their shame may
spring the noblest and the purest love in all the
world
Tommy could not understand all this Indeed
the only thing he gathered that his father still
loved him, perhaps than ever, and it made
him very happy. So he chung to him the more
closely and began to weep afresh. The father let
him cry for time, and then stopped over him.
There, therei' he said with something of his
cid soothing there, there! You must
brace up now Tommy, for I've come to take you
away.
'Ohl going to mama?" cried Tommy,
Frightening.
A shade crossed the mans face NO" he said
net yet-not quite. But we are going far away,
just you and l, and we going to be together
for time; until l know that you are cared for.
They could not hold me unless l knew that"
You'll never leave again., said Tommy
promptly, taking the mans hand; but he did not
see the look of pain that shot momentarily across
his face.
Then the man told the boy that they would steal
away quietly, so that none might know the way
they had gone or could follow them and interrupt
them. They going to be entirely alone. The
boy clapped his hands as he heard the plan. They
made him very happy.
At last they started They left the house by an
rnfrequented way, and, lodging through alleys
and vacant spaces, gained the open country Once
there, they did not follow the main travelled roads,
Tommy would have done, but climbed fences
and walked through fields and over steep hills or
through thickets When night fell the city lay far
behind them, and they were in a grove through