The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-05
EVENING STORY
A Modern ProdigaI.
(By Ions ]. Strong.)

---@----eo
Il Wanted to see Mr.. Wilson before
he left home" she replied eYaslVely.
Wont the tramp come in 10 Dfeak-
fast2' indicating a gray-haIred man
who stood by the pump drying his race
on red cotton handkerchief.
No; said he'd take it on the porch
as he did his supper"
Most of them are not SO modest,
sleeping in the barn and eating on the
porch when they could have had Il bed
and come to the table" There was
sheer in her tone, unusual to her kindly
nature. "And it isn't always safe to
put them in the barn" she added.
"Oh, he seems a pretty decent old
fellow" her short, discordant laugh
interrupted him an instant John
stared, then went on: He doesn t use
tobacco and he wanted to do something
for his meals.
Mrs. Spencer shifted and added to
the tray of food she had fixed cup OF
coffee into which she dropped two
Jumps of sugar.
Got to cake it as you fix it whether
he likes it or not, hey?" John com
mented, smiling.
The tramp seated himself on the
edge Of the porch in front of the open
door, whence he placed furtively ana
frequently a Mrs. Spencer in her place
opposite him She ate little, with an
absent, perturbed manner and returned
the glances with a curious expression
in her eyes.
John and his wife chatted vivacious-
". endeavoring to dissipate the painful
thoughts it was evident the sight OF
the old tramp had aroused in their
mothers mind. She scarcely noticed
them and presently, with little Sammy
in her arms. went out on to the front
porch.
TOO bad we took the old fellow in,
John muttered. Makes her thtnk
Of" Lizzie nodded, Understandings
AS her son came out on his way TO
the store Mrs. Spencer put the boy
down and took a roll of bills from her
boron and handed it to him, saying;
''Aare is the money for the interest,
Johnny"
you2 I couldn't borrow it.! HIS eyes
glowed with relief
Il didn't borrow it. I've sold the
tombstone" She put up hand as ne
would have spoken. You know MI
Wilson wanted it when his father
died. I sold it to him this morning for
three quarters what it cost, just as it
stands I never ought to have put it
up. with no certainty that he was dead.
It comes good now. though, for the in
terest, what I got for it.
"Why. it'll put me right on my
feeti" John cried. But you oughtn't
to have done it. mother. you thought
SO much of fathers stone"
Il was a fool about it when he
said with self-contempt. 81 made
myself the laughing stock-what
more do you want2" she demanded
suddenly of the tramp who had come
around the house and paused as if to
speak.
II thought I might get a job.
You said you had a grocery store,
looking at John. I'D work for my
keep till"
1T isn't likely he'd want an old
tramp about" Mrs. Spencer interposed
NO. / suppose not the old fellow
assented, and scufHed, dejectedly
Mrs. spencer watched him a few
moments, her face pale and lips
twitching. then she commanded
harshly Samuel Spencer, come back
herel You knew if you got in once I
couldn't let you go off that wayi I'm
an old fool Johnny, I suppose. but
can't bear to have your father stray
Cling about the country like that,
sleeping anywheres and eating any old
thing. 1t isn't fair to you, son, but
We'll have to try to keep him..
Father" John and Lizzie cried to-
gether.
7 used to expect it at first. Mrs.
Spencer hurried on. but when I put
up the stone [ really thought he was
dead. it had been so long. And I might
have married, and been a bigamist!"
she farcd at the tramp. who stood in
a downcast silence. Il might have been
married this minute; I could have been
what them"
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 I 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. I 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.
4 expect it'll raise great racket. SELL
ing the tombstone and all-and I
couldn't have sold it if 1 hadn't recOg-
nized him last night Johnny. Dear
knows what folks II say" She flashed
scorn at the prodigal, who dropped
shamfacedly, but with a. twinkle in his
eyeA
i've got some things at the depot"
he explained meekly. when she stopped.
t'Thingsi I didn't know tramps car
ried baggage" she snorted.
I'm not a professional tramp, only
in the way of running from Dan to
Beersheba: that was always my falling,
you know. Harriet. But I'm getting
you're getting too old and worn out
to stand it, else you likely wouldn't
have come home now she interrupted
a little bitterly.
You always had a good heart, Har-
riet," he said gratefully. Il would go
that last time, but I thought I was in
for a good thing in mining out there;
and when everything failed-yes,
know, everything always seemed to fail
with me- he interjected in answer
to a look on her face; when everything
failed was ashamed even to write. and
kept going from one thing to another.
thinking I'd do better. till the first I
knew 1 was getting old and gray. and
realized that I'd left you to tug along
and rnisa Iohnnv alone. I'd never come