The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-07-10

| his old smile, ought to show that, not
w%ithstanding all that had come n
gone, he had mo bad feeling"-a
little row Of buildings on Parkers
| Piece, an airy space to look upon, but
dangerous as a pleasure ground by
reason of the missiles, ranging from
a football to the small shot used at
| FOUNDERS, always flying about. It was
a very tiny dwelling; the door opened
| upon a passage SO narrow that even
the term seemed a misnomer, since
| no adults could pass n another IN
it; when a visitor called the maid had
to back to admit him, unless-which
| of course was rot to be thought Of
she lay down and let him walk over
her, like the stag on the precipice in
| Mr.. Browning's poem.
One morning the canon was sitting,
as usual, in his little study, a book
on the swing desk before him but not
at the reading angle. He kept one
always open lest Aunt Maria should
look in and suspect him of the very
vice he was at that moment indulging
in-reverie. A great student of hui
man nature has taught us how
blessed a thing is memory, ever to
the unfortunate; but it is no less true
that "a sorrows crown of sorrows is
remembering happier things" An.
old man deep in thought is always a
pathetic spectacle and, upon the
whole, a discouraging one.
While the canon thinks-and signs
there is presently a sharp ring at
the bell. Visitors are few in these
days, and he neither expects or de-
sires any. The little maid, who is a
survival of the old household at the
Laurels, is aware Of that fact and
deals automatically with all corners.
Miss Kldred is at home" she an
swers; which implies that the master
of the house Is not, without going SO
far as to affirm It. On the present &C.
casion, however, this subterfuge is
denied her, as Miss Aldred happens
to be without doors. So to the strange
young man who so confidently de-
mands speech with the master she
replies that he is particularly en-
gagged"
still, I think if he knew who I
was he would see me-" said the Wis
itor gravely. II am his son."
You're never that, sir!" cries the.
young maid. - ." "
Il really am" returned the young
man, smiling at her undisguised
amazement.
why, sir, he don't expect you no
more than the queen. He was a
talking of you at dinner only last
night-not that I listens to the gen.
tlefolks' talk; but with potatoes in
one hand and the sauceboat in the
other, to stop ones ears is difficult.
He's always talking about you, but
not a word has he dropped about
your coming home"
Where is he?" inquired the young
man in a hushed voice.
I'm his study; the second door on
the right, sir Z.
"Is he pretty we'll? To see one so
Unexpectedly will not hurt him."
"Lor' bless you, no, sir; not it! 1t
will do him a world of good"
The little maid knows nothing in
regard to Shocks to the SYSTEM" and
cannot understand that the sight of
so handsome a young gentleman can
be deleterious to anybody.
Don't announce me-" he says,
softly. II will announce myself"
And he knocks gently at the study
door.
The canon settles the swing desk
before him, and begins to be alb
sorbed in the open book. He has his
back to the door and takes it for
granted that the newcomer is his Sis
ter. : ~
you are come back very soon, my
dear, are you not?"
Il can scarcely say that" answers
a voice, which, though its tones are
hushed and gentle, electrifes him. II
have been away for more than five
years."
Robert? Ny: boy-my dear, dear
boy!" SE5s
For some moments the poor canon
(for all his "culture") can only re-
iterate these few words with their
one variation. my boy" and my
dear boy" He hugs him, he kisses
him, the tears roll down his with
cred cheeks without check. Then
suddenly perceiving that his son is
about to betray a similar weakness
he cries out, Don't mind me, Rob-
ert, I was getting an old man; but
you will make me young again. There
is something to live for now" Then,
in an altered voice, he added, why
is it you have come back? But I
need not ask, alas! You have lost
your Alma, thanks to me-and there
was nothing to keep you in India.
Can you ever forgive your father?"
my dear dad" exclaimed Robert,
using, in an outburst of Natures self
the old childish term, What is there
to forgive? I come here to comfort
you. Alma sent me over herself; if
l hadn't come she would have thrown
me over, which, l do assure you, she
has not done. Your father is in
trouble she said, therefore your
place is by his side Was she not
right? Are you not glad to have
me?"
Glad! Was I eve SO happy be-
fore. Heaven forgive me for doubt
ing its goodness!-that I should ever
be happy again"
For the moment all his misfor-