St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-12-26
BY Alice Hill
Copyright, Ford Pub. Coz

him. The years may have softened
her, and she may have forgiven him
ay, and perhaps she might even wei
come him back
| 1t had now grown quite dark, and
with this hope gradually growing
stronger, he Strengthened himself with
steady resolve to risk all and see
what came of it.
At length he arrived at the little
house his wife had taken when the
crash came. He halted for a moment
| and leaned upon the ratings. The low
er part of the house was well lighted
and genial warmth seemed to come
through the raised lattice of the
blinds. Then came the notes of a pi-
ano, and child's voice burst forth in
trivial little song.
He stood for moment, with his
hands clenched upon the ratings until
the iron heads bit into his palms, and
a great, administering longing surged
| over him to be once more the head
of the happy little home, to take his
place at his own fireside, with his wife
sitting opposite him crocheting, while
his sunny-faced little girl poured forth
her songs in merry thoughtless glee.
He gulped quickly to clear his throat,
and, approaching the door, knocked
softly. No answer came, and after
moment he knocked again, louder.
There came footsteps; the door was
opened, and his wife stood before him.
A smile was still upon her face, but
as she recognized him by the light of
the hall lamp her features changed,
and cold, hard look came into her
eyes.
"Madge!" he said.
"You!" she answered scornfully. $50
you've come back! What do you
Want?'
Her words struck him like a blow,
and he drew back a step from the
door,
"Madge, don't for heavens sake,
don't turn me away! Haven't l SUI
fered enough for my fault? Have you
no greeting for me?"
Greeting! What greeting can
have for felon? AS you have sown,
so must you reap. Haven't you
brought sufficient shame and misery
upon me? l thought you had passed
out of my life forever"
"Madge, have mercy. You know the
cause of my offense and how bitterly
! have paid for it! You know-but,
good heavens! how can you know?
How can you imagine the horror of
that fearful prison, shut up with the
vilest of the earth, working like a
slave under the whip by day and
pacing my cell like Gagged animal by
night / had shamed you before the
world, and l atoned for it with tears
of blood. Won't you forgive me,
Madge?"
What! and take you back into my
home-into that room where my child
is sitting, innocent that the world
holds such beings as you?"
Our child, Madge!"
MY child, | say. Do you think
let her know her father was a felon
working out his just sentence in
prison cell? No, no; my child's father
is dead, as my husband died when the
prison gates closed on him."
She stood with her hand upon the
door, as If to close it. He looked at
her despairingly, and as he saw his
hopes of happiness drifting away from
him he flung himself at her feet
"Madge, Madge, for our child's sake,
don't drive me back there! Can't you
forgive me? Take me back and help
me in my fight to be an honest man!
will slave for you and Maisie while
heaven gives me breath. and with you
to back me can still hold up my head
and face the world. But If you spurn
me, what is before me but the jail?"
He tried to take her hand, but she
pushed him back with her foot.
Col she said, pointing to the gate.
60, and never let me see you again.
You have sown and you must reap. My
house is my home, and you shall not
soil it. Go, l say-go!" She stamped
4AO1 lOOI sIIIo poiltOu W t1IC SoG1LCs anu,
rising, he went down the path without
a word.
Slowly he walked up the road, his
shoulders sloping and his arms hang
ing loosely at his sides. He saw a
policeman by street lamp and skunk
furtively into the roadway. Then, out
of the corner of his eye, he saw 9.
portly gentleman approaching with a
heavy gold chain across his vest.
why not?" he muttered. Why
not?'
In moment he had snatched the
chain, and then stood still as he heard
the policeman's hurried footsteps be-
hind him; and that night the prison
gates closed upon him once more.