The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1908-01-30


the stone steps. And there on til
threshold stood a fair and graclou
, lady, and she put out her hands an
called him brother, and drew hir
through the carved doorway. And pres
9 emily the child appeared, sunny
e haired little one of five hapy summers
And when she had looked him owe
. with her blue eyes she suddenly ran t,
him and leaned her sunny head con
fidlDgly against him and called hin
uncle.
So the new life Of the wanderer be
gan. 1t was a pleasant life but the
wanderer told himself it could not last
He knew that his will had beer
broken by dissipation that at any mo
ment the temptation that assailed him
might prove too strong. He felt sorry
FOR himself at times, very sorry. Here
was paradise, as 1t were, opened for
him. And the curse he had brought
upon himself drove him from it.
In appearance he was greatly
changed. The effect of good clothes
and warmth and shelter and wholesome
food was quickly apparent. And alb
staining from liquor had whltened his
oversanguine face. But the change
came too late. he told himself.
Everyone was kind to him. and the
child loved him. Not once did the sus-
piclon that he might not be welcome
enter his mind. Every evening the two
brothers took walk together and
talked of the old home and OF their
early youth and of the dear mother
derer to recall those happy days. 1t
grieved and panied him to talk of the
wasted years that had followed them.
He told his brother of the fight he
was making against the drink tempta-
ton.
You'll win out" the brother cried.
Never despair"
my fighting energy" the vagabond
answered, has gone. l am very weak
may fall at any moment If l do,
you will never see me again."
Don't think of It," the brother cried.
You have done nobly. / feel sure you
will win OUT
But the wanderer shook his head
They had made some plans for his
future. There was an opening for him
in a simple business that would not
tax his mind too much. He tried to
concentrate his thoughts on this change, |
but It was difficult That inward crav-
ing was sure to crop up when he least |
expected 1t.
He was safe when with his brother
and he was safe with the child. A
great friendship had sprung up be
tween them. No doubt 1t was the
thought of the child that often kept
him from yielding to the tempter. Her
confidence in him, her gentle affection,
the trust in her blue eyes, helped to
make him a stronger and a better man.
And then the child and the mother
went away for brief visit They were
to be gone but few days. and yet
when the wanderer babe them good
by 1t seemed to him 1t was forever
He was alone in the house the third
lay of their absence. His brother had
urged him to come with him to his
downtown office, But he had refused
Yet he knew 1t was not good to be
llone.
As he sat there In his room his past
rose like a hldeous shadow. 1t was
IN evil thing that confronted him. He :
hut his eyes. 1t was still there. 1t
aunted him, 1t Knocked him, it tor l
ured him.
He knew of but one relief. l
Why should he suffer when forget
illness could be secured so easily?
Quite mechanically he put on his hat |
nd started down the stair Then he |
urned and went back. There were GER
ain little trinkets that belonged to his
lother-he would take these. And $
here was the picture of the child.
Then he went out and shut the door
ehind him forever. +
An hour later he stumbled from a
rinlling place, and, stumbling I'M !
.eadily across the walk, leaned against u
friendly post.
He had stupefied his conscience, he ;.
nd banished that hooking specter. :
ow he must go back to the old life. :
o doubt 1t would be short and not :
,rticularly merry-but 1t was the only
fe for such worthless and hopeless
igabond
As he stood there gripping the sup =,
'rting post he saw at some distance 10
'wn the broad highway an open car -
age approaching. He knew the met -
esOme black team at once-it was his =,
Others carriage. Yes, and on the -
ar seat were his brothers wife and
e child.
He did not know they were to re- n,
IN so soon. No doubt they meant to FIR
rprlse him. A sudden pang touched to
$ heart. They must not recognize "a
m. He pulled his hat over his eyes. mr.
e would see them as they passed by II
r the last time. ma
They We're still many yards away ca
hen he saw the horses take fright. A