Putnam patriot., 1909-02-26
Mary's Home
coming.
By DOROTHY CARLTON.
BY DOROTHY CARLTON.
Copyrighted. 1853. by Associated
Literary Press


he knows" remarked Josiah Wayne
20 his wife the morning set apart for
gratitude for the years blessings.
We've got each other. Slab. and
,hst.s heap she REPLIED softly
That's right. Martha. Were spared
ne God's grace. but will Banker Hall
snare us when the mortgage comes
due next month"; And he shook his
head obviously.
Deacon Hall IS mighty close fisted,
ma and he likes to get good farms
chean. If he don't get ours, il will be
divine answer to prayers. Irll be
miracle" declared his wife.
THE book says the Lord takes care
Of his children. Martha. Wen put our
trust IN him" And the eareworn. toll
tired farmer rose and left rhe house.
IF Mary WAS only here" sighed
Mrs Wayne. and. seeing as she amt
Fl would he powerful comforting TO
taIk about her. but Slab Is set in his
ways. Seemed as If | knew she was
happy I'd be thankful in spite of the
mortgage" she said TO herself as she
hastily wiped away the starting tears.
Ten months before Mary Wayne had
eloped with a man who passed three
weeks vacation at the farm the sum-
mer previous.
John Mott had been delighted with
the weather beaten old farmhouse and
its surroundings when he first glimpsed
them, not that they stirred an ar
tistie soul but because they recalled
nd ha fst ha
had left. an orphaned youth, to make
fortune in the metropolis of the west
Almost like a dream come true"
he thought, and he lived again the
years when he was blood brother to
the woods and its people. His fnan-
cial success and business standing in
the city were nothing TO him In the
country.
He was just an eager boy, who was
restless to go fishing and swimming
and club tree limbs fer chestnuts.
though It was August. all at once.
and his only discomfort was because
an his desires could not have stimuli
taneeus qualification.
Then came Mary. She was away
when he first arrived. and he had be
gun TO hunger for companionship of
Young people when She returned. IN
candor the girl could not be called
beautiful. but there was that In her
face to make her good to look upon.
Her features were not regular. but
the ensemble showed strength of pur-
pose.
Painters would not have raved over
Int 4 9anfd
have found in their depths that tender
sympathy which makes some women
akin 10 angels.
She had taught school the term be-
fore TO aid In lifting the blanket of
obligation that haunted the old people
in the evening of their lives.
She was the only child. and her one
aim was 10 make their last days COM
Portable. but the hope seemed far from
fufillment. fer her savings We're small.
the moi t-@se doomed large. and the
banker was grasping. inexorable
Shyleck
Still the year and more that inter-
vened before the blow would fall
might bring many things. SO Mary
worked and prayed.
To Mott the girl was a revelation.
He had known girls in the city. but
they lived in world apart from
Mary Wayne Here he found SINGER
ity and frankness that came from the
heart. not the mind.
The difference in types appealed to
him. charmed first and then held his
affections When he said goodby at
the end OF his stay he knew he had
found the one woman he needed. and
he hoped to win her.
In the autumn she resumed her
school duties In town several miles
distant from home, and it became q
fixed engagement that Mott should
spend Sundays with her. She rarely
went to the farm at week ends, as the
trip involved expenditures she did not
feel justified In making.
Motifs visits were comforting from
the beginning. Gradually she realized
that they were dear TO her in antici-
patton and memory, and one Deem
her night she found herself and knew
they were necessary TO her happiness.
Motifs next cali was eventfui. He
was sure OF his love for her. Because
of his uncertainty as to her reciprocal
ton he experienced unrest and sought
TO learn his fate Mary loved him and
when he proposed told him so. Then
he journeyed to the farmhouse home
of his sweetheart's parents
you may write to any one In the
city you know as TO my character and
ability to care for Mary" he told him.
young man. cities are wicked
places" said Farmer Wayne. do you
believe in God?" he asked abruptly.
.'why-er-of course. Mr. Wayne"
he replied abashed at the text Of the
query.
DO you belong to church, the
stern inquisitor continued.
We'll. Mr. Wayne, you see ! am
pretty busy. and II stammered
Mott
you are not Christian. You are
money changer in the temple. thun-
Aered the Old man. Il know your city
ways. You forsake all paths except
those that lead to fortune. You are
hypocrifes and deceivers" be shouted
In concluding the denunciation.
Then r. began the young man.
Never see my daughter again. sir.
Goeslbys
Il love Der dearly. Mr.. Wayne. and
she loves me. III rot promise never
TO see her agau. And he left WITH