Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-04-23

1.-THE prodtgdl Is yourself"
i have guessed who it is that lies there.
I know l sinned against him and
against myself and left him to die In
forgiving. That Is what the statue
said to me, as he must have said, I
am no more worthy to be called thy
son."
"Ah." she cried, "he knew and he
forgave you. Hughi His last thought
was of your coming. That Is why |
carved the figure there"
"You carved it?" he exclaimed. She
bent her forehead to his hands as they
clasped her OWL.
1.-THE prodigal Is yourself" she said.
ST modelled 1t once before when you
came back to him, In the time you have
forgotten. But l destroyed 1.-THE
words were very low now-'on my
wedding day"
His hands released hers, and. looking
up, she saw, even in the moonlight,
that with the last word his face had
gone CHASTITY white. At the sight timid-
ity, maidenly reserve, fell, and all the
oma in her rushed uppermost. She
lifted her arms and cIasped his face.
Hugh" she cried, "can't you remem-
Der? Don't you understand? Think
I was blind, dear, blind. A white
bandage was across my eyes, and you
came to me in a shaded room. Why
did you come to mel"
A spark seemed to dart through his
brain like the prickling discharge from
a Leyden jar. He saw himself stand
ing, facing a figure with bandaged
eyes. He saw the bandage torn off.
felt that yielding body in his arms.
heard a voice her voice crying:
"Hugh, Hugh! My husband" and felt
those lips pressed to his own in the
tense air of a darkened room.
A cry broke from his lips: Eyes. yes,
l remember! Jessica. my wife!" His
arms went round her, and, with a little
sob, she nestled close to him on the
doorstep.
That hour on the mountain side IN
der the stars had left Harry possessed
of a melee of perplexing emotions
Dreaming and waking Jessica's face
hung before his eyes, her voice sound
ed In his ear. The future held no long.
err any doubt; it held only her. Where
was thai future to be2 Back in the
city to which his painful curiosity had
so lately driven him? This lay no
longer in his own choice. 1t was for
her Io decide now-Jessica. his wife.
He looked up transfXed, for she
stood there before him ankle deep In a
brown whirlwind of leaves from a
frost stung oak. her hand to her cheek
in an adorable gesture that he knew.
her lips parted and eager.
81 wanted so to find you" she said.
II have so many, many things to say"
ut is all wonderfully strange and
new" he said. ut is as though l had
rubbed Aladdin's lamp and suddenly
had my hearts desire. How could J
have thrown my pearl away?"
"We are not to think of that" she
protested, never, never any more"
you are right" he ~rejoined cheer
fully. at is what is to come that we
must think Of" He paused an instant;
rnen he said:
Last night when you told me of the
white house In the aspens l did not tell
you that ! had just come from there
from Aniston."
She made an exclamation of wonder
TELL me-" she said.
Sitting with her hand In his. he told
Of that nights experiences. the feai
that had held him as he gazed at her
portrait In the library. the secret of
the Korean desk that had solaced his
misery and sent him back to the ia
Their be was not to see.
At mention Of the will she threw out
her hand with a passionate gesture
1.-The money is not miner b cried.
ut is yours. He intended to change
it! He told me so the day be died
oh. if you think r.
mo. no." he said gently. There is
no resentment. no false pride. In my
love, Jessica. am thinking of you
and of Aniston. You would have me
go back. would FOL mott"