Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1909-06-04

II can go any turtner.
"Yes. you cam the younger man
told him. Here. brace up. None OF
that
lie caught the old man by the
shoulders and steadied him.
That's all right, the old man said.
you're a good boy You've stuck by
the old man like a son. No son
would have done as much. No son
would have stuck to such a battered
an disreputable old hulk. You're
fine lad-a fine lad,
He rubbed his hand confusedly
across his eyes
Come" said the young man,
sharply. and drew him forward. "We
can't stop here in this lonely place.
Come
But the old mans strength was
spent. His weary feet could not bear
the collapsing frame any further
He stretched out his shaking hand.
Il can't see, he said. Where are
we, boy?"
We are on lonely part of the
highway" the young man told him.
There's no house in sight"
We should be almost there NUT
tered the old man. IL could find
the way If it wasn't SC dark. Where
are you, boy?'
Here. cried the young man. 4My
arm is about you. Try to bear up
little further. Come, lean on me.
Lean hard
He half carried the old man a few
feet further. But he could put no
life into the dropping form.
Il wanted to get home, sobbed
the old man THE prodigal knocks
at the gate. A vagabond. an idler, a
worthless wreck. feeder of swine
the prodigal is fainting at the gate.
There is no father at whose feet 1
may kneel - no mother to see my
shame. Boy, look to the rights
there not tiny graveyard on the
hillside?"
YES" the young man answered.
"Yes. | see the white stones.
THE father is there, the mother is
there. No one is left save the prodi-
gals brother. But l ask no odds of
him-ho odds"
His head dropped. his body slipped
down little in the young mans
grasp.
Stand up, I tell you.~ cried the
young man. "Come, pull yourself to
srrner. Don't give up. The house
yos seek can't be much furthet along
the road. Here, here. Look at me.
Now step on. One-two-three. Curse
those t.. fellows who stole my aask!
His voice was almost roar, His
arm tightened about the old Saga-
bond. He looked up and dowd the
roadway, but no human being was in
sight.
Let me down" murmured the old
man. I'm tired, so tired His
voice suddenly grew plaintive. "It's
long walk-to the mill-a long
walk. But father is pretty sure to
pick me up on the way. Hark, hear
the wheels. He's coming, he's com
ing"
The young man looked about him
despairingly. Then he lifted the frail
old form in his arms and laid it on
the grass at the roadside, under a
spreading oak He quickly drew off
his coat and folded It and placed it
beneath the gray head
The vagabond family smiled His
scanned and sunken face took on
peaceful expression.
LET me sleep" he muttered; "let
me sleep"
The young man drew himself erect
and looked up and down the roadway
once more. And now he saw some
body approaching. A light wagon
drawn by single horse had appeared
from around the bend in the road
way.
The wheels. murmured the old
man. "the wheels"
The younger man ran out in the
roadway and waved his tattered hat.
The speed Of the horse was quick
ened. A moment later he made out
the driver to be woman and she
was alone.
The woman, she was only a girl,
stared at the young man sharply as
she reined in the horse He was drsty
and unkempt and unshaved, a shabby
figure In the yellow dust of the high
way.
what do you want?" she asked.
"There is an old man lying here at
the roadside" he answered, and
pointing toward the vagabond. "He
is exhausted and In a serious eondi-
tion, He needs shelter and a doc
tor"
She turned the horse from the
roadway. lightly leaped to the ground
and ran to the reeumbent figure. A
moment later she knelt beside 1t.
Poor man. poor man. she mur-
INJURED, and pushed the matted gray
hair from the wripkled forehead.
Then without looking up she added,
There is a brook just beyond the
fence. Fill your hat with water"
The young man was away in a mo-
ment, and he was back almost as
quickly. He knelt beside her and
held the dripping hat The girl
dipped her handkerchief in the liquid
and gently hathed the pale face and
the gray head
Then the old man opened his eyes
and stared up at the face so near
him. A faint smile softened the
rugged features.
"Millieent," he murmured.
The girl gasped She gave the
young man a startled glance.
"Millicent was my mothers name.
she whispered. Who is this old
man-what is his name?n
The young man shook his head.
al don't know he whispered in
return. II met him yesterday-on
the road. He seemed very anxious
to reach house near here.
-Millicent,r murmured the old
man. Don't go away. I'm coming
back in a moment. Father is calling
me. See. he IS taking down the
bars"