The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-08-11

measure discouraged. He was not the
man to give up completely. There was
TOO much of the Puritan stock in him
for that. But he was defeated In his
first battle and admitted 1t without
question.
He had tried hard to succeed. The
great trouble was that he hadn't SUE
ceeded fast enough. He had found
employment, but at wages that were
pcarcely sufficient to maintain him. He
had striven hard to please-to make
himself useful-but his efforts were not
rewarded
He finally told himself that it was
che lack of opportunity that kept him
down. Without opportunity his sever
est efforts availed nothing. Opportun-
fty might confront him at any moment.
II might never come.
It was good thing that Anna Lin
eoln had written and advised him TO
come home. Anna was his sweet
heart, and it was Anna who had been
his incentive. He wanted to win
fortune for Annals sake. He had
gone to the big city cheered by her
love.
Anna's letters cheered him when he
felt the bluest. But finally she had
written him in another strain
Ezra" she wrote, Il want you to
come home and take a rest-or at
least enjoy change. ! can see that
you are not in a frame of mind to do
yourself credit. You need enlivening.
You need mental relaxation. Besides,
the tenants on your farm require atten-
tion. They are taking advantage OF
your absence. And want to see you,
Ezra. Come home"
He was glad to receive this call
He wanted to see Anna. He felt that
he need the tonic of her cheering
words.
The next morning he drew the lit
tie money that was due him from his
employer, his week being up, and
bought present for Anna in one of
the big department stores, and after
eating his modest luncheon from a
long counter went to his boarding
place and paid his landlady and pack
Cd his bag with his simple belongings
and started to walk to the ferry. 1t
was long walk, but he enjoyed it.
Perhaps this enjoyment was increased
by the fact that he was nearing home
and Anna.
The sky was cloudy, and as he
boarded the ferryboat drizzling rain
was falling. The train shed was dark
and gloomy and the rain fell heavily
on the roof as Ezra reached the wait
ing train. He boarded the smoking
car and put his bag on an empty seat.
As he entered the door he was jostled
BY two men who were on the platform.
He paid no attention to them, mere
N noting that one was dark and
shat the other was tall and slender
After putting down his bag he sudden
ly remembered that he hadn't made
sure he was on the right train 1t was
. road that frequently changed its
pchedules.
He stepped back to the platform and
met the two men just entering the
tisle They looked at him sharply, he
emembered.
Does this train stop at Millville?"
he called to uniformed official.
NO" was the answer. This is the
express. The way train follows in
twelve minutes"
A gong changed sharply.
"All aboard voice shouted.
Ezra turned and ran back into the
sar. 1t was quite dark, but he dis
cerned the form of the smaller man,
who had jostled him in the aisle, lean
ing forward and intently staring
through the nearest window as if ex-
pecting to see some one. The other
man was not in sight.
The train was moving as Ezra light
b caught up his bag and turned and
hurried back. 1t had gained consid-
srable headway when he dropped to
Che station floor.
Nearly four hours later he left the
way train at Millville and bag in hand
STARTED up the main street. AS he
looked around at the familiar scenes
he sighed. This wasn't the way he
had hoped to come back.
He was going to stay at the old cot
tage where he had boarded when lie
read law in the village. He would
pass the home of Anna on the way
The sky had cleared, the moon was
shining, the evening was warm and
pleasant. AS he neared Annals home
he saw her standing on the porch. She
ran down to greet him.
'T knew your figure" she cried and
put out both her hands.
She drew him into the little sitting
room and took his hat
81 don't think | could have come
home if the thought of this welcome
hadn't drawn me-" he said. I'm fail
ure, and you know it."
'T know nothing of the sort" she
cried "You expected to climb too
fast-that's the trouble. And because
you found that the rounds in the
ladder were far apart you, became dis
oouraged. That isn't fair"