Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-10-21


money changer In the temple" thun-
dered the old man. Il know your city
ways. You forsake all paths except
those that lead to fortune You are
hypocriteS and deceiversT he shouted
I'm concluding the denunciation.
Then r. began the young man,
Never see my daughter again, sir,
Goodby."
Il love her dearly. Mr.. Wayne. and
she loves me. I'll not promise never
10 see her again" And he left with a
heavy heart.
liz took many. many days 10 decide
whether to go where her heart led or
obey her Puritan parent In the end
love won. and in January they were
married In Chicago.
Farmer Wayne received one letter
from his daughter that he read. Ii an
nounced her marriage Subsequent
missives were returned unopened. and
he forbade his wife to mention her
child's name to him.
Thanksgiving day held little cheer
for the occupants of the old farmhouse.
There would be Just two lonely old
people at the table who expected soon
to be called to an eternal reward.
81 hope Mary is happy" Mrs. Wayne
spoke aloud without thinking.
Don't, ma. don'tr cried her hus-
band.
why. Siah, you're crying" and she
ran to soothe him.
Martha, was wrong. l know II
now. Things have changed since we
were young, and because that young
man did not see his duty as see mine
l drove Mary from home. wish shs
was here, wife: wish she was here, "
and his voice was broken with the
grief that was In II.
An hour later Mrs. Wayne. glancins
out Of window, saw two young peo-
pie descending from carriage. One
was Mary, the other her husband.
The old farmer was sleeping on the
lounge In the living room and did not
hear the cry Of joyous reunion she
made as Mrs. Wayne ran down the
path to droop, weeping, in the young
arms of her daughter.
"John would come, mother, and I've
wanted to. oh, so much" she said.
"Pm so glad, Mary. Pa has forgiven
you, think, from something he said
today. He's sorry the way he spoke
to Mr.. Mott.
"Can him John, mother" said Mary
gently.
Mother" said Mott, 'let me be
son to you," and he kissed her wrin-
killed. cheek.
Fathers asleep in the sitting room.
Irl"- began Mrs. Wayne as they en-
tered the house.
"No, mother. Come up to my old
room. John will see father, and I've
something to tell you," and Mrs. Mott
led the elder woman upstairs.
The farmer was awake when Mott
entered.
"Mr. Wayne, Mary and I have come
to ask you he started.
'There. there. boy. Let's forget
what said. Times have changed. II
Mary could love you know you are a
good man. Make her happy--you1l do
thatr' and his hand went out to his
son-in-law. - .r
Il win, sir. wfll," fervently Mott
replied.
A moment later Mary and her moth
er came into the room. Mrs. Wayne
was crying quietly as though her grief
was not great
''Siah," she said. there's our Thanks
giving"
"what, Martha7" he asked.
MARY and John have paid the mort
gage" and she took the paper. from
her bosom.
Farmer Wayne slipped to his knees,
resting his wrinkled forehead on a
hand calloused by honest toll.
"Dear Lord, we thank thee" he be-
gan. and while he spoke with God the
others stood bowed In reverence. AT
its conclusion Mary slipped her arms
about her husbands neck and. half
turning, said:
Father, you forgot one thing"
eyes. Mary"
ITO thank him for sending me the
dearest lover husband In the world.
AYE, Mary, girl, and to us son.
her father replied.