Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-02-11
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY H. 1910
FTTTTTTTWET~T
His Home.
coming
How He Found His Grandmother
and What He Did For Her.
BY FRANK II. SWEET.
Copyright 1909. by American Press
Association.
BY FRANK n. SWEET.

%P%F%%tTF%'tF%F
1t was the hour OF noon. A tall, sal
low faced man sat ON the barnyard
slow. speculative eyes. He had finish
ed his dinner and was now waiting for
the help.
Every few minutes he glanced i'm
patiently toward the door OF the long
back kitchen.
At last he muttered something under
his breath and slid heavily from the
wall. At the same moment he saw a
boy approaching
docs Mrs. Carter live here?" the
boy asked briskly as he paused In
front of the man.
She's stayin' here just now" was
the answer. II guess you'll find her
In the house"
The boy walked on past the barnyard
and up the clam shelled lined path to
the front door of the old farmhouse.
as Mrs. Carter in?" he asked of the
little old woman who opened the door
Round In the kitchen, eatin' her
dinner" was the mumbling answer
"Men folks eat fust here. Who. be YEP"
But the boy had already left the
step and was ON his way round to the
kitchen
The door was partly open, and he
could see u long table, around which
We're seated a dozen or more old wo-
men and children. He knocked gently
and repeated his question.
A sweet faced old woman rose and
came to the door.
II am Mrs. Carter" she said pleas
antly "What do you wishT
But the boy could not answer
He felt all those curious eyes upon
him. and there was lump In his
throat and terror OF something he
could not understand.
IL wish to see you" he STAN
mered at length.
VERY well Suppose we 60 into the
sitting room. We can talk better
there"
He followed her through the long
kitchen into big square room that
was scantlly furnished. The old wom-
an motioned him to chair by the
window where the light rested full
upon his face.
Now" she began, then stopped, and
a strange look came into her eyes.
"Who are your" she asked in a
troubled voice. 81 am getting old and
do not remember as | used to. But |
have seen you somewhere"
lie rose from the chair.
mo, you have never seen me before"
he replied. but folks used TO say that
| looked like father | am John Car
ter. Why don't you welcome me,
grandmother"
She trembled and gazed at him ca
gerly.
Johns boy-come home" she said
vaguely Then flush came into her
faded cheeks and glad light into her
eyes "And has--has John Gomez" she
asked
MY father died last fall" The boys
voice was very calm, but In 1t was a
depth of pain which he strove vainly
to conceal His last wish was for
me to come home He said there had
been some misunderstanding between
him and Uncle Richard, but that his
death would make 1t all right and that
| would be welcome. Is Uncle Richard
here?"
Richard died many years ago. He
told me the whole story and wanted
Johns forgiveness Poor Richard! Poor
John"
In the dim old eyes was freshen-
ing Of the old pain, and the boy saw
1t, and his own face grew wlstful and
sympathetic.
Dear grand mother" he said softly.
The old woman smiled and tried to
rouse herself.
you and are all there Is left" she
said. I'VE will not speak Of the quar-
rel any more. They have made 1t up
before this" Then she took his strong
young hand between her two wrin.
killed. ones and stroked It tenderiy.
How did you find me, JackyT she
asked, using the pet name she had
given his father many years before.
"a man on the road told me that you
lived In the big house by the pond. II
was easy to find"
"And did you come all the way from
Mexico alone?"
YES; am used to travelling. did
not mind 1t much, except for its being
lonely. ] missed father. We've were
almost always together"
The brave eyes held back their tears,
but she could feel his hand tremble
In her grasp.
A cheap clock on the shelf began to
strike shrilly, but after two or three
spasmodic efforts It began to quaver
and finally stopped altogether.
The old woman smiled.
at IL old and decreplt, just like
everything else about the place." she
remarked sadly.
John looked at her inqulrlngly.
"What does II all mean? he asked.
Things do not seem as--as | expected.
Father told me about Maplewood and
the long avenue and fine old trees
looked for them when was coming
up the lane and thought maybe they
had been cut down. fancied should
know the place, but II all seems 10
strange" Then something in her face
made him ask suddenly, as II Maple.
woodT
"MaplewOod-thIs? oh, John, John.