The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-04-18

His Home:
coming
How He Found His Grandmother
and What He Did For Her.
BY FRANK n. SWEET.
Copyright. 1909. Icy American Press
Association.
BY FRANK n. SWEET.


wall. gazing over his rocky fields with
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.
Does Mrs. Carter live here?' the
boy asked briskly as he paused in
front of the man.
''Shes stayin' here just now" was
the answer. Il guess you'll find her
in the house.
The boy walked OH past the barnyard
and up the clam shelIed lined path to
the front door of the old farmhouse.
as Mis-. Carter in:" he asked of the
little old woman who opened the door
Ground in the kitchen. eatin' her
dinner" was the mumbling answer.
Men folks eat fust here. Who be ye?"
But the boy had already left the
Step anu Was Oh HIS Way IOuilu 10 the
kitchen.
The door was partly open. and he
could see a long table. around which
were seated 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
Il am Mrs. Carter" she said pleas
antly. What do you wish:''
But the boy could not answer.
He felt all those curious eyes upon
him, and there was a lump in his
throat and a terror of something he
could not understand.
II wish to see YOU" he stam-
mered at length.
Very we'll. suppose we go into the
| sitting room. We can talk better
| there"
! He followed her through the long
kitchen into a big square room that
was scantily furnished. The old Won
an mOtiOned him to chair by the
window where the light rested full
upon his face.
Now" she began. then stopped, an(
a strange look came into her eyes.
"Who are your she asked in
troubled voice. Il am getting old ant
do not remember as I used to. But
| have seen you SOMEWHERE
He rose from the chair
"No, you have never seen me before,
| 1,o in1 SJ,,rf fr1l tn h0
1 looked like father, I am John Car
ter. Why don't you welcome me
grandmother"
She trembled and gazed at him ca
gerly
Johns boy-come home-' she sal
vaguely. Then flush came into he
faded cheeks and a glad light into he
eyes. 'And has-has John Gomez" sh
asked.
My father died last fall The boy
voice was very calm. but in it was
depth of pain which he strove vainl
to conceal. His last wish was fC
me to come home. He said there ha
been some misunderstanding betwee
: him and Uncle Richard, but that b
death would make it all right and thu
I would be welcome. Is Uncle Richar
here?"
Richard died many years ago. b
told me the whole story and wante
Johns forgiveness. Poor Richard. Pot
john
In the dim old eyes was freshe1
ing of the old pain, and the boy sa
it, and his own face grew wistful an
sympathetic.
"Dear grandmother"' he said softl
,, The old woman smiled and tried
rouse herself.
"You and are all there is left" ST
said. 1--WE will not speak Of the qua
- rel any more. They have made it 1
y before this Then she took his stror
:, young hand between her two wri
= kled ones and stroked it tenderl
y "How did you find me, Jacky:" 81
asked, using the pet name she he
given his father many years before.
"a man on the road told me that "
: lived in the big house by the pond.
was easy to find"
"And did you come all the way fro
Mexico alone?"
?. Eyes; l am used to travelling. l d
not mind it much, except for its bell
IS lonely. 1 missed father. We've we
n almost always together"
l. The brave eyes held back their teal
III but she could feel his hand trent
s in her grasp.
20 A cheap clock on the shelf began
', strike shrilly, but after two or thr
re spasmodic efforts it began to quav
s. and finally stopped altogether.
10 The old woman smiled.
~ 1T is old and decrepit, just II
~ everything else about the place." s
20 remarked sadly.
n John looked at her inQuiringly.
h. "What does it all mean?" he ask
O., 'Things do not seem as-as l expect
y, Father told me about Maplewood a
e. the long avenue and fine old trees.
or looked for them when 1 was conf
" y up the lane and thought maybe tt