The mirror., 1910-12-22

but as wasted by years Of anxious
worry and neglect. 81
On the morning following the in
cident related. Jack aWoke from a
none too refreshing sleep. Try as
he would he could not quiet the
memories which the previous day
had awakened. At length, yielding
to an impulse against which he had
fought SO long, he resolved to return
home. With Jack, to decide was to
act, consequently he was soon pre-
pared for the journey. That same
evening found him aboard a train
that would reach his home town on
Christmas morning. Throughout
the long journey he carefully re-
viewed his past life. Failure was
stamped on every page and he fell to
wondering if a mothers love would
be sufficiently strong to exist in the
face of such failure. He had plan
ned different Homecoming through
the long years, but his plans had
come to naught. He had left home.
nearly ten years ago, resolved to
gain both fame and riches. He was.
then his widowed mothers only sup
port and he knew how proud she.
was of her Jack and how bright was.
the future her fancy had woven for
him. That he should fail to fulfill
her every expectation, he felt was
but reasonable, for he knew the
depth of a mothers confidence In
her son. That he had failed entirely
in his duty and obligation to her,
filled him with shame and remorse.
What had he found in the gay life
he had led that would compare with
the love of mother for her only
son? What joys had the world to-
bestow that could be weighed in the
scale with that which comes from
the knowledge that his duty to his
mother had not been disregarded?
Or what sting Of defeat could scar
his heart to the very core, like the
burning knowledge of the present.
that he had held her interest and
happiness second to his own?
When Jack alighted from the
train at the little town where he.
had begun his journey many years
ago, he found that time had made
many changes. The familiar faces
he remembered we're now missing
from the curious crowd assembled
there. Sadly, but quickly he made
his way down the principal street
and out upon the highway that led
to the village of Springvill, his home-
Alone and unnoticed he trod the
once familiar road, noting here and
there a scene associated in his mem
ory with some youthful exploit. In
the distance he saw the church tow
er, it alone appeared unchanged.
Through the clear morning air came
the peal of it's familiar bell, announc-
ing the hour of Divine worship
With quicken1ng step he fastened
on, past the village churchyard-
where his father lay in his last un-
broken sleep. Already he could see
the chimney of the little cottage that
once meant to him home and as
the familiar lines of that sacred spot
broke into view his mind surged
with memories dear to him. In vain
he sought for the welcoming figure
in the doorway, which fancy always
associated with his homecoming. At
the gateway he paused for moment,
then hurried on down the long
neglected pathway. His only desire
now was to reach the side of her
who had waited SO long. firmly re-
solved that nothing would part them
again. Already he had lived over
the welcome which he felt sure was
waiting for him; heard the words of
love his presence would inspire and
4 L Il. L