Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-11-23

OH pecunluflly imam | nau been In the
morning.
l will not dwell on this period that
was far more miserable than my life
at home. l spent two years at it with
out finding myself in the end any bet
ter off than when l began. The boys
with whom l associated were repei-
lent to me. There was u difference
between them and me, if not in educa-
ton, at least in constitution. Poor
children, they were not only forced to
live without refinement, but had been
born Of unrefined parents. l learned
afterward that l was made Of too fine
material to thrive in such an atmos-
phere. l had no heart for either my
associates or my work. l had no fix
ed home. l lacked proper food and
clothing. In winter especially l suf-
fered from the cold.
One day while l was selling papers
l caught sight Of my father passing
in a street car. | ran after the car.
but had not the strength to catch it.
After l had failed l remembered that
it would have been no use to catch
one who had Intentionally deserted
Me.
Being now fourteen years old, l
began to read the papers l sold. l
lived in a newsboys' home, and when
l went there at night, instead of as
sociating with the other boys, I read.
One night what was my establishment
to see my own name in a personal. 1t
had been inserted by my father. If l
should see the notice l was to address
q certain number at the newspaper
Office. A faint hope that my father
had not intended after all to desert
me elated me.
The next morning l went to the Of
fee Of the paper that had contained
the advertisement, and a clerk put my
address in the box intended for re-
plies to the advertisement. That even
ing my father came to see me-. He
seemed very much pleased at finding
me. When 1 asked him why he had
not come back to me after leaving
me he made no reply, but told me to
come with him. Calling a carriage, he
took me to the residential portion Of
the city, stopping at a handsome dwell
ing. 1t stood in a yard, and through
that yard l had gone back to the
stable where l had slept the first night
after having been deserted. 1 told my
father this, and he replied:
~ left you near this place on pur-
pose
We went up the steps Of the house
and my father rang the bell. We We're
admitted and were ushered into a hand
somely furnished room such as l had
never seen before. An old gentleman
came in and looked inquiringly at my
father.
81 have found him." said the latter.
The old gentleman looked at me-.
Eyes, this is he said my father. u
can prove his Identity
You need not do that" said the old
i gentleman. He is the image of his
mother"
AS he spoke he took me by the hand
and l fancied l detected 4 tremor in
his voice. Then, turning to my father.
he said: Leave him here. Come and
see me tomorrow My father turned
and without a word to me left us.
Then the old gentleman put his arms
around me and drew me down beside
him on a sofa.
"My boy" he said, Il must tell you
the meaning Of this. That man is not
your father. He was formerly N Of
my servants. When your real mother
married your real father l was very
angry with her and would have moth
ing to do with her. Your father soon
died and your mother was starving. |
forced her, as a condition to taking her
home, to give up you, her child. and !
paid this man and his wife to take you
and bring you up as their Owl He be-
came excessive in his demands and !
broke with him. He brought you to
this house and left you before the door.
but said nothing to ME or to you as to
your being so near your real home. A
few months ago l fell i'll and believed
l was about to die. This made a great
change in me. l sent for you. but yoi
were not to be found. | gave your re
puted father money with which t
prosecute a search for YOU. and yol
are returned to me through an adver
tiSement.'
He pressed the electric button and !:
woman came in, to whom he gave in.
structions to furnish me with a bath
and put me to bed. l went with her
upstairs and was put in a beautiful
room and through an open door en-
tered a marble bath room. The next
morning a man came in with clothing
from which / was told to choose that
which fitted me. When l was dressed
l looked at myself i'll q mirror and
was astonished at the change.
I went downstairs and breakfasted
with my grandfather. Later he led me
upstairs and into a room where sat a
middle aged lady.
Mildred" he said, "the good God
has granted me the boon of returning
to you your SON."
The lady threw her arms around my
neck, but gave way to Mysteries so
that she was unable to speak. My
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