The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-05-04

vile since the death of his mother had
made it possible for him to sever all
ties except one and take his long
dreamed-of college course.
This one tie had been Emma Sneed-
man. He had come back to her. and
into his conversation he had subtly
woven a question that would decide
whether she was above the narrow
prejudice Of the town, or hopelessly
permeated with the views of her father
and his neighbors.
Emma" he had said, 81 have fin
1shed college. Where would Won adj
wise me to locate?"
Here Emma had replied, simply:
and Craker, heavy of heart, had gone
away and never until now, came back.
Craker had gone to the far CITY
been admitted to the bar, and pros
pered. He had never intended to come
back for the girl. Business had called
him here, and now-she was deadl
She was dead The heart. long sub
dued, bravely threw off its shackles
TO tell Craker the truth.
l must so 10 the house" ruminated
Craker. There was a noticeable droop
10 the broad shoulders. What a beast
or a man that Sneedman is to talk i'm
such heartlesS manner of his own
daughter who has just-died. Let me
see. Emma was 10 years of age when
left here. / have been i'm the city
eight years. She was ~ when she
died. II wonder if she ever mar
riedE Craker turned his feet toward
the old Sneedman homestead.
There was little i'm the town that
had changed. Craker noticed with
listless eyes, the aforementioned
crack in the tavern window, a scar
given it in the old through a rock
propelled at him by Bully" Hender-
son. The town pump still squeaked
dismally as the Anticipated Hobbs drew
the water for the wife's weekly wash.
No one recognized Craker. His
smart, attire, the nose glasses and his
heavy dark beard. gave his an appear
ance of prosperity that no one of them
would have credited to the queer boy
who had left town years before.
Craker STROBE sorrowfully up the
long walk leading through the Sneed-
man yard. His eyes sight the old
fashioned knocker of the front door.
1t was crapeless!
Beast" reiterated Craker. His hand
stopped as he reached forth to sound
his arrival. a gasp quivered on his
lips. Some one inside the house was
singing! Singing, at that, a catchy
little melody of last seasons musical
comedy; a bit sadly amiss in this
house of sorrow. His hand again
found the knocker. The singing sud
denly ceased, and hurrying steps told
him that some one was on the WaV
to the door.
II am an old-eT-acquainta
of the family" came from Craker as a
pretty girl suddenly flung open the
door. Il have come to view the re-
MAINS
The girl stared at him a moment in
speeches. silence. The remains"
she gasped, and then, with al@rmingly
red cheeks, "Oh, you are here to
see-Emma"
Come in giggled the girl.
She led him speedily into the we'll
remembered parlor, and, murmuring
something that escaped him, she dis
appeared through the door into the
hall. A tinkle of hoidenish laughter
came echoing back to him.
Il wish / had married Emma"
groaned Craker. She must have en-
dured a dogs life with these unfeel-
ing people,"
"Why-it is Frank Craker!"
The man raised startled eyes and
fairly flung himself out of his chair.
YOU" he gasped
Before him, in all the dainty beauty
that he had known of old, and poise
and carriage that he could not define.
stood-Emma Sneedman!
why, yes-me! Why not, Frank! Is !
there anything so very wonderful |
about it?"
"But-but l thought you were dead"