El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-11-01

4
n tains. 1t was early spring
even among the hills. A man
on the train. dividing his attention be-
/ tween the panorama without and the
I fretful child on his knee. TO his sur
/ prise discovered in a Pickering inward
I glow q feeble response to the life with
out He was going home, with fear
and little hope in his heart, yet he
caught himself counting the mileposts
with growing eagerness as the train
swung around the hills.
''The eternal witchery Of spring"
he murmured to himself. filling our
hearts with life and hope-false hope
sometimes"
The train stopped. a newsbOy came
aboard. crying the evening papers. A
passenger who occupied the seat in
front Of the man with the child bought
one.
81 see MurchelIs dying" he remark
ed to his neighbOr across the aisle. "a
big loss TO this state,"
Not so big as if we didn't have Nc
AdOO." returned the other
That's true They're turning their
guns on him already too Revived
that old nomination story. For my
part ] don't believe It"
81 do believe it, but 1 don't care. I'd
have done the same under the circum-
stances a lot Of people win care,
though Funny about Us Americans
the occasional slip up Of good man
cuts a bigger figure with US than the
continual crimes of a really dishonest
one. He'll be governor. though"
The train started. and the man with
the child lost the answer. he shrank
back in his chair. How can 80 back?
How can they let me? 0 God. keep
my courage alive"
When the train stopped he alighted,
quaking inwardly. He took cab,
fearing the curious eyes Of the street |
car passengers He need not have
feared. The people Of that city had
long since cast him out OF their mem
cries.
They turned into q familiar. quiet
street. The prOdigaTs limbs were
shaking 50 that he could hardly hold
the child His heart beat painfully.
Wild thoughts Of leaving the baby on
the doorstep and fleeing rushed
through his brain. The cab stopped. |
The passenger. shivering. got out
He walked slowly up the gravel I
path leading to the porch. He could /
see into the brightly lighted library. /
He knew every little detail of that I
room. He remembered that once in [
that room be had sworn to be true /
whatever might come.
To the long French window came a
woman. her figure silhouetted against /
the lNght light Of the lamps BE
Kathleen. She was looking
out at him.
She opened the door, gazing gravely
at the bearded saIlow faced man who
stared at her strangely.
DO you wish to see Mr.. McAdoO?
Hes out Of The city just now"
Kathleen he cried I'm a strange.
,roaking voice. Don't you know
ne?~
Paul" Doubt. amazement. Joy.
voiced themselves in the word. and
shOne in her eyes as a har-
Dor light TO the storm driven seafarer
81 bring you a responsibility, Eath-
cen" He held out the child.
eve welcome responsibilities here"
Ihe answered happily. She held out
her arms for the baby.
'eWait. She is my sisters child. Her
,atheTs name don't know. She has
10 right to be in the world. She is
.ursed from her birth. VIII you take
ler?"
'All the more for that reasonP
She took the child from him. cud-
ling it close TO her heart.
Come in. Paul, Don't stand there.
Don't you know you have come
lomeg
BE followed her into the library