The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-01-27
CHAPTER XVI.

- CHAPTER XVI
r. THE PRoD1eAL-
4 wEsTBOUND express train
~ was rafting down the noun
~ tains. 1t was early spring
even among the hills. A man
On the train, dividing his attention be-
tween the panorama without and the
eretful child on his knee, to his sur
prise discovered in Pickering inward
glow 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. 4:
passenger who occupied the seat In
front Of the man with the child bought
one. : Isl
*..'1 see Murchelrs dying" &c, remark:
ed to his neighbor across the aisle. "A
big loss to. this stated - ~..-~. -
:@>:Not SO big as II we didn't have Nc:
Adoo,'" .: returned the other. =. s~::>., q,
That's true. They're turning their:
guns on him already too. Revived.
that old nomination story. : For my
part I don't believe It." 49,.
@'I do believe it, but don't care. I'd
have done the same under the clrcum-
stances. A lot of people will care,
though. Funny about Us Americans,
the occasional slip up of a good man
cuts 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 I go back?
How can they let met O God. keep
my courage alive!"
When the train stopped he alighted,
quaking tnwardly. He took a 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 4 familiar, quiet
street. The prodigals limbs were
shaking SO 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
path leading to the porch He could
see. into the brightly lighted library.
He knew every little detail Of that
room. He. remembered. that once In
that room he had, sworn to be true
whatever might come. ...
To the long French window came 4
woman. her figure silhouetted against
. the bright light of the lamps. He
recognized Kathleen. She was looking
out at him. @.
She opened the door. gazing gravely
at the bearded, sallow faced man who
stared at her strangely.
DO you wish to see Mr., McAdoo7
Hes out of the city just now" =, s..
"Kathleenr' be cried in a strange,
|: croaking voice, Il Don't You know
me?" -.':.' - ).
"Paulr' Doubt. amazement. joy,
voiced themselves in the word. and
welcome silone in her eyes as a har-
Dor light ito the storm driven seafarer
II bring yoaf a responsibility. Kath:
leen." He held out the child.
/ I'VE welcome responsibilities here :
she answered happily. She held out
her arms for the baby.
wait! She is my sisters child. Her
fathers name don't know She has
no right to be In the world. She Is
cursed from her birth: Will you take
herr" x 81: 81. 3.
"All the more for that reasony'
I She. took the child from him, cud.
ding it close to her heart
"Come in. Paul. Don't stand thsre!
Don't you know you have como
home T. Z. &. :s5
he followed her into ths library.
The warm. cory room ssensd to e.,
told him, TO welcoms him He sanl