The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-04-25
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PRODIGAI..

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
fretful child on his knee, to his sur
prise discovered in a Pickering inward
glow q feeble response to the life with
out. He was going home. with fear
and little hope in his heart. yet b."
caught himself counting the milepostS
with growing eagerness as the train
swung around the hills.
1.-THE eternal witchery OF spring.
he murmured to himself. Filling our
hearts with life and hopc-false hope
sometimes.
The train stopped. y newsboy came
aboard. crying the evening papers. A
passenger who occupied the seat III
front of the man with the child bough,
one.
II SEQ Murchell's dying" he remark
ed to his neighbor across the aisle. "A
big loss to this state!
Not so bi: 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,"
IL do believe it. but | don't care. Id
have done the same under the circum.
stances. lot Of people will care,
though. Funny about US Americans
the occasional slip up of good man
cuts bigger figure with us than the
continual crimes of 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 60 back ::
How can they let me? o 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 a familiar, quie'
street. The prodigal's 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 il
that room he had sworn to be true
whatever might come.
To the long French window came a
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
ct the bearded. sallow faced man VIII"
stared at her strangely.
do you wish to see Mr.. McAdOO?
He's out of the city just now" j..
"Kathleen"' he cried IN a strange.
croaking voice Don't You know
me?" '" 'r
"Pauly' Doubt, amazement JOY,
voiced themselves In the word, and
welcome shone in her eyes as har-
Dor light to the storm driven seafarer
II bring you responsibility, Kath-
leen." He held out the child.
I'VE welcome responsibilities here. F"
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"
''All the more for that reasonv'
She took the child from him. cud
ding it close to her heart.
'tCome in, Paul! Don't stand there!
Don't you know you have come
homer
He followed her into the library
The warm. coy room seemed to en-
fold him, to welcome him He sant
into chair. burying his face In biz
hands.
Kathleen. can't help it dom
want to Ieave--to run away out into
the loneliness again. Do You think b.
will let me stay?''
Have you any doubt?" She faced
him proudly Then you don't know
our Bobv' N.
J 1T wasn't easy. KathleeD-l wa,