The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-08-01

Quaking tnWardly. lie tOOk cap,
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 prodigars 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, shlvering, 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 III
that room he had sworn to be true
whatever might come.
To the long French window came a
womnn. her figure silhouetted against
the bright light Of the lamps. BE
recognized Kathleen. She was looking
out al him
She opened the door. gazing gravely
at the bearded. sallow faced man who
stared at her strangely.
"Do you wish TO see Mr.. McAdoo?
He's out of the city Just now"
"Kathleenw he cried IN "A strange,
croaklng voice. Don't you know
me?''
"Paulr' Doubt. amnzement. joy
voiced themselves In the word, and
welcome shone In her eyes as a bar
Dor light to the storm driven seafarer
81 bring you responsibility. Kath-
leen" He held out the child.
1--WE welcome responsibilities here.
she answered happily. She held out
her arms for the baby.
watt 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. VIII you take
her?"
"All the more for that reasonp'
She took the child from him, cud-
ding II close to her heart.
"Come in. Paul! Don't stand there!
Don't you know you have come
homer
He followed her into the library
The warm, cozy room seemed to en-.
fold him, to welcome him. He sank
into a chair, burying his face in his
hands.
Kathleen, can't help 1t. I don't
want to leave-to run away out into
the loneliness again. Do you think he
will let me stayp
Have you any doubtT She faced
him proudly. "Then you don't know
our Bobv'
ut wasn't easy, Kathleen--I was
SO ashamed--but 1t was very lonely"
But all that is ended. Paul"
Sometimes life throws the prodigal
a line. In Paul's case the line was his
sister, another astray under the curse
Of inherited temperament. whom he
had found dying and hugglng to her
heart a child of passion.
"She died. But I made those last
weeks easier for her. think. That
should count for something-do you
think so, Kathleen?"
'"That should count for great deal,
Paul"
"If only could be OF some use to
him! I'd like to be-" The humility sat
strangely on Paul.
"Ah, see you don't understand. He
needs all the help all OF us can give.
For William Murchell is dying, and
Bob must take his place."
HE has risen high. I am glad"
And she saw that he was sincere. He
sat up suddenly. with despairing cry:
Kathleen, it's not possiblel ! can't
stay. can't help him. can only
hurt him. Don't you see, I'll be re-
minder to him and to every one of
what must be forgotten-that thing
his shameT
But you don't understand" she
cried. "What others think doesn't
count. He has never denied II. part
ly, | think, because he wouldn't shame
you before the people. AS for him, 1t
wasn't his shame. He wasn't guilty.
"He-wasn't--guiltyw
Then to the bewildercd Paul she told
the story Of the convention as she had
had 1t from Haggln.
IL was long before he answered. His
hands and face twitched continuously.
Evidently bis nerves were gone. 1t
was not easy, the thing required of
him.
At last he opened his eyes. Its the
only thing to-tio."
She guessed what was IN his mind.
He would never ask IL. Paul"
Let us ! Haggin and do 1t. Now
--tonight-" lille my courage lasts"
Carrying the baby. she left him
alone In the library. When she re-
turned, after many minutes. she had
left the child asleep In the motherly
arms of Norah.
Paul was lying in the chair I'm the
same attitude as when she had left
him. his eyes closed He opened his
eyes and looked up at her question
ingly.
'They are coming now" she an