Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-06-27

disturbed country, 4 HHdily Fedcueu
the angry hive of political dissension
at Washington. Here / was near home,
but did not tarry, and passed thence
by stage to Leesburg, in Virginia, and
so finally came back into our little val
ley and the quiet town of Wallingford.
/ had gone away the victim of misfor-
tune; / returned home with a broken
word and an unfinished promise and
shaken heart That was my return.
I got me a horse at Wallingford
barns and rode out to Cowles' Farms.
At the gate / halted and looked in
over the wide lawns. 1t seemed to me
noted change in them as in myself.
The grass was unkempt, the flower
beds showed little attention. opened
the gate for myself. rode up to the old
stoop and dismounted for the first time
in my life there without boy to take
my horse / walked slowly up the
steps to the great front door of the old
house. No servant came to meet me
grinning. l, grandson of the man who
built that house, my fathers home and
mine, lifted the brazen knocker of the
door and heard no footstep anticipate
my knock. The place sounded empty
Finally there came a shutting football
and the door was opened, but there
stood before me no one that ! reeog-
nized. It was smallish, oldish, gray
ish man who opened the door and
smiled in query at me.
81 am John Cowles, sir,' said. hesi-
tating. yourself / do not seem to
know
my name is Halliday, Mr. Cowles,'
he replied. A flush of humiliation
came to my face.
II should know you. You were my
fathers creditor"
'Yes, sir. my firm was the holder of
certain obligations at the time OF
your fathers death. You have been
gone very long without word to US.
Meantime pending any action
'sYou have moved inP'
'I have yentNSed to take possession,
Mr.. Cowles. That was as your mother
wished. She waived all her rights and
surrendered everything, said all the
debts must be paid
.'Of course
''And all we could prevail upon her
to do was to take up her quarters there
in one of the little houses
He pointed with this euphemism to-
ward our old servants quarters. So
there was my mother, woman gently
reared, tenderly cared for all her life,
living In cabin where once slaves
had lived And | had come back to
her, to tell story such as mine!
81 hope" said he. hesitating, that
all these matters may presently be
adjusted. But first l ask you to in
huence your mather to come back into
the place and take up her residence"
/ smiled slowly. You hardly under
stand her." l said Il doubt if my in
fiuence will suffice for that. But
shall meet you again" l was turning
away
Your mother, belive, is not here
she went over to Wallingford / think
it is the day when she goes to the little
church,
'sYes, know. If you will excuse
me l shall ride over to see If can
find her." He bowed. / was hurrying
down the road again. 1t seemed to
me that could never tolerate the sight
Of stranger as master at Cowles'
Farms
found her at the churchyard of the
old meeting house. She was just turn
ing toward the gate in the low sand
stone wall which surrounded the bury
ing ground and separated it from the
space Immediately about the little
stone church, l knew what it was that
she looked upon as she turned back
toward that spot--it was one more low
mound, simple, unpretentious, added
to the many which had been placed
there this last century and half; one
more little gray sandstone headmark,
cut simply with the name and dates of
him who rested there, last in long
roll of our others. The slight figure in
the dove colored gown looked back lin
geringly. 1t gave new ache to my
heart to see her there.
She did not notice me as slipped
down from my saddle and fastened
my horse at the long rack. But when
/ called she turned and came to me
with open arms.
"Jackr' she cried. ''My son, how
have missed thee! Now thee has come
back to thy mother" She put her
forehead on my shoulder, but present
ly took up mothers scrutiny Her
hand stroked my hair, my unshaven
beard, took in each line of my face.
'Thee has button from thy coat
she said reprovingly. "And what is
this scar on thy neck; thee did not tell
me when thee wrote, Jack, what ails
thee?" She looked at me closely.
'sThee is changed. Thee is older.
What has come to thee, my SOM"
Come ! said to her at length and