Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1913-02-13

Ion you KNOW me MI huOHtCo'
he leered, thrusting his grinning face
within an inch of the others. I'm
Alvin"
Knowles stammered in embarrass-
ment why, I'm glad to see you, Mr..
Alvin" he muttered. Let me see
you've been away quite a while,
haven't your"
Yes, but I've come back" answered
Alvin MIR. Howell has promised me
a position with the bank again, but
he's moved, hasn't he? Where is he
hving?"
"On the corner OF Main street" fall
tered the other, T-positively have
an engagement" And he shambled
away, casting back frightened glances
at the ex-conviot as he walked.
That was all Alvin wanted to know.
He guessed that Howell occupied one
OF those new white frame structures
that he could see in the distance.
very pretty in their groves Of shade
trees. If he hadn't been a fool he
and Isabel might have occupied one OF
them now Isabel! He had not
thought of her, but now, in his desper-
ate temper, he resolved 10 make her
suffer just a little. He would not hurt
her much. of course; she was almost
beneath his notice.
And Isabel was seated on the lawn,
right at the edge of the lawn under
tree, watching the passers-by in her
foolish, empty-headed way, and rock
ing. AS he approached he saw that
boy some seven years old was stand
ing by her side and that another
sprawled at her feet. Her children,
evidently! He stopped; and sudden
ly the veil that obscured his mind was
lifted, and with sob he turned away.
She had not recognized him.
He knew that Knowles would
spread the story of his return all over
the town What fool he had been to
betray HIMSELF He might have gone
to the bank and accomplished his pur-
pose; now he would have to wait till
dark and fire through Howelrs dining
room window AS he meditated on
his revenge he noticed that, automati-
cally his feet We're leading him in the
direction of his lather's home, two
blocks away It was a street he had
trodden thousand times, He halted
and looked up at the little house. 1t
was unchanged But the shades were
down and evidently it was unoccu-
pied
1t had grown dark when Alvin final
" turned toward mis- enemy's house.
He passed the little place of his birth.
A light was burning in the parlor.
Then it was occupied, after all. But
he did not speculate as to its inmates.
He passed swiftly along the empty
street to Howell's residence. Once, as
he walked he thought he heard steps
behind him and fastened, for that
which he was to do had to be done
quickly and there was no time to tenn
porize. Yet, when at last he crouched
outside the room and saw Howell, his
feet in slippers, stretched out in
chair, reading, he forbore to fire. His
hatred needed the sight of the man
TO enkndle it. AT last, almost reluc-
family he raised the revolver.
Just then his arm was caught from
behind-not that which held The revol-
YER invisible in the darkness; never
theless he lowered it and swung round
to look into the face OF little elderly
lady His mother stood there at his
side.
John" she whispered, clinging TO
him you've come home. John! |
knew you would. Father is waiting
for you. He is bedridden now, but he
has forgiven you.
Gle wouldn't let me write or see
you for years. John, but his illness
has softened him. He said you would
come home He made me promise to
wait for you. We have light in your
room every night, John"
Then the mists lifted entirely, and
suddenly he understood that the most
precious love in all the world was his;
and, having that, what did he care for
others?
He felt his eyes blinded with tears
as he slipped the pistol into his pocket
and clasped his mother in his arms.
Copyright, 1913, by W C. Chapman)