Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-02-22
WHEN he RETURNED
Human Interest Story Of Broken
Financier's Homecoming.
ey JOHN LINFooT.

Bremerton. huddled up In his seat
looked out OF the window OF the West
bound Limited Neat farm houses well
titled Helds. flew past. with sleek cat
tie that looked up. munching content
eddy. out OF the lush grasses II was
the prairie country of Iowa, the re-
gion of black earth and farmlands.
the nations dairy and the center OF
her agricultural wealth.
Boys with pitchforks. farm-hands
seated above their harrows. guiding
the draught horses, glanced careiessly
ut the speeding train and turned TO
their work once more They were
contented with their lot Such might
have been Bremerton's. And he. who,
until two months before. had been
man feared and respected in the
greatest part OF America. a power In
Wall street. against whom host had
banded themselves and barely pre-
vailed-he found himself almost envy
Ing these countrymen.
1T looks like my home country"
he reflected. as he caught sight OF a
distant range OF low hills. blue in the
haze of the afternoon. And to think
perhaps with my few acres. happy.
never knowing or caring OF anything
that lay behind these hills!"
The train slowed. drew into the sta
don. waited few moments. and then
pulled out again. A man came into
the carriage and stopped at Bremen
tons side. The financier looked up
with start and unconcealed impa-
tence.
Excuse me. sir but are you John
Bremerton7" asked the other.
''Wellf" Bremerton demanded curt
II was sure that was on your
track knew had recognized you.
{ want the inside story of the failure
Of the CornucopiR bank. ! am repre-
sentative of the Iowa Free-Soiler.
Good Lord. man. that story has
been printed in every newspaper be-
tween here and Kingdom Come" said
Bremerton angrily. Don't you read
the metropolitan press out here?"
20 yes. indeed said the reporter.
smiling, "but you know. Mr.; Bremen
ION, that the story has never come
rom your own lips. You have sue
HE newspaper men Now It would
De a great feather In my cap IL you
would give me an exclusive inter
Tiew."
Bremerton softened a little. With
he ioss OF his fortune. the wreck OF
Ill his hopes. with nothing at all
saved out OF the ruin. why should he
rot at least be Instrumental in bring
ng a fragment of reputation to this
roung man at his side. whose per-
1nacious good humor had already
Won his sympathy
You see, SIR" the reporter contin-
ted, "of course we have all the de-
Ails OF the failure We know that
rou were made the victim of an un.
,crupulous gang OF financiers who
wanted your properties Nobody has
ever breathed a word against your re-
yutation. When the crash came you
vent back. faced the music. and came
suit with flying colors. But what are
Fou going to do now? You are an
iowa man by birth. are you not? And
rou never married. Mr.. Bremerton?
Have you come back to settle in your
state and marry your first sweet
aeart7 want real human story. :
"A real human story!" repeated
Bremerton mechanically. and smiled a
little bitterly at the irony OF events
which had left his life. except for his
widened experience. just where 1t had
Seen when he had left Pennington. a
penniless country boy. fifteen years
before And his first sweetheart
Lizzie Gray! She was only fifteen
then and he twenty-one. but he was
going to become rich and famous in
The metropoiis-perhaps he would
even make twenty dollars a week
and then. when that miracle occurred.
be was going to send her the fare to
come to him. and they would live hap
ply all their lives He had written
every day for a month. then every 9th
or day, then twice a week. once a
week, once a month. after a year his
letters ceased After two years be had
atopped thinking of her. He had
beard. not long afterward. that she
was married.
"Framingtoni Change here for
Des Moinesi" shouted the conductor
and Bremerton started up hastily and
seized his suit case. He had taken
passage to Des Moines. although he
had been indifferent where he went
Now that he reflected. he had selected
that place. subconsciousiy. ms 1t were
because the train passed through
Pennington. He had wanted to see
the old town again.
Standing upon the platform he
found the reporter at his elbow He
had entirely forgotten him.
I'm afraid there's wait OF two
hours for the Des Moines train" he
said I'VE just missed the connec.
ton Now. Mr. Bremerton. won't you
please help me with that story? Il
wiII mesn a great deal to me sir "
Bremerton was a man of quick de.
cisions He pulled out his watch
Three O'Clock" he said. giancing al
the dial He turned to the other
-My SON" he said I'm going to take
nm hours stroll through the old place
Perhaps Il will get me into sent
mental mood. or reminiscent one
n Il does-well. I'll be back at -four
and I'll give you that story
He stroiled out OF the station Elk