The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-06-09
The Prodigal's
Return
BY EUNICE BLAKE

| John Perkins lived alone with his
daughter Mildred. He was an old
man, and she took care of him. He
was blind and partly deaf. His son
Jack had gone away TO sea ten years
before and had never returned
Whether he did not care to return or
whether he had been lost at sea or
killed in fight or died in some foreign
hospital was not known. His father
believed he was living and would re-
turn to him.
Before Mildred was desolate pros
pect She was twenty-five years old.
Her father would live probably just
long enough to leave her alone In the
world and too old to marry. AS TO her
marrying while he lived, he would not
hear of 1T. On this account he would
not permit her to have any man come
to see her. But he would occasionally
allow her to go out, and one night at
a dance she met her fate. A youHg
miller danced with her several times
and asked her If he would be welcome
as a visitor at her house She was
obliged to tell him that her father
would not permit her to have young
men call upon her.
Dick Elwood, the miller, after the
dance made inquiries about Mildred
Perkins and learned the story OF her
life, including her absent brother He
had fallen M love with her at first
sight and resolved to win her.
One day when Mildred had gone to
the village to do some marketing the
old man heard a knock at the door.
He answered the summons, and.
though he did not see, young man
stood before him.
Father don't you know meT"
The old man tottered with out
stretched arms
"Oh, jack" he moaned.
1--WE been an ungratefui son, father.
but have repented and have come back
to atone for my sin. Can you forgive
me?"
Forgive you. Indeed / do, dear
boy, and you're going to stay with us.
You're not going away any more"
'Ill remain about here, father. l
must make living and may not be
able to stay right here. But III be
near you How is Mile? She must
have grown up by this time"
"Oh, Mile is fine woman now.
I'm glad on her account as well as my
own that you've come home. I've been
dreadfully afraid she would marry and
leave me alone. I've known all along
that it is not right to deny her home
and husband and children. It's selfish,
downright selfish. And it has been
selfish of you, to her as well as TO me,
10 stay away and let her bear the
burden OF your old father. Now that
you have come home you can Introduce
some fine young man who'll marry her !
and be good husband to her"
Father" said the young man with |
a tremolo in his voice and a twinkle !
in his eye, I'm do it."
When Mildred returned she was
astonished to see her father and Dick |
ElWObu, IHt young Llliitt suS had ~
Gently met, sitting side by side on
sofa folded In each others arms. The |
old man heard Mildred come in.
"Miliie," he cried, Jack has come
back to us"
Mildred's look was one OF great |
variety. There were reproach-very |
reimbursement, pleasure, and on |
her cheeks bushes chasing one an
other like an aurora. Elwood sprang |
up and advanced TO meet her
And you are Millie! How you have
changed! When | went away you
were, IL / remember Alright, not quite
l knew then you would make
a fine looking woman, ami you have
not disappointed me-"
That the old man might infer he was
treating Millle as sister the stranger
his lips. at this Mildred, who
was between shock at the decep-
ton practiced on her father. dread of