The Washington herald., 1914-08-05
DAILY SHORT STORY.
PRODIGAL PETER.
BY CATHERINE COOPE.
(Copyrsht, lslLJ

NCppJhGnt SiLJ
When Peter Newell returned to the
parental roof after one OF his habitual
rambles through the world OF idleness
to which he was a devotee he had ex-
pected his visit to be short one. That
expectation. however. had been formed
before he had taken a walk through his
mothers gardens on moonlit night in
June
There Peter had seen Mildred Vance.
At the moment his eyes had fallen upon
the girl she had been STOPPING over a
great bed OF snowy roses. and her wrath
like figure was only less ethereal than
the moonlit roses. Peter had gasped.
Beauty always brought more or less ex-
citement to Peters heart, but the uneG-
pectedness of Mildred's appearance there
in the garden smote him into silence
His mother had told him that couple
had taken the gardeners cottage. and
that the flowers had never been better
cared for.
The gardeners wife, By jove," NUT
tered Peter. He drew behind a shrub
and continued to watch Mildred inhale
long draughts Of moon-beamed. rose
scented air. There are circumstances
under which even a gardener is to be
envied." he added in thought
Mildred hearing a slight noise, look
ed up and beheld Peters great bulk only
half concealed by the shrubbery. The
sight OF a strange man prowling about
the garden unnerved her and she crump-
led up in a heap on the gravel path
Cursing himself for silly fool Peter
FASTENED to her side and picking her up
as IL she had been a child carried her to
the fountain not ten yards away. She
was like a flower in his arms. and he
carried her carefully lest he crush the
petals. Once beside the fountain he put a
few reviviNg drops Of water on her head
and she opened her eyes
Peter loosened his arms. Il am
beast" he said finally. II hope you are
over your fright. You seemed so like
an apparition there by the roses that I
was tempted TO watch whether or not
YOU disappeared on a moonbeam or by
way Of your two feet 1 am Peter Pow
ELL
''vagabond Peter she said quickly
and without thinking.
Yes said Peter. and laughed
And l am the gardener 's-wife," Mil
dred said. glad that he had not taken
offense at her candor. I hope that you
are going to remain at home for awhile.
Your mother calls YOU her Prodigal Peter
and misses you dreadfc1ly.'
Il suppose I am awaster, said Peter
but you see will some day have to live
here on the estate. so am seeing the
world while I can"
Your mother loves you.' said the girl
simply.
Peter opened wide his eyes. Surely
none but a married woman would have
the temerity TO talk to him in so frank
a manner Before he could make reply
Mildred had inclined her lovely head and
slipped OF down the garden path toward
- r,W l,yr 81, Ia
the great iron gate that opened the way
into the estate.
The next morning Peter awoke and
wondered II he had dreamed OF a wrath
like form among the roses So unde-
cided was he and so treacherous was his
memory that he questioned his mother
at the breakfast table.
Yes, Peter" his fond mother told him,
she is flesh and blood and unusually
lovely Your father and are still won
dering Just why she and her husband
are in the position they are"
whats the husband like" Peter was
conscious OF his mothers keen glance.
so splendid a type that your sister is
guilty Of having cultivated horticultural
tastes so that she may interview him a
dozen times a day" There was just a
trife of anxiety behind Mrs. Newelrs
tone.
What! Nell in love with another
woman's husband?' Peters voice was
stern even as his moral sense was stern.
II think I'll just hang around for a while
and keep Sis out of mischief"
Thus il was that Peter beguiled him
self into thinking that it was his sisters
welfare that kept him at home, when in
reality it was the blue OF Mildred's eyes
and the scarlet of her laughing lips and
the music of her voice that held him a
prisoner under his own roof The world
OF idleness had no lure for him. nor did
the gay cities beckon him. He wanted
only to live where he could from time
to time see his fathers gardeners wife,
and he regretted the time when he had
first seen her. There seemed to be no
way out OF the net into which her sweet
ness had drawn him
The night he wandered through the
gardens and saw his sister Nell held
close in the arms Of the gardner was a
night Of all nights to Peter Newell At
first he could not believe his own eyes
nor his own ears. for Nell. his strong
pure-minded sister, was pleading with
the handsome man. Peter held his
breath while his muscles gradually tight
ened.
NO" the man was saying. Il will not
drag you down to poverty. 1t might be
years before"
7 don't care" cried Nell: 81 will live
through anything II you will only take
me with you now"
Peter saw the man straighten his
shoulders. Nell's pleading has been
In vain
Peter the Prodigal rushed upon the
scene conscious of feeling much like
the hero in a melodrama. His lines had
not come to him, so he only stood star
ing unbelievingly at his sister and the
man whom she so evidently loved. He
found his tongue and ordered Nell into
the house. She went swiftly, glad to
escape with her storm Of emotion.
lips.
The man looked straight into Peters