Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-04-10
The Prodigal's
Return
BY EUNlCE BLAKE

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 a 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 it. 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
dance she met her fate A young
miller danced with her several times
and asked her if he would be welcome
as 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 in 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 me?'
The old man tottered with out
stretched arms.
ooh, jack" he moaned.
give been an ungrateful son, father.
but have repented and have come back
to atone for my sin. Can you forgive
me?"
Forgive you! Indeed l do, dear
boy, and you're going to stay with us.
You're not going away any more"
"rll remain about here, father. l
must make living and may not be
able to stay right here. But I'll be
near you. How is Mile? She must
have grown up by this time"
ooh, Millie is n 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 oil along
that it is not right to deny her home
and husband and children. It's selfish,
downright selfish. And 1t has been
selfish of you, to her as we'll as to me-
to 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 Il good husband to her"
Father" said the young man with
tremolo in his voice and twinkle
in his eye, iii do it,"
When Mildred returned she was
astonished to see her father and Dick
Elwood. the young miller she had re-
Gently met. sitting side by side on
sofa folded in each others arms. The
old man heard Mildred come in.
"Mill!e," he cried. Jack has come
back TO u.s.
Mildred's look was one of great
variety There were reproach-very
Embarrassment, pleasure, and on
her cheeks bushes chasing one an
other like an aurora. Elwood sprang
up and advanced to meet her.
"And you are Mile! How you have
changed. When | went away you
were, If | remember Alright. not quite
fifteen. l knew then you would make
a fine looking woman. and you have
not disappointed me-"
That the old man might infer he was
treating Mile as sister the stranger
smacked his lips. At this Mildred, who
was between shock at the decep-
ton practiced on her father, dread of
the outcome and amusement at it all,
smiled. 1t was all very funny. There
was a good deal of conversation be-
tween the three about bygone days,
but it was finally discontinued by FL
wood who showed a deplorable igno-
rance of family history. Telling Mr..
Perkins that he must so for the pres
ent to his lodgings, he took his depar-
ture, followed by Mildred.
"For heavens sake" she exclaimed
when they We're alone, father must
find out that he has been deceived,
and then the effect on him will be
awful"
at is not necessary that he should
be deceived" replied the miller
"He will expect you to come and
live at home"
ooh, I'll fix that; only give me
little time"
Perkins did insist on his boy going
back into his own room. Dick con-
trived to put him Off till he could in
troduce a friend who was to marry
Mildred The gentlemans name was
Elwood, and his business was milling.
"Why, Dick" said the old man, "his
voice is so near like yours that
couldn't tell 'em apart"
Dick told his father that Elwood
was one Of the finest fellows in the