The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-07-02

who had fallen asleep In his chair be-
fore a table. Upon the table we're a
number OF papers. pens and an ink
bottle.
The old man started to his feet and
stood, confronting him. Jim, taken
aback. remained motionless. He had
not had time to make up his mind
whether TO fee or strike the old man.
over the head He had never de-
scended to violence.
The old man peered at him intent
ly. And suddenly Jim realized that
he was blind! The sightless eyes.
were looking into his own with q
puzzled expression.
Then, with a look OF charming De'
nignity, the old man advanced to-
ward him, one hand outstretched, the
other guiding him by the table edge
Il am glad you have come MI
Mr.. jennings" he said. you wrote
me that you didn't think you could
get away to draw up my WILL ana
that / had better wait till ! was IN
town, but now you have come ! am
very glad"
Jim took the outstretched hand and
muttered something.
"Sit down." said the old man. 1
want you to read over my VIII ana
tell me whether 1t has been drawn
up correctly. | see very badly, you
know. can manage to write, but
reading is beyond me. hope every
thing is correct"
Jim took the will in his hand and
began to scan It, At the first SEN
tence he started violently and stared
into the old mans face.
you see. | have left all to my son
James," said the old man. i did
him a great wrong. You know why
had to leave the home town? told
you?"
"Because-of James," murmured
jim.
YES. Everybody knew about his
theft from the bank, as they supposed
and / couldn't hold up my head. we
had always been honored among the
community. / couldn't go on living
/ there with the sneers on peoples
faces. / would go down the street
and fancy heard them saying, there
goes old Melton, whose son is a thief.
So came here.
1T was not until week ago that l
learned what a great wrong l had
done him. Jim took the burden of
Toms guilt upon him to save his
brother. And / had given all my heart
to Tom after l sent my other boy
away.
He fooled me for years, the
smooth, SNUG hypocrite, but I've found
out the truth at last. can't live very
long, but shall see that Jim gets all.
o my boy, if only your old father
could clasp you in his arms again be-
fore he dies!"
Jim looked up at the haggard face
and the overwhelming realization OF
his own baseness came home to him
with stunning force.
This will is all right, sir" he said
huskily. Jim knew that. That was
part of his business. He had intended
to be lawyer once. The old man
had made no mistake
Then I'll sign it" said the old man
"IIl sign it tomorrow. No, I'll sign
it when the girl and Jim came here
to visit me. l want Jim to see 1t
and to know that his father intends
to make reparation for his blindness
and willfulness. l should have trust
ed him"
YES, sir" said Jim huskily.
q never thought to see the boy
again." said the old man. 1T was
only by chance, when ! was in Fair
view, six months ago. Have you pa
tience to listen to an old mans story|
Surely, sir
81 didn't know until a week ago that
it was Tom, not Jim, who was the
scoundrel. But took to the girl, and
when l learned who she was l said;
Jim isn't all bad to have won the
heart of a girl like Ada
"My Cod" muttered Jim.
81 beg your pardon?"
81 beg yours, sir. Go on"
81 met the girl and took to her at
:. once Somehow she reminded me Of
Jim. We got to comparing notes, and
found that the boy she talked about
was my son. Think Of it! 1t was a
miracle. / told her then, not know
ing Jim was innocent, that l wanted
him to come home. l told her what
an old fool / was, and how I'd spent
, hundreds OF dollars trying to trace my
son. l wanted to forgive him.
didn't know then that it was he who
would have to forgive me.
well that's about the end of 1t
sir. The girl expects Jim back in an
other month, and she's going to tel
him and bring him here to live. And
they're going to be married here. And
I'm a very happy old man, and doni
deserve it, God bless you, Mr. Jen
, nings."
God bless you, sir" muttered Jim
|. clasping the outstretched hand.
A moment later and he was outside
! the house, looking back at the igntee
window. He saw his fathers figure
as he sat by the table. And in hli
mind rose UP another figure, Adas-
God bless her-Ada, whom he was go
!. ing East to see.
Ancient Concrete.
a The statement that reinforced con
q crete has been found in French build
A6n futa