The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-11-27
sTANLEY's RETURN
BY GEORGE MuNsoN.


Robert Stanley was running away.
The train was local. That was
part of his scheme. At Philadelphia
he meant to catch quick train to the
South. Thence he could make his way
undetected to South America. He
felt as eager as a schoolboy over 1t.
And it occurred to him that his past
life had ended when Miriam had died
The five and twenty years that had
elapsed was only an interlude.
( He looked up as the train stopped
at q small station with an odd sense
of familiarity. He saw the name Bir-
mingham. Why. that was his home
town. and he had never been home
since his mother died. He had al
ways meant to, until he heard of
Miriam's marriage, and then he had
dropped a veil over the past. Now
he had a sudden longing to see the
little place again.
He took his suitcase-all he was
carrying with him-and got Off Two
other passengers were leaving the
train. One was a man about fifty-five,
the other girl of nineteen or twenty.
AS Stanley stood on the platform she
turned. and he saw Miriam looking at
him.
He raised his hat automatically,
gasped, and stood staring at her fool
ishly. The girl looked doubtful for a
moment-then she whispered to her
| Tot x.ffth ma 11 cd nv
preston upon his face.
Il beg your pardon" stammered
| Stanley, "but my name is Robert Stan
ley, and IL seemed to recognize"
you did" smiled the man. What
an odd meeting! My name is Roger
Lesion. and this is my daughter
Miriam. Her mother often spoke Of
you"
Il knew you from your photograph.
Mr.. Stanley, at once.' said the girl
smiling. Though it was taken before
l was born"
81 feel complimented," said Stan
ley.
Are you staying in Birmingham p
inquired the other. III so you must
be my guest. hope you won't refuse,
for my wife always spoke so kindly
of you; in fact, / understand you were
an old admirer of hers?"
/ Kindly of him? Could anyone have
ever spoken kindly of him? Stanley
was unguarded. For the first time in
score of years he dropped the mask
OF GOODNESS that he presented to the
world.
And I know all about you" the ell
derby gentleman continued. Il was
saying to Miriam only yesterday that
you must be harassed to death by
those Wall street scoundrels. We hope
you'll best them. You see3 we al
speak kindly Of you in Birmingham
1t will be great honor
Before Stanley could recover from
the surprise of this dramatic meeting
he had accepted Leston's hospitality
overnight. But on the following morn
ing he found himself unable to rise.
1t was nothing serious, the doctor
said, but weeks of anxiety he'd broken
down Stanleys strength. And, com
ing back to the old town, with its boy
hood memories, he had yieldod.to the
weakening and softening influence
He was like a runner who drops ex
hausted at the end of a race. Fol
I'VE days he DID not stir from hi!
room; he was too exhausted to leave
|. his bed. even, during the greater par
of them.
Lesion had scrupulously respected
his secret, and, as Stanley had givei
! out that he intended to spend n weel
y in the mountains no anxiety or sur
prise was caused by his disappear
ance.
I On the sixth day he came to tn
! conclusion that the old life, Away
hateful, was now impossible. But tn
idea of running away had somehow be
/ come equally impossible. Life seeme
construable only in terms OF the IN
tie town and-Miriam.
!. In the girl he saw his old love
n fairer, and with the same winnin
charm and sweetness. And with tn
s. new life to begin, II seemed unbelie'
able that he should not have Miriar
G TO share IL.
4 That night he had frank tai
with MIR. Lesion. He had alread
showed him much of himself, but no
he barred his life from the beginning
G He told him his hopes and fears, ho
I, he had planned to run away, how th
i strange meeting had affected him.
Q 1T may sound strange to you, ST
(. in a man OF forty-hye," he said, but
\. feel like young fellow coming I
F, you to ask for your daughters han
II Miriam does not consider the di
ference in our ages an irreparab
disqualification, may I have your pc
p mission to ask her to become m
e. wife?"
x Lesion clapped him on the shou
li der There is no reason why yo
i. shouldn't, Robert" he said, q don
N think age changes our real nature
.e very much. Il would give me niue
., happiness And ] believe you an
L tho only American man irnnyV NH