The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-13
TOLL 70 THE PAST
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Long Island town. looked up quizzing-
" at the young fellow who stood be-
fore him.
Looking for . Job. ehf" he asked.
surveying his rather furtive express
sion. What's your name?'
James Bennett" answered the 9th
or. and wondered whether It was
Homes kindly face that made him tell
the truth against his will.
Il used to milk. fye years ago.
said Bennett. = slow flush creeping
over his features.
Then you 90 straight up that road
and ask for Mr.. Homes farm" said
the grocer when you come TO 1t
70 "a and tell Minnie, my daughter,
that you're the new hand I've hired.
And II you've got suitcase, take II
along with you"
A few minutes after Bennett had
left Homes store, Home received a
visit from stranger which made him
very thoughtful. In fact he closed his
store half hour ahead Of time and
hurried to his house
Minnie met him at the gate and gave
him hug. She was pretty girl OF
twenty, and growing more like her
mother every day, her father would
declare. He took her by the hands
and tried to read her eyes.
New hand Gomez he asked.
yes. and he's dandy, father" de-
clAied the girl. He went right to
work in the garden and he's there
now"
Home strolled over to where Bennett
was working in the garden. He stood
watching the young fellow at work.
Bennett had certainly performed won
ders. Home was sorry for him.
Bennett came toward him, hoe. In
hand. Mr.. Home" he said, with
flushed face, Il ought to have told you
something. came out Of Elmira last
month. where they sent me for three
years for theft. got in with bad
companions when / came to the city.
Nobody would give me work after that,
and the police bounded me. walked
out from New York. want chance
to do better" ra
you can have 1t, Bennett" answered
Home. turning away abruptly.
Now wonder what made me tell
the fellow that he soliloquized.
Nobody in the town knew Of Ben
nett's record, except Home. Gradual
ly the boys step grew lighter. his COM
plexion clearer. He was the best work
or Home had ever had. 1t was evident
that he had been sincere in his ex-
pressed intentionsse Home ceased to
think Of his past except as youthful
folly. He made him manager Of his
dairy q year later. Bennett went to
night school. Everybody spoke well
of him.
What turned Homes thoughts along
very. serious lines was the evident at
tachment that was springing up be-
tween Bennett and Minnie. The two
would saunter along the lanes, arm in
arm. after the days work was done.
At first Home thought little of 1t. 1t
was not until he saw, in the darkness,
a black sleeve-line against the white
OF his daughters waist that he realized
she would some day leave him.
He was expecting Bennett to come
to him. But instead of that he came
home to find Minnie in tears and Ben
nett gone. A letter was lying on the
table, and Home picked it up and read
1t.
Bennett wrote that.he couldn't face
Home and tell him that he had de-
ceived him. Since leaving the reform
atory he had committed a burglary.
Suspicion had never directed itself to
him. but that was the real reason why
he had left New York. He had tried
hard during those two years to put it
out Of his mind. b.st now that he loved
Minnie he was going back to take his
punishment, and asked them to forget
him.
Home whistled and took his daugh-
ter in bis arms. "The fellow was q
scoundrel," he said.
No. father" she answered. Il love
him. He is good man" =.
Bennett hardly saw the faces In the
courtroom He stood patiently before
the judge. How much would he get7
Five years? Seven to twelve yearsf
He could hardly expect mercy; the
crime had been planned in the reform
atory. And Bennett had refused to
diyulge the name of his confederate.
Wonderfully Bennett saw Home
standing before him. speaking to the
Judge. He told him OF his life in the
village. and how he had voluntarily
come In to the city to surrender him
self because the past preyed on his
conscience. He was asking for sus-
pended sentence.
Bennett did not know what the
Judge was saying. He stood dumbly
in the box until the warden touched
him on the arm.
You're free." he said.
Bennett only stared at him. The
man became impatient Suddenly Ben
nett found his hands taken in Homes
strong clasp.
Come along my how" said Home