The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-09-09

but, responding to the habit of q life
time, caught himself up in time, and
turned to deposit his umbrella in the
niche outside the door, which he closed
gently an instant later.
y there anything wrong with Aunt
Rena?" demanded Eric. What brings
you out on a night l this2" w
Il shan't remove my coat, Mary"
said Mr. -Blagden, as she took his hat
and stood waiting for him to unfasten
the cape Of his coat. 1T Is a dreadful
night. I thought I should be blown
away crossing the How
'Pon my word, I had no idea Mrs. YER
ner's place was so attractive
Sit down. Uncle" said Eric, pull
Ing a chair up to the CRATE. 1--we are
gla to see you here" he flounderedl
considerably at a loss for words.
"Thank YOU" said Horace. Perhaps
1t would be better If I removed my coat.
An umbrella is Of scant service on a
night like this, what with the wind
blowing n the rain coming from all
Sides"
Eric relieved him of the coat, while
Mary undid the muffler. 70 their
amazement, he wore, instead of the
customary frock coat, the familiar old
dressing gown they had known since
childhood. With one accord, they
looked at his feet. They were encased
In the ancient carpet slippers that
Aun Rena had made for him q score
OF years before, once a toasted brown,
now a water soaked black.
For heavens sake!" cried Mary
aghast.
Noting their concentrated gaze, he
looked down. For a moment he was
silent. Then he sat down rather abb
ruptly in the big chair.
well IT de~clareio he murnTred
blinking his eyes. tt hadn't noticed
that ="
They did not wait for him to finish
the plaintive comment on his own I'M
happy plight. Mary gave commands,
and both set about to provide warm
stockings and slippers for him. He sub
mitted to the changes without a pro-
test, nj even smiled when she pro-
duced a huge pair Of gum boots from
the hall closet.
said. How could o think of coming
out in those slippers, Uncle Horace?
They"
His smile depended. That's Just it,
my dear" he said. II didn't think Of
coming out in them. Dear me, IL
But, Of course. I was in a great hurry.
1 don't believe I have ever ventured
beyond h porch In these slippers be-
fore. You are very good, both Of you.
Very good"
They stood above him, looking down
with puzzled, distressed eyes, both sud-
denly mute in the presence Of what now
shaped itself into a tragedy.
Mr.. Blagden held out his hands to
the fire, shivering as with a chill. Then
he allowed his gaze to sweep the warm,
lamp-lit room.
"You are very comfortable here, I am
sure" he said slowly, as If weighing
something in his mind. Very COM
Portable n happy in your own little
home"
Yes said they. without thinking.
His shoulders seemed to settle deep
er in he chair, his chin sank ever SO
Slightly.
Il fear, then. that my mission to-
night is-er-ahem!-a rather hopeless
one. If you will help me on with those
boots, Eric I will go back to youl
aunt"
In heavens name, Uncle Horace
: what has happeded?" cried Eric. VIVA
is it?"
Mr.. Blagden looked from one to thu
: other before responding. There wa!
: something abjectly pathetic in his face
: He aulped, and his firm square chil
trembled.
r "Well,-you see" he began, with al
effort, Il came over tonight to asl
you both to come back to-to-' He go
no farther. His voice choked and tear
started up in his eyes-eyes that ha,
Z | llol" iS1I" llS lllGI VI q . wv
hoods earliest pains.
The Midthornes, in that moment
utter crumbling OF the part of tn
: great man of Corinth, felt the passin
l. of a life long spirit of a~ntagonism an
l restraint, 1t melted and oozed ava
leaving their hearts empty, and aching
n cleansed Of all the things tha
" ranked.
They were young and strong, an
their souls were sweet despite the bit
ter seeds that this gaunt old mar ha
y planted in his years of plenty. Now h
was come to his days of famine. He ha
sown, and he had reaped, and his biz
were empty. He was poor, he had con-
~ to beg!
= They stood beside him. Their hand
u fell upon his dropping shoulders, an
" rested there while the strong current
;. human sympathy gushed from the
hearts into the famished sou Of tn
l. wondering old man.
30 He looked up, strangely daZed;
~ could not understand the sensation tn,
81 was creeping over him. He had new,
.. felt anything just like 1t before in q
his life. No n had ever presumed
AZ such gentle familiarity, such frar
'e fearleSsness. 1t was sensation.
"Why, Mary he began, a gre;
er question leaping into his wet eyes. f
II tried himself first. before going on, ju
is to see If he could smile as she w;
d. smilinp. Then, feeling his lips relax,
ne could not trust himself to furth
is speech for very fear Of saying som
~ thing that might destroy HI sweetne
Of his discovery.
1g Continued next week.)