The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1916-05-06

DTuCol bruce! lou HuSu Z 1e6I %
badi" Excitement made his voice
taking the sympathy intended or the
yearning in his faca
Bruce Jumped. startled. 70 his feet
and stared, his vision dimmed by the
smarting tears. Was II q ghost-was
he, too. getting "aueer7"
Haven't You anything TO say 10 me.
BruceT
There was an odd timidity IN his
fathers voice. but II was real enough;
II was no hallucination. Simultaneous
with the relief tho thought flashed
through Bruce's mind that his father
had seen him through the window In
his moment OF weakness and despair.
His features stlfrened and with quick,
shamed movement he brushed his eyes
with the back OF his hand while his
eyes flashed pride and resentment
Il said all had TO say fifteen years
ago when you refused me the chance
to mako something Of myself. II ia
had an education nobody could have
made fool of mo like this" His voice
vibrated with mingled bitterness and
modification.
Il suppose you've heard all about e
and come 20 say told you so'"
I've come to see you through"
You're too late: I'm down and
out" In Bruce's voice Burt rscog-
nixed his own harsh tones. you've
got nothing that I want now; you
might az well 20 back" His black
eyes were relentless-hard.
Won't you shake hands with me,
Bruce" There was pleading in his
voice as he took a step toward his
son. Bruce did not stir, and Burt
added with an effort: 1T amt no easy
as you might think for mo to beg like
this"
good"
"rve como twenty miles-on foot
to tell you that I'm sorry. I'm not
young any more. Bruce. I'm an old
man.and you're all I've got in the
world"
An old mani The words startled
Bruce-shocked him. He never had
thought Of his father Al old. or lone
ly. but always as tireless. self-csn-
tred. self-sufiicient. absorbed heart
and soul In getting rich. He seemed
suddenly TO sec the bent shoulders,
tho graying hair and eyebrows, the
burrows and deep. dropping lines
about the mouth that had not been
engraved by happiness. There was
something forlorn, pathetic about
him AZ he stood there with his hand
out asking for forgiveness. And he
had plodded through the snow-twen-
ty miles-on foot TO SEQ him!
The blood that 10 thicker than
water stirred. and tho tugglnS at his
heart strings grew too hard to with
stand. He unfolded his arms ana
stretched out a hand impulsively--
'Father!" Then both-"Dadi" he
cried.
my boy!" There was . oatoh IN
tho old mans voice. misty eyes looked
into misty eyes and fifteen years OF
bitterness vanished as father and son
clasped hands.
When Burt could speak he looked At
Bruce quiZzically and said, II thought
you'd be married by this time. Bruce"
Married! What right has Failure
to get marrisdT
That's no way TO talk. What's ono
slip-up, or two. or threef Nobody's a
failure till he's dead. Confidence comes
from success. but. let me tell you. boy.
practical knowledge comes from Jolts."
"Dog-gonel ought to be awful
WISE" Bruce answered ironically.
Yes" SOLDERING. I've learned some
thing I'm not liable to make the same
mistake twice." He added ruefully:
Nor. by the same token. am likely
to have the chance. I suppose I've got
tho reputation Of being something mid
way between an idiot and thief"
Burt seemed to consider.
well. now. l can't recall that tho
person who engineered this trip for me
as could make out sha was somewhat
prejudiced on your SIDE"
Bruce stared.
.Sher Not Ma Snowi"
Burts eyes twinkled as he shook his
head.
NO" dryly. mot Ma Snow. She's
an esumable lady. but doubt II she
could talk me into comm on q tour
Ike this In winter"
a wonderful light dswned suddenly
In Bruces eyes.
You mean--s
-Helen. I'm feelin' well enough
acquainted with her now TO call her
iielen. Whatever else we disagree on.
Bruce II looks as though We had the
same taste when II comes 10 girls"
You KNOW herr" Bruces tone
was as incredulous as his face.
burt answered with a wry smile:
After you've ridden on the back
seat OF that Beaver Creek stage with
person and bumped heads every
ifteen feet for n hundred miles, you're
not apt TO feel like strangers when
You get In"
Bruce almost shouted.
Shes In Ore City!"
"She was"
Bruce fell back into his old attitude
az the table. but his father stepped
quickly TO thu door and an instant
later threw II open. Al his side was
Helen-with outstretched arms and
face aglow, her eyes shining happily.
Bruce had not known that great
and sudden Joy could make a person
dizzy, but the walls. the floor, every
thing. seemed to waver as he leaped
10 his feet.
II was sure you wouldn't turn your
own partner out Of doors!" Her lips
parted IN the smile that he loved and
though he could not speak he went
toward her with outstretched arms
Passing the window, Uncle Bill
stopped and stood for a second look
ing into tho light.
Lord" ho muttered gr,ifrly:
seems like sometimes in this world
things happen as they ort." And
then. Ora CITY to tho contrary, he
demonstrated that he had both pres-
ence OF mind and tact. for he shouted
to Burt In voice that would have
carried mile on a still night-"Hi.
Old Mani Come out and help me with
this horse. sounds like he's down
agin and chokin' Nisself.'
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