Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-22
TEN YEARs LATER.
(First Prize,l

Ten years have passed. 1t is bleak
December evening. Night is closing in
early, and Mr.. Holt is walking slowly
toward his home. Such a home! Desc
late. deserted and falling into decay. The
doors and windows are closed, no smoke
issues from the chimney, the yard is
overgFOwn with weeds, and no honey
sounds of fowls and animals come from
the barnyard Yet here he lives and
has lived since the day more than ten
years gone when he overheard his chill
dren's criticism of him and their inter
cession IN mis- benalf.
At first he was touched, then a spirit
of opposition and stubbornness seemed
10 take possession of him, and from then
on he seemed to array himself against
his wife and children and to drink and
idle in a braggart kind of way.
Then one evil winter, from overwork
in the bitter weather, his wife had sue
cumbed to pneumonia and, with stricken
hearts and minds aghast, they had laid
her to rest forever in the little church.
yard.
This bright, ambitious wife! Ever
hopeful. always energetic. She was the
silver link that had held father and
children together.
But now, as times grew harder with
the little. family and the children more
portunity. as they grew old enough,
they left the cramping atmosphere of
home and went out TO earn, as best they
might. a way In the world, each for
himself.
On this December evening Mr.. Holt
lets himself in and builds a fire in the
ash-filled hearth. Then he goes into
the dining room as IL to prepare him
self a meal. but this room is unkempt,
the dishes not washed and the chill of
the air strikes to his bones. Almost
savagely he slams the door and returns
to throw himself into a chair before
the fire. and reaching for a bottle on
the table. he takes a heavy drink.
And then he begins to see pictures
In the fire.
He sees a quiet grave beneath a ce-
dar tree. 1t lies there mute, untimely,
helpless. It is almost hidden by a shrub
that Ruth planted there before she went
away.
But the scene shifts and becomes more
cheerful. He sees his oldest son in a
nearby city. From the first he has
made good
He is capable and attentive TO bust
ness and has gained a place of esteem
among prominent business men. Time
and again he has been handicapped by
his lack of training and lack of educa-
| ton. but never discouraged. he only put
| forth more of the capital he possessed,
brains. Drawn, perseverance. sobriety.
In the same city he looks into Arches
home. Can ii be that this is their baby
boy? This happy, handsome man in a
/ well-ordered home of his own, so for
tunate and content in the love of his
pretty dark-eyed wife and rosy baby.
Archie, too, has succeeded in a bus
uro~t, u frHrc
as Hunter and more content to take
his happiness from simple, everyday
pleasures. still he has fought his way
steadily side by side with boys who had
all the advantages of education, friends
| and money.
And this winter night he looks into the
branding house on a respectable street
where Ruth lives. There she is now in
the "parlor' with a Group of young wo-
member friends-all the group here
like herself. Bright, capable young
Ifaces-self-reliant and cheerful. Is 1t
fancy, or does her face look little tir-
ed-and is there a fragile look about
her that he does not remember? She
is still in her street dress. but the other
girls are all in soft-hued shimmering
evening dresses and outdoor wraps.
We'll, Ruth" says one as they turn
toward the street door, ST know you are
sorry now Of that last twenty dollars you
put in the bank. You might have had
frock and been going out with US" But
she only smiles. All Of Ruth's "twen-
ties" beyond actual necessities, go into
| the bank. She too sees a picture in the
| fire this winter night. An erring man.
sitting alone in the place that once was
home" to them all and dear with the
memory OF her mother and sister. She
/ sees II reclaimed and made bright with
sunshine and flowers and content.
I The fire in Mr.. Hollis health falls in
with a shower Of sparks. and he rouses
up. Again half hestitatingly he takes a
drink from the bottle, then he pushes
/ IL impatiently away. i've tried to
quit. But its d hard. Ruth says
one day she's coming home TO stay and
when-when she does, I'll quit, I
swear"
And another ten years pass away.
On a summer evening the last bright
I RAYS of sunshine fall benignly upon
? that cottage And upon Mr.. Holt him
I self an old man now, as he sits in an
I easy chair on the vine-clad porch. On
/ a table beside him lies an open Bible
and the days papers. Everything about
the place is dainty and in repair. And