Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-03-25
THE SUNDERED
TIE
By ALLEN CHAPMAN

came TO Euston, put up at the local
hotel for half week and saw a GOOD
deal of his daughter during that time.
For eight years Mabel had practically
lived at the Euston seminary except
for these breaks 1t was just after
her sixteenth birthday that she solved
for the first time in her life the mys-
terry of the strange separation OF nus
hand and wife since she was little
baby. Her mother had never told her.
A stern, joyles- woman, when the SUD
iect was preached she said, austerely'
1--WE could not agree and 1t was for
the best"
once Mabel pleaded with her father
to explain the strange condition Of al
fairs.
"Nly child" he had said sorrowful-
liz. 'your mother is peculiar woman,
and | probably made mistake IN
taking her from the farm home where
all her life was centered."
Later a schoomate, who had learned
the real story from her mother, relat-
ed 1t to Mabel Your mother had
been brought up in a quiet, c0ngenial
| family" she said. For a year she
| and your father seemed contented ana
happy. Then you were born and your
mother grew homesick for the ola
folks and the old life. She hated the
city. She insisted that your rather
return with her to the old farm, In
vain he pleaded that it would be at
the sacrifice of promising business
career. Your mother made a home
visit and-never returned"
Mabel was seventeen years old when
an annual visit Of her father came
| around. She was restless and excited
on this OCCASION and he noticed it.
She had introduced to him a favorite
! school friend, Nellie Roberts, and then
! her brother. Harold Both attracted
/ the liking of Mr.. TreScott
"a very charming young lady,
/ Mabel" he told his daughter, land an
equally fine young man."
"Oh! | am so glad You think So
cried Mabel, ecstatic over the trap
! she had led him into. Dear papa,
mamma likes him, too, and after our
| graduation next June, please may
marry himP
There was no resisting that loving
/ heart, but when the wedding had
come and gone and the happy pair set
| tied down in town near the farm
where the mother lived, Mr.. Prescott
( felt lonely and dissatisfied. So long
had he been parted from his wife that
he feared she might resent a visit on
his part to his daughters home, and
he never went there despite constant
invitations At the end of two years.
however, there came an urgent letter
from Mabel.
~ want to see YOU papa she wrote
! and so does Harold, and SO does the
dearest little baby grandchild in the
world. We have named her Sarah
after mamma, and she looks like you.
1t is all arranged that you are to come
to us next Wednesday and stay over
the weekend, and oh, we will all be so
happyw
Not a word was said of Mrs. Tres
colt, and her husband judged that
Mabel too fully understood the situa-
| ton to embarrass them by having
| them under the same roof at the same
! time. More than that, he did not be-
lieve that his wife would consent to
/ break in upon the strange silence that
he had so patiently borne. In all char
! ity he had accepted the general de-
| ciSiOn that she was a notonal, pc
! culiar woman.
He was enchanted by his welcome
| at the Roberts home He had said
| that Harold was "a fine young man."
and he indeed presented the semblance
of model son-in-law. Their little
home was a paradise, the baby the
| most wonderful creature the world
had ever heidi Comfort, serenity,
perfect love filed the little cottage
and as he was shown to his room Nat
Prescott experienced memories that
| particularly sweetened the occasion
Strongly was he reminded Of the
| blissful year when his wife had re-
Yealed herself as the typically perfect
y NANN'''N'NN' kfNAs a bAAt ildNtI EdNH
! out an Odor Of sweet Lavender that
| reminded him of Sarah the smell Of
apples in another waited like men,
DRY of those lost days and the aroma
Of newly baked bread wrapped in
towel caused him longing, cherished
sensation that fairly suggested the
home he had not known for years,
but here was its glowing counterpart.
And then the meal Had Mabel
duplicated those old-time dinners
when he and Sarah had been so has-
pyE He expressed himself with 2
choking sensation, his emotion over.
coming him, as after the meal he whis.
pered TO his daughter:
Mabel dear it seems as If had
come back home after an the years OF
weary waiting
Father. it viii be that indeed #
you win have it SO. Somebody IS
waiting for YOU after an the years
oh forgive and love"
She had gently pushed open a doc,
and the mystery Of those Old remind.
ers was explained. There. near IN,
kitchen table, sat Sarah Trescott
WN