Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-02
THE
TIE
By ALLEN CHAPMAN


June. Mabel Trescott spent two weeks
with her mother. Once q year-it was
at the holiday ~season-her father
came to Euston, put up at h local
hotel for half o week and saw q 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 hus-
band and wife since she was q little
baby. Her mother had never told her.
A stern, joyless woman, when the sub
ject was preached she said, austereiy !:
1--WE could not agree and it was for
the best"
Once Mabel pleaded with her father
to explain the strange condition of af-
fairs.
"My child" he had said sorrowful-
ly, "yo,r mother is a peculiar woman,
and 1 probably made a mistake In
taking her from the farm home where
all her life was conferred"
Later a schoolmate, who had learned
the real story from her mother, relat-
ed It to Mabel. "Your mother had
been brought up in a quiet, congehlai
family" she said. For a year she
and your father seemed contented and
happy. Then you were born n your
mother grew homesick for the Old
folks and the old life. She hated the
CITY, She insisted that your father
return with her to the old farm. In
vain he pleaded that 1t would be at
the sacrifice of a promising business
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 1t.
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
fine young man.
"Oh! I am so glad you think so,"
cried Mabel, ecstatic over the trap
she had led him into. Dear papa,
namma likes him, too, and after our
next June, please amay !
marry himT
There was no resisting that loving
heart, but when the wedding had
and gone and the happy pair set
tied down In a town near the farm
where the mother lived, Mr.. Trescott
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
We have named her Sarah.
after mamma, and she looks Ike 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 10
I"
Not q 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
Move than fhof hn did mt hA,
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 notional, Pc
culiar woman.
He was enchanted by his welcome
at the Roberts home. He had said
Harold was "a fine young man."
and he indeed presented the semblance
of a 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 o Mr..
Prescott experienced memories that
particularly sweetened the occasion.
Strongly was he reminded Of the
blissful year when his wife had re-
vealed herself as the typically perfect
housekeeper. A bureau drawer gave
out an odor Of sweet Lavender thGt
reminded him Of Sarah; the smell of
apples in another waited a like NOM
DRY Of those lost days, and the ar ,ma
of newly baked bread wrapped In a
towel caused him a longing, cherished
sensation that fairly suggested the
home he had not known for years.
but here vas its glowing counterpart.
And then the meal! Had Mabel
duplicated those old-time dinners
when he and Sarah had been SO hap
Ply? He expressed himself with a
choking sensation, his emotion over
coming him, as after the meal he whis-
pered to his daughter:
mabel. dear, it seems as II l had
come back home after all the years of
weary waiting!"
Father. 1t will be that. indeed. II
you will have 1t SO. Somebody 10
waiting for you after all the years
oh !! forgive and love-"
She had gently pushed open a door
and the mystery of those old remind
ers was explained. There, near the
kitchen table, sat Sarah Prescott,