The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-24
THE SUNDERED
TIE
BY ALLEN CHAPMAN

came to Euston, put up at the local
hotel for half week and saw 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 a little
baby. Her mother had never told her.
A stern, joyless woman, when the sub
ject was preached she said, austerely:
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.
"NIy child" he had said sorrowful-
ly, "yOur mother is a peculiar woman,
and | probably made a mistake in
taking her from the farm home where
all her life was conferred"
Later schoolmate. who had learned
the real story from her mother, relat-
ed it to Mabel. Your mother had
been brought up in quiet, congenial
| family" she said. For a year she
and your father seemed contented and
| happy. Then you were born and 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 it would be at
the sacrifice Of a promising business
career. Your mother made 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 favorite
school friend, Nellie Roberts, and then
her brother, Harold. Both attracted
the liking of Mr.. Prescott.
"a very charming young lady.
Mabel" he told his daughter, land an
equally fine young man."
"Ohi I 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 him."
There was no resisting that loving
heart, but when the wedding had
come 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.
81 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.
v 1t is all arranged that you are to come
. to us next Wednesday and stay over
i the weekend, and oh, we will all be Sc
] happy!"
Not a word was said of Mrs. Tres
J. 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 notional, 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
d, 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 room Mr
- Prescott experienced memories thai
particularly sweetened the occasion.
| Strongly was he reminded of the
blissful year when his wife had re
II vealed herself as the typically perfec
housekeeper. A bureau drawer gave
out an odor of sweet Lavender tina
reminded him of Sarah; the smell o
apples in another waited a like mem
y DRY Of those lost days. and the arom:
of newly baked bread wrapped in ;
re towel caused him longing, cherished
sensation that fairly suggested tn
IN home he had not known for years
lg but here was its glowing counterpart
x And then the meal! Had Mabe
- duplicated those old-time dinner
be when he and Sarah had been so hap
py? He expressed himself with
IF, choking sensation. his emotion over
k coming him, as after the meal he whis
,ir pered to his daughter:
III Mabel, dear, 1t seems as If ha
come back home after all the years o
lie weary waiting y
he Father, it will be that indeed.
you will have it so. Somebody
waiting for you after all the years
OH forgive and love-"
She had gently pushed open a doc
and the mystery of those old remind
VI ore xyoS oynIaiupd Thara naor I'll