The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-01-06

Chester's presence unendurably try ing; she did not know that it wa pity that wrung her heart; she onl. wished he were not there. , An hours talk cheered the new
 conner amazingly, as perhaps did als'
 the dinner colours of frying potatoe
 and bacon. He was venturing upol
 history of his wrongs when damp
 CT fell upon the little company witI the arrival of the man of the house
 Her husbands return brought bacl
 in a flood to old Mrs. CoSs heart tht
 memory of his outrageous negotia
 tions regarding the house; the three
 girls all cordially detested the old
 man and were silent and ungracious
 in his presence. and Chester flushed deeply as his father came in, and be-
 came dumb.
 Old Cox made no immediate ac- knowledgement of the newcomers ar
 rival, but grunted as he jerked 8 chair to the table. indicating his read served with all speed. It was only when he had drunk off half @ cup of sca1ding strong tea that the man of the house turned to his last born and said:
 'tSo, you're out again ?''
 "I should never have been ini'' Chester said, eagerly and huskily.
 "Yee. I've heard lots of that kind "'Cording to what you hear there's done nothing at a1ll''
 Julia saw the son shrink, and a ment darkened his eyes. He was a stupid-lo oking, gentle-faced fellow pitiab1e as a sick child.
 Perhaps you'n read these, Pa." he said, fumbling in his pockets for a moment before producing. two or three short newspaper clippings from an inner coat pocket. '@There-there's s the truth of fit; it; it's all here" he said id given his freedom-after sixteen months as an innocent victim Of the 1aw'-thst's what it says!"
 'ePl1 read nothin'.'' the old man said. hand. his small, deep-set eyes blink ing at his son like a monkeys.
 f'well. all right. all right" Chester answered. his thin face burning again, his voice hoarsely belligerent,
 That's the jestice you'll get from your father!" the old woman said, with a cack1e. Julia gathered up the newspaper clippings.
 Aren't you mean, Grandpai" she said, indignantly, beginning to read.
 Maybe I am, maybe I a1n," he re- torted fiercely. But you'll find my fine lady, and when boy that's always been lazy, idle shame to his father and n1other gets a taste of blame, you can depend that no news paper is going to make saint of himi"
 .sGrandma. don't let him talk that way!" Julia protested, her breast ris- ing and falling. Chester turned to his father.
 Maybe if you'd a-give me better chance" he said sullenly, maybe if us boys hadn't been kicked around so much. showed into the first Job that came handy, seeing Ma and the girls afraid to breathe while you was in the house"
 Both men were niow standing. their faces close together.
 Well, you ain't going to have an other chance here" the old man shoued. 'Tn have no jai1birds settin | around here to be petted and babiedi | let me come into the house and find | you here again.
 Pal" protested Mrs Cox, fired by the eyes of her granddaughters. on his old hat and opening the kf- chen door. "But ft'n be Pa on the wrong side of your face if you make any mistake about it! Jailbird? he at the door. The others looked at each other.
 That's a sweet welcome home" said Chester. with a. bitter laugh. He was bewilderment as well as anger in his look
 .'Pa's got to be a terrible crank" said Mrs Cox, returning to her tea | flow at her retiring lord He car ries on something terrible some times"
 Well, he won't carry on any longer IS far as I am concernedi" Chester said, a little vaguely
 ''I don't know whats got into Pal" ais wife complained.
 Don't you care, UncIe Chess" Mar suerite submitted with tfnid sympa- hy.
 ''oh. no. sure don't care" the man aid with a short laugh "Of course ts nothing to mel A man comes nome to his own folks, he's had a ough time" His voce sank husk- 1y. The sleeves of his coat were too 'hort for him, and Julia noticed how hin his wrists were. as he gathered ID his newspaper clippings and re- tored them to his inside pocket. The voneu watched him in silence. Pres .ntly he stopped down and kissed his mothers forehead. at the edge of her lntfdy. grizzled hair
 Goodbye, Nal" he said Good ,ye, girlsi''
 'It,n be a Judgment on your fa- her. Mrs Cox protested I don't lnow what's gotten into himl"
 But she made no further objection; he did not get up from her place at able when Chester closed the kitchen, 'pened the street dosor and went out |
 Grandpa's a prince, all righti" said Marguerite then, and Evelyn added, Wouldn't 1t give you a pain?''
 But l notice that none of us did lnything about it.'' Julia said bit er1y.