Catoctin clarion., 1923-03-22
Freed From His
Bonds
By ELLA SAUNDERS
20. 1928. Western Newspaper Union.)

Ss-Ss-s"s-s"s"s-ss.s.s.s-
20. 1928. Western Newspaper Union.)
John Lawson lived In a model house
on the outskirts of the factory town.
He was forty years old and had job
as a clerk which brought him in $40.
He was married, but had no children.
On this particular afternoon he was
leaving early. 1t was Friday, and
by arrangement he had to stay
Saturday afternoons. AS he walked
up the hill toward his home his dog
came bounding to meet him, leaping
up ut him. 1t was an old dog-twelye
years old, and he had had 1t before he
married. He stopped and patted 1t.
"Well, Ranger, old boy, we've gone
through some times together" he said.
He was 4 little sentimental with his
dog, because it was all he had to be
sentimental with. He lit his pipe,
and he dawdled, so as not to get home
too soon. He was not eager to get
home. He was not eager to meet Ella.
Sometimes on those Friday after
Moons, during the walk home, Lawson
INDUCED in the luxury of bitterness.
At such times his past would rise be-
fore him. He would remember his fa-
Tiers home, from WHICH he had been
expelled for an act of bOyish folly.
his struggles, his love affair-that had
ended so disastrOusly.
He had been madly In love with
Mary Baines. But he had been poor
clerk, and she had been brought up
in luxury. She had promised to wait
for him. She had waited year, two
years-three. Then, instead of the
expected promotion, Lawson had lost
his job.
He went to Mary and they talked
things over. There was no hope that
he would be able to marry her. per
haps for years. He had released her.
She had been too proud to refuse.
She would have waited endlessly. He
had seen that afterward, when II was
too late. But she had married an
other; and he had married another,
too.
He had married Ella In the reac.
tion. She had captured him on the
tide of mlseryi She was vain, shall
low little thing, anG had never cared
for him, any more than he had cared
for her. They had quarreled from the
beginning, all through the honeymoon.
She had craved things that he had
been unable to give her, had been
envious Of the neghbOrs, of the wom-
ems clothes, of their cars. .
Yes, Lawson had gone through hid.
eous times with her. Oflate, however,
Elias outbursts had grown less fire.
Qucnt.
But, dear Lord, how long could 1t
last! He was wondering, as he
climbed the hill with Ranger, whether
he was bound to lifetime of this serv-
itude. And all his being responded
to the call Of the far spaces.
To be free, to go out into the world,
to live among men! He would go
West, he would play mans part in
the free world, get to know the sun
and moon and stars, to read the faces
of his fellowmen Always he had
dreamed that. until his lot had tied
him to desk in the grinding, shrek
Ing factory.
And now he was going home to Ella.
She would offer him her cold cheek at
the door. and they would quarrel over
the supper. or the weather, there were
always things to quarrel over. Then
night would come-hdeous, inevitable
night, and the morning arising, and
the factory whistle!
And always the face Of his lost love,
In the dark hours, to te+aent him.
He was nearly home now. Even
Ranger seemed to become subdued, in
compliance with his masters mood.
Now he was at the door and opening 1t.
He knew Immediately that Ella was
not In the house. There was that
sense Of freedom. Perhaps
she had gone into town, shopping.
Sometimes he had respite like this,
for which he never ceased to be crate
full He wandered through the shabby
rooms. And "How long?" the soul
within him called.
He perceived letter addressed to
himself in Elias writing, lying on
the table He opened it, read 1t.
She had left him forever. She had
gone away with Tedermann, fellow
clerk. He would never see her again
Hate breathed from every line. He
had never guessed she hated him so
much.
He folded up the letter, llt\a match
and burned it. All the unholy past
seemed to shrivel away with it. He
stepped outside and whistled to his
dog.
Ranger, old man, we're free at
last" he said. "We're going West"
"And Ranger, bounding to his side.
he set his face from the town.