The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-10-15
with Custody
of the Child"
By MYRA CURTIS LANE

1t was seven years since I.enning
had last seen his baby son. Those
seven years he had spent i'm states
prison for q crime which had merit
ed the punishment he had received.
in the eyes of the law, which de-
mands that the public be protected.
AS for the eyes Of God-that is Il
different natter
Lenning had been prosperous
man in those days seven years be-
f0re-far different from the griZ-
ZIed man in the shabby blue suit
who now stood wistfully outside
the big garden Of the house that
had once been his. Now he would
not have been recognized, Mt first
glance. by the woman who had been
his wife.
AIilly and he had never got along
very we'll together. and she had
been the first to turn against him
when his ordeal came She had
refused to visit him in prison. She
had applied for a divorce immedi-
ately after his conviction.
with custody Of the child"
In the penitentiary Lenning had
read the legal document containing
the courts decree, and had smiled
bitterly when he came to that
phrase. The custody of the baby
hoy who had been everything In
the world to him-whom his wife
had looked upon only as a burden
that kept her from the pleasures Of
life.
"Custody Of the child"
Lenning had determined in the
prison that the child should be his
own.
That was why he had returned.
An old friend in another city had
overlooked his prison record and
agreed to give him his chance. But
Lenning meant to take the boy with
him.
And they were living in his own
house-Nlilly and this man she had
married. Thompson-wasn't that
his name? Thompson or Johnston
His heart suddenly began to ham
mer. That must be Bobby, bound
ling down the steps toward him.
Yes. his own son, now nearly eight
years old! AS the boy drew near
Lenning eagerly tried to trace his
own lineaments in his features.
The boy came up to him. Len.
ming assumed an attitude Of indif
ference. Hello, son. what's, your
name?" he asked.
Bobby Johnston"
Bobby Johnston. eh? And what's
your fathers Nance"
"Roger Johnston" answered the
boy, looking at him gravely. but
mummy calls him RoS."
''But what's your real fathers
name?" persisted Lenning.
Roger Johnston's my real ia
theirs NAME" replied the boy
again. people have only got one
father, haven't they?"
And at that the blood seemed to
turn to fire in Jennings veins. s."
they had brought up the boy in ig-
nOrance Of him altogether! And he
thought the interloper was his ia
Their.
He remembered the days when
he and Milly had walked in that
same garden, united only by their
mutual affection for the child. The
desire for vengeance burned hot in
him.
Then he saw pleasant, middle
aged man come down the steps OF
the house and stroll toward the
child.
Hello. Bobby" he called.
"HellO. dad"
Bobby ran to him and was lifted
up on his shoulder From that VAN
tage point he rode triumphantly
down to the gate where Lenning
was standing. The stepfather
nodded. Zine afternoon" he said
politely.
YES" answered Lenning huskily.
"The flowers are beginning to
come out. l guess this is summer
ut last. The kid loves the garden.
don't you, Bob?"
"Yes. I love the big fat worms
that you dig up for bait" an
swered Bobby.
thinking of going fishing?
Well, you're like your daddy"
smiled the other. "That's q great
kid. sir"
HE looks it," answered Lenning.
Johnston nodded and turned
away. Lenning stood outside the
gate as If turned to stone.
So the child believes the other
man his father. And. if he broke
the news--what had he to offer
him? How conld he get him. keep
him? Slowly he began to see that
the penalty for his crime was only
beginning to he paid. And. because
he loved his son. he squared his
shoulders to bear the burden Of
life.
He turned and Slouched away
down the street again.
90. 1884. Western Newspaper Union.)