| Show The F Fiction By FORTUNE SMILES 11 s Richard H. H Wilkinson Corner CALEB WARE was a young man who quarreled with his father and was turned away from his boyhood home homo Caleb always said later that he went away of his own accord Fortune smiled on Caleb Five years ears later he found himself prominent nent vent in the affairs at at- fairs of the small Minute city in 10 which he 3 3 Fiction had chosen 10 to 1 live I v e. e e Moreover he was rich o It wa was wa then that Caleb decided decided decided de de- to go home As A. the tho train began beran to climb into the fresh clean air of the mountain country country coun coun- try the tired look about his hi eyes eye vanished Color appeared In his cheeks It thrilled him now to know that he be was waa in a position to provide his father with all the comforts of old age He n. swung from the train a at t the tiny depot Every Everything thin I was the same ame the cracker-box cracker station the general store tore the and the Sew Jew small mall dwelling houses howes A man with side aide whiskers whisker and spectacles peered at him from the doorway of the depot Hello Banty Wheres Where's your our rig Tig The man stepped through the thedoor door Caleb Ware Warel Know yuh yub any any- where I How low be yuh yub Caleb Fine Banty And you you Caleb Just Figure on goin coin out to the farm Drive you ou out if you ou say ay so IQ Figured you would He lIe climbed Into loto Banty's Danty ancient rig glad of this thil opportunity to ride with the tho station master and learn leam the news Looks Look like you done quite well in inthe inthe inthe the city Banty Danty suggested cau Not bad Caleb agreed And he be knew that feeling of triumph and victor victory at his bl success He thought r Caleb Ware WareS Know yah aD any where How Row be yuh 1111 Caleb of hi hit his lathers fathers surprise and Wasp It would be b. a bitter pill for tor old man Ware War to swallow How JIow ar are thin things at t the th farm Banty How Hows dad Your Yew dad dads aWn ailin said Dant Banty He aint been right since you OU left Ift five liv years ean ago M pie left him Why he h. turned me rue out cut Dont Don make no difference You shouldn't a I done It lit t. t He needed you youe ou e It z RJ tr P at the farm The place is plumb run rundown rundown down and your dad aint well Caleb felt feU suddenly that Banty vas was condemning him that everyone in the village vIllare had condemned him Dad isn't really bad Is he be too sick to work he asked He lIe is now A month ago he was took bad Aint worked since Banty Danty spat and glanced at him side side- ways lIe He wont won't be glad to see you son not like that Hes He's got too much pride CALEB CALED UNDERSTOOD lIe He knew that his father would never take succor from a son who had deserted him would never admit he needed the help of a traitor Hed He'd rather die starving than that Banty might have said more but Caleb suddenly leaped from the slow low moving buggy You Just keep on going Banty and forget you ever saw me Dad need never know but what I come home because I had to Caleb plunged into the woods beside be side the road and discarded his coat and undid his necktie He lie walked for some distance through the heavy growth beside the high high- way Branches tore at his fine linen and ripped great gashes Briars clutched at his trousers and andt t tore re holes in 10 them Thus Caleb came home Sight Bight of 01 the farm larm gave cave him a pang The house and grounds were run down and In need of repair A cot bad had been placed on the rear porch and on this cot Caleb I saw the thin gaunt gannt figure of 01 his father He De came and stood over the figure and looked down at atIt atit atit It and smiled Hello Iello Father he said Its Caleb Caleb- Ive I've come home to ask your forgiveness and to be taken In 10 His voice was humble Old man Ware opened his eyes and looked up at his son and there was a quick happiness in his ex ex- His dimming vision saw the tousled ragged farm boy who had stalked so proudly away five years before I knew you'd come back Caleb I knew you'd come to your old father for help sooner or later And and and Im I'm glad |
