Show t sa V L if december the it t ri 11 J J by SADIE B ATKINS P T WAS the morning before christmas clear and cold and the feel of the winter holidays was in the air in side the barbed wire fence wl ten ich the first dwell ing on the outskirts of the lit the town a man was standing now tracing with rough w eith er beaten finger imaginary lines on the gatepost then turned with been anxiety to ward mard the closely curtained front room of the small dwelling and then letting his troubled gaze wander mander far up the section line where a soli soil tary figure was just discernible coming slowly southward just so he had stood five years ago today and watched a figure strikingly similar to this wending its way may toward the north adlle beside him his plead ing wife had begged that he recall tl e boy but a stubborn something within gave assurance that he lie wis in the right and so he remained silent wh ie le the boyish figure grew smaller and smaller in the hazy distance and the woman went ins de and the cold north wind chilled every tender impulse of fie the heart the traveler had reached the fence MOW and his gray blue eyes looked into the faded brown ones before him and in wordless greeting he held out hb h hand but the older man was nas abtin tracing the pattern on the gatepost and did not see it I 1 imply it fell to the prod gal s side at length he ventured to say to morrow is christmas day les es responded the other bitterly and I 1 didn dian t think with a glance to ward the curtained window I 1 t think she could last to see christmas the prodigal started and grew deathly white Is my is someone so very low he gasped yes someone replied the other tremblingly is very low a mother who had a son for whom she worked and prayed and lived tor for twenty years and then his voice broke then for gerful of her love and the heartache he was leax leaving ving he went away and for five long years that mother hoped and hungered for his home coming all in vain nain the prodigal stretched out hia his hands bands appealingly what if he re turned today and on his knees begged a I 1 T letting his gaze wander far up the section line forgiveness and promised balm for every heartache the hopeless look from the faded brown eyes answered even better than his words he ile is too late te tears rs were coursing down the che cheek ek of the 3 aunger man as he leaned over oi er the gatepost and whispered could I 1 see but something in the hard face of the other arrested his words and he did not finish for a moment of untold length both stood in silence and then the tracer of imaginary lines moved from the gateway motioning the other inside it might ease her last hours and then he ile pointed toward the sec see tion line down which the prodigal had come hit bit will take you baal to your old haunts wherever they may be that pointing toward the south you d best not take its not much but a trail and leads to god knows where but north or south take one hours later as the village doctor drew up before the house the prod gal emerged from the sickroom and tak ing his hat from the peg strode with faltering step out into the gathering twilight at the road he halted a moment and stood with mith bared head then turned southward almost out of sight of his boyhood home he hesitated and turned for one last look suddenly the crackling of footsteps in the stubble and the la bored ble bleaching athing of a man caught his ear car and in a moment his father was beside him but how changed the face beffie so cold and hard ft as of bened now with mith pity and compassion and from out the faded brown eyes shone thone mingled hope and love and tor for gi veness with hands clasped and hearts receptive to the spirit of the morrow they stood while the elder whispered she will mill live come home and then two kneeling figures were dimly silhouetted against the darken ing sky while hile a prayer almost inaudi ble ascended to the mercy seat he arose and m with ith his fathers arm about him and the christmas spirit fill ing both their hearts the prodigal turned back from the road toad that left lea to avra L eniy nn s r where |