Show D D E ahe el D prodigal j r el D D wife D D 0 D SLIGHT rap at the outer door drew the attention of A the gray haired woman come in she called the door suddenly opened A trim young wo man stood at the thresh old she looked around and smiled and nodded good morning she said and her voice was clear and pleasant may I 1 come in the elderly woman stepped for ward why yes she answered take this chair have you walked far only from the village the hill Is a little steep I 1 am not used to hills lately she smiled and nodded again agal n you are very good said the stran ger I 1 am not really so tired it was the dear old house that drew me in I 1 thought I 1 would like to come our home Is an old one she said with a little sigh it needs many I 1 am in prove ments but we haven t the deans means to make them so soa said the thin girl with a touch of sympathy bym pathy in her voice perhaps chese improvements would take away the dear old home s niceness you do not live alone no there are two of us my bus liand band and I 1 and the children they are away then the gray haired woman turned back to the table we have a child a son he is away the girl arose quickly let me hep help you madam she drew off her jacket and hung it on a hook behind the door ah ali you will see what a fine bringing up I 1 have Is there not an apron I 1 may wear weara the gray haired woman smiling hes stated there isn t much to do she said and we have no money to pay tor for help let lpt us not talk of it cried the girl I 1 am not so very poor you will let me stay a few days perhaps you will not like me at all the gray haired woman smiled A I 1 think I 1 like ou already she said the girl pinned up her sleeves on her fair round arms now you will tell me what to do and while we work we will talk you have said something about your son has he gone far away the woman looked at her with trou brou bled eyes it is an unhappy story said the mother my son quarreled with his father it was about a girl our boy had gone away to the city there was so little for him on the farm his father thought he was wrong to go but john was ambitious and there was vas no chance for him here and one day he came home and said he was going to marry and it came out that the girl was foreign and on the stage and when john johns s father heard this he was very angry to him the theater Is a wicked place it was in the way he was brought up perhaps he be Is too hard anyway he told john that the must give up the girl or he would disown him and john I 1 is proud too and they had words and john T 0 hn went away and since that day his fa ther has never spoken his name she suddenly put her apron to her eyes my dear dear son she sobbed the girl s face flushed she went to the weeping mother and touched her hand dont don t cry she gently said per haps there Is good news look at me what do you see seea she drew back a 4 little and her laughing eyes grew se rious and she held up her pretty head A young woman a strong and healthy and useful young woman a good young woman woma n believe me the mother mothers s wet eye eyes stared at ithe the girl why do you tell me this she asked the mother took a step nearer you she whispered see you guess cried the girl yes I 1 am your sons wife wifel tf t the girl gently pushed the gray v 1 hal bala 1 roman into a chair Q i let me tell it all in my own way madame mother it Is like this john married me one two three yeara years ago who was 19 A poor girl trying to earn a living madame mother on the stage yes I 1 will teril you bow that was when we came to this coun try my father i was a carver of wood and stone had a fine business then he was killed in an accident and we were very poor my mother and I 1 and so because we were so poor I 1 bang sang for a manager and he gave me a place on the stage and so because I 1 loved john we were married and went away tar far away into the desert and into the wll wil berness had the fever and there was only me I 1 was doctor and nurse and all and please god he did not die the hand of the older woman stole into the girls girl s and held it close then the luck changed john Is made manager and pretty soon my big hopeful always patient always loving john I 1 kiss his mother mothers s hand Is rich quite rich the mother arose my boy is coming home she cried then her face clouded but his father he is so hard and ing im I 1 m afraid he has not forgiven him leave him to me madam cried the girl hush I 1 think he is coming not a word madam leave him to me the bent form of the tall old man appeared in the doorway hiram said the gray haired woman I 1 have a visitor here she a ni ill stay with us for a day or two the 0 old id man looked at the girl curiously you are quite welcome he said q P W N I 1 0 ro the girl had left a bag at the sta tion and the old man drove with her to get it and when she came back she waved her hand to john johns s moth er on the porch and there was something more than a grace graceful fal greeting in the gesture walt wait good sir it if you please she said to the old man before he could drive away tomorrow to morrow Is thanks giving day may I 1 ask a friend to dine with me herec the good moth er is willing the old man nodded your friend will be welcome tor for your sake little lady he said and drove to the barn it goes well madam mother said the girl it certainly was a fine thanksgiving spread the turkey was the tender eat est and all its train of accessory dishes the most palatable that culin ary art could offer and presently when the girl had cast a final glance at the clock and another through the window the old man was bidden to the feast he looked at the trim young woman inquiringly as he seated himself you spoke of a friend he said yes sir she quickly answered he will be here seat yourself ma dam hark he Is here the outer door suddenly opened a tall young man stepped into the room and looked quickly about him with a swift movement he stepped to hia his mother s side her cheek and the then drew back john the mother whispered but her eyes were on the stern face of tha the old man father she bravely said this la Is my friend my dearest friend will you bid him welcome 7 the old man s face was dark he hesitated his troubled look rested on the girls girl s sunny face then he spoke but his voice was hoarse and scarcely audible your friend is welcome tor for your sake he slowly said sald at that the young woman cried out and ran around the table and put her arm about his neck and kissed his wrinkled cheek ah ali such a thanksgiving she murmured W R hose rose in cleveland plain dealer |