The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Prodigal Father, by J. Storer Clouston

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Title: The Prodigal Father

Author: J. Storer Clouston

Release Date: June 25, 2008 [EBook #25899]
Last updated: March 2, 2009

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRODIGAL FATHER ***

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The
Prodigal Father

BY

J. STORER CLOUSTON

AUTHOR "THE LUNATIC AT LARGE,"
"A COUNTY FAMILY," ETC.

New York
The Century Co.
1909

Copyright, 1909, by
J. STORER CLOUSTON

_Published, September, 1909_

J. F. TAPLEY CO.
NEW YORK

WITH GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO AN UNKNOWN CORRESPONDENT WHO ONCE
MADE A CERTAIN SUGGESTION. IF HE READS THIS STORY HE PERHAPS WILL
REMEMBER

J. S. C.

THE PRODIGAL FATHER

INTRODUCTORY

In one of the cable tramway cars which, at a reverential pace,
perambulate the city of Edinburgh, two citizens conversed. The winds
without blew gustily and filled the air with sounds like a stream in
flood, the traffic clattered noisily over the causeway, the car itself
thrummed and rattled; but the voices of the two were hushed. Said the
one--

"It's the most extraordinary thing ever I heard of."

"It's all that," said the other; "in fact, it's pairfectly
incomprehensible."

"Mr. Walkingshaw of all people!"

"Of Walkingshaw and Gilliflower--that's the thing that fair takes my
breath away!" added the other; as though the firm was an even surer
guarantee of respectability than the honored name of the senior partner.

They shook their heads ominously. It was clear this was no ordinary
portent they were discussing.

"Do you think has he taken to--?"

The first citizen finished his question by a crooking of his upturned
little finger, one of those many delicate symbols by which the north
Briton indicates a failing not uncommon in his climate.

"It's a curious thing," replied his friend, "that I haven't heard