Then, with a scream of joy, he wound his feeble arms round the stranger's neck.
"Seth, boy, darling, Walter, am I going mad, or is it true? Is it Seth? Is it my boy? Tell me, Walter," and releasing their grasp, the shaking hands were stretched supplicatingly toward Walter, who answered:
"Yes, grandpa. It's Seth. I found him, and I have brought him home."
"Oh, Seth, Seth," and the hoary head bowed itself upon the neck of the stranger, while the poor old man sobbed like a little child. "I didn't expect it, Seth, though I've prayed for it so hard. Bless you, bless you, boy, I didn't mean to go against you. I would have died at any time to know that you were innocent. Forgive me, Seth, because I am so old and weak."
"I do forgive you," answered Seth. "It's all forgotten now, and I've come home to stay with you always till you die."
There was a hand laid lightly on Seth's shoulder, and turning, he looked into the face of Mr. Graham, which quivered with emotion, as he said:
"I, too, have need of your forgiveness."
"None, Richard, none," and locked in each other's arms, the friends long parted cancelled the olden debt, and in the heart of neither was there a feeling save that of perfect love.
Long and passionately Mrs. Howland wept over her brother, for his return brought back the past, and all that she had suffered since the night he went away.
Aunt Debby, too, was much affected, but did not omit her accustomed "He allus was a good boy."