The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-10-06
as he crossed the yard, was observ.

~. WIZ lcN uNIIlCu NJfUS- dllt
the aged woman dropped her knit
ting and rose up with a palencs.
dropping over her face.
But while Mr.. Faxon hcsitated oI
the porch again both came 10 th1
door. Sad, startled faces they botl
had, but they were civil. Theii
greeting was kindly, as to a friend.
Ny name Is Faxon, said til,
visitor, 'l--''
We know who We be sir" saic
the old man, ~we know who ye be
though wenever seed We before. VII
/ YOU come in ?"
Mr. Faxon stepped across The
white hall floor into the quaint, coo
and comfortable sitting-room.
The rough, blue paper, like chintz
on the wall, some honesty" and
dried grasses in opaque white vases
upon the high, narrow mantlepiece
unconsciously struck his eye, while
he took a seat, his mind was occupi-
ed with other thoughts.
We've been long expectin' YOU
sir, . said the old lady.
Her hands crossed on the spotless
gingham apron upon her lap, trem-
bled a little, but the serenity of her
manner was not much changed.
But the old mans eyes SWAN III
tears. tie rested both hands on the
hickory stick between his knees, as
he sat in a corner, and bending his
forehead upon them, partially hid
his face.
YES, yes! but it comes sort oi
sudden now" said the old man.
AIr. Faxon sat in speechless sym
pathy.
After a little pause, old Mr., Derby
looked up and met his eyes.
"Of course, its al right, sir. We
don't question your right TO the
place, but we've been sort OF unior-
tunate. | think so-don't YOU,
mother?"
The old lady lay back among the
cushions ofthe dimity-covered chair.
She had a look OF physical weakness
MIR Faxton had not observed before.
She did not speak.
Her husband looked at her attent-
lively. 4 sudden flush went over his
thin face.
'It is not for myself l care-it Is
herw he cried striking his cane vio-
lently upon the floor. -She helped
to earn this place when she was
young. There was no kind o work
but what them hands YOU see living
SO weary now in her lap, sir, was
put 10. She up early an late. al
ways a-doin', adoin' fur me and the
children. God never made a better
wife an mother. An now, sir, its
hard that She should be turned ont
of her home in her old age "
Hush. hush, Daniel = said the
old lady softly. The Lord WI
provide; and it is not long we have
10 stay in this world, YOU know"
"Will YOU tell me the history Of
the place. Mr.. Derby" asked Mr..
Faxon. How did you come 20 lose
it?"
1T was mortgaged, sir, said the
old man, at last, Ito pay the boys
college bills. You see, We had three
children-Selwyn, Roscoe and little
Annie. Mother and | didn't have
an eddication, but we said al along
that our children should have an
they went to the distric' school an
then to the academy-an' by-an by
we fitted them off forcOllege. Bright,
smart boys they were-everybody
said my bows had good parts, Roe
was always a little wild. | think
mother. there. loved him better for
that he was more trouble, an she
clung to him closer because others
blamed him at times. Annie, his
sister, was always a pleadin', too, for
Roc. He played uuant, and he
whipped the boys who told on him
he was always putin his bones in
peril. an twice be was half drowned
vet in spite Of all be was ready for
college when Selwin was, though
Selwin was steady as a clock
and l had been scrapin' TO-
rether for years and at last We fitted
them of.
we went on denying Of ourselves,
for II was Just the one hope OF our
lives to have the boys graduate with
all the honors an time went on,
and many OF the crops failed an
there came disappointment here
and disappointment there, an fail
ING to get together the money the
bows sent for-especially Roc-we
nortgaged the farm for five hun
lred dollars.
They were nearly through, you
see. an mother and Annie thought
that Selwyn might be principal OF
the academy or something when he
came home. an Roc would be law
yer. cause he could argufy and
speak so smart IN public, an the
money would be paid back easy.
But from time to time there
came r1,mors | didn't Ike, As 10
how Roscoe was up IN his old ways;
and at last it came ike 4 thunder
bolt-Roc was suspended and had
run away to foreign parts Well, l
pass over that, sir; tried not to be
TOO hard on the boy. Then Selwyn
came home. He had graduated well,
but he had a cough. He dldn {
complain, but he was thin and pale
and soon mother an | saw that the
,hild we had meant 10 rely on was
an invalid on our hands. The
thought struck me dumb But
mother was all energy We travel
II here with him, we Travelled there.
We saw all the noted doctors East
md West. We borrowed money on
he old place, and we never paid
lny back. l had made one or two
oavments at first, but they were but
, drop in the bucket. At last We
brought Selwyn home TO die.
Don't Daniel, said the mother
softly.
~He wants 10 near the rest There
5 only little more, but its no bet
.er. Annie was Ike 'elwyn-good
M ,,c-iar,t and Ieli.-ifa-lika fnn