Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1885-12-21

more than | do myself. We were
wrong, and the boy was wrong, too.
If we only knew whore to find him, we
might make it all right before we die.
I'll warrant he has longed to return, but
pride and fear have kept him back. He
can't know how we long for him, for
he never knew how much we loved
him; we never told hm!'
"Oh, Esthern'
"Well, father, won't say any more.
All these thoughts have been crowded
dowd in my heart so long that | had
to speak, and think it'll do us good,
after all"
She drew nearer and laid her head
on his shoulder, while tears rolled
down her wrinkled cheeks, and thus
they sat far into the night
The next day, among the families of
the neighboring farmhouses, there
was but one topic of conversation:
The invitation to speud Thanksgiving
with jeremiah Winters.
The eventful day came at last.
Lucy with dozen boys and girls,
made the rafters ring with their glad
shouts. Downstairs the best room
was filed with the hum of elderly
voices recounting "old times" while
in the sitting-room the young people
were eating apples and counting the
seeds, with much jest and laughter,
sly glances and bushes.
In the kitchen long table was
loaded with good things, while Aunt
Esther, with plenty of help, was COM
pleting the preparations for dinner.
Uncle Jerry excitedly went from
room to room, trying to appear as if
this sort of thing was of common oc-
currence in his house. For the first
| time in her life, his wife had asserted
her right to entertain her friends, and
now he felt glad that she had perse-
vered. He was surprised to find what
pleasant neighbors he had.
1t was night, and the merrymaking
was at its height. The walls echoed
laughter and song, and from every
window lights CLEANED far out into
| the darkness.
From the village depot, five miles
away, a traveller was walking over the
lonely road as if eager to join the
| joyous party; but when at length he
came in sight of the many lights, he
stopped in amazement. Nearer and
nearer he came, till through the un-
shaded windows he saw the friendly
scene within. With glad smile or
his face he turned away, and, stand
ing in the deep shadow of pine, he
watched long and patiently.
At last, after q host of thanks anC
pleasant "farewells," all was still anC
only three sat in the deserted rooms.
A hush fell over them, and they look
ed thoughtfully into the ilickering fire
Lucy, climbing on her uncle's knee
thanked him so prettily for the day
pleasure that he bent and kissed her
Then, holding out his hand to his wife
he said:
"This little lady has thanked me, bu
we both ought to thank you. 1t ha
been apleasant day to me-
This was great deal for this MAJ
to say, and they were silent again, bu
each one happy through making other
glad.
Then the door opened and n strange
entered. He was tall and heavil,
bearded; but mothers ey,
will know her own, and, with a or,
which expressed the yearning of years
"My boyw she was folded in hi
strong embrace, while about then
both were clasped the fathers trem
bling arms.
No one knew how long they sat to
gether-the long separated family one,
more united. Lucy with wide opel
eyes, enjoyed to the utmost thi
browning excitement, much PLEASED
with the tall cousin of whom she hao
never heard.
"Oh, John, why did you stay away 81
longP" ventured the mother.
Il came back once, five years ago
| and saw Won and f1thnr throuOh in,