The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-10-08
BeuIah BaFtOI'S Birthday.
By MARY KYLE DALLAs

0ACeA NAAACo "CIO 6tlA oh1AAo AA NAACDo
days Ghosts were with him then. he
used to fancy that he heard Reuben run
lightly down stairs and up to the very
door Of the room, and lift his head half
expecting to see him enter and to dis
cover that he had been dreaming bad
dream.
Today this had happened half . dozen
times, when the lad put his head in at
the door Of the room.
"What is it, JohnT asked the old man.
"Well, Mr.. Spicer, them there Mary
land peaches is goin' Eastern you'd like,
that's all"
81 suppose you're afraid to chase the
boys away? You amt got no more spunk
than q hen" said old Spicer.
He arose, stalked through the back
room and out upon the porch in haste,
but there stood still. It was not boy
who was stealing peaches out Of his bas-
kets, but soldier. Thin as q skeleton,
his shoes like those Of Q tramp, every
thing he wore falling from him in rags,
and the left sleeve of his wretched jacket
pinned empty to his breast, he sat there
eating peaches as cOoIy as il they be-
longed to him.
Making free, you see, /" he said II
couldn't help it if l was to be shot for it.
You'd have to live on moldy crusts as
l have, to know how these peaches taste
to me-"
"Help yourself" /" said old Spicer trem-
ulously. "Fm glad to see any Of the
boys in blue for the sake Of one l had
that marched away and won't never
march back again"
"You can't be sure of that, said the
soldier, without looking up.
"Ah, he was killed." said Spicer.
SKilled."
"They reported me killed." said the
soldier, taking another peach, 'and al
TIE while was in a southern prison. l
reckon I'd have died there, too, If It
hadn't been that remembered an old
father had that was fonder Of me than
l deserved, and would be glad to see
what was left of me. There's o good
deal in will power. said I'd live, and !
did"
"My GodT cried old spicer. II guess
I'm gOin' crazy at lasti Let me look at
you'll Let me look at your
Dad" cried the soldier.
"Reubenr screamed the old man.
Heaven Is too good to me, I've got you
again" The next moment he had
Reuben in his arms. In the old familiar
back room they had long, long talk.
Meanwhile customers raped upon the
counter in vain, and wondered what had
become Of Mr.. Spicer.
"Don't let me spoil the business, dad"
said Reuben at last, and the old man,
wiping his eyes, left him and went into
the store. Before the counter sat the
tall, angular form of Mrs. Barton; at the
door stood the basket phaeton, the black
pony tied to the hitching post.
"rve waited quite . spell, Mr.. Spicer,
said the matron, "but I've got my list
made out. Three pounds Of almonds and
four Of eating raisins, fourteen pounds
Of sugar. Guess I'll take three baskets
Of your Maryland peaches"
How history was repeating itself. Mr..
spicer first felt that just this had hap
pened before. then remembered when it
was.
"YOu must be going to give q party, =
he gAsped. -
my Beulah's birthday is the fifth,
you know" said Mrs. Barton. ''She's
rebelled too long. I'm going to do my
duty anyhow. I've made her get up and
have . ride. It's her first since you know
when. She's out there. I guess she
won't catch cold, all wrapped up in my
broche shawl"
"Your Bsulah out there" said the old
man. "Shs's better them She mustn't
die. She must live, Mis- Barton; your
girl must live"
81 mean she shill," said Mrs. Barton;
II mean she shill. But she don't take
any interest She jest wants to die, be-
heve, to 90 where she kin make up with
your Reuben. But, Lord willin', she
0han't."
"She can make up with my Reuben
without dyin', Mis- Barton" said old
Spicer. my Reuben has come back"
Obadiah Spiceri Don't tell met" cried
Mrs. Barton. "Come backi Your Reu-
ben come back after ALI"
Her voice, shrin and sharp by nature,
rose higher than usual and carried fur
ther. Beulah, sitting wrapped in her
shawl, heard every word and forgot that
she was not able to walk. A moment
more and she stood by her mothers side
and caught her by the arm.
"Mother" she cried. "Motheri il II
true9"
"Yes," said Mrs. Barton. "You can
Jest go in and talk with him while / read
of my list to Mr.. Spicer. I shill want
to hev this birthday party Of yours real
proper good one, seein' Reuben's come
hum"
For once Beulah did not find fault
with her mothers Yankeeism. They'll
have q lot to say to each other" !" the lat
ter added, "and guess you and me kin
afford time to sit down . spell and think
over our blessings"
And there in that back room the tall
was long and sweet; such talk as we
might all have ''if only the dead could
know just when to come back and be
forgiven"
Yet there were tears shed too. Some
for the knight Of courtesy, who had un-
willingly caused 90 much sorrow-poor,
bright eyed, gentle voiced Du Bois, who
lay sleeping under southern sod And
BeulAh's birthday partyi That was,
assure the reader. what her mother had
declared IL should be. "a proper good
one"
THE END.