The Van Buren press., 1894-08-18

s.SSs " sE.u w euoysh esnys
ventured Siias. mime was mist min
w ago And sitting side by side
facing the table with its single shade
less lamp on the green cover, the tw,
old people, each with . hand on thu
broad business sheet. read slowly ant
painstakfngly, with numerous inter
polations the following letter:
WHITE SPRINGS. Idaho, May Z, 1s9-
MY DEAR MOTHER
ut is about time for me to write I,
you and father again. and let yo,
know that all Is well with me-" bilal
NODDED assent vigofousiy-af think
am growing stout think Of that
Agathyl" Agatha's eyebrows went VI
-"and lazy"-''no never" said Silas
sobering, mot q lazy bum in that boy.
Hold still, silas, do" said Agatha, a
Silas, holding the page emphasized hi
statement. "But think | will writ,
something that will surprise YOU
What do you suppose 1t is. Agatha9'
said Silas, in . loud whisper. "Silal
Bald'in." said Agatha, trying to lool
severe, "if you don't hold still, yor
shan't look on. l spose the easies
way to find out is to read the letter
and your hand is a-goin' like the shak
In palsey. Do let go, pa. There's /
dear!" But silas had no such ihten
tion Of being 30 bribed, though he
said. very humbly: "All right, Agathy
go on, I'll keep stiff"
"You know" the letter went on
THAT l have made considerable money
in the seven years left home"
rs 1t seven. map" said SilaA
Yes" sighed Agatha, 'and l have
some good Investments out here, which
do not need my presence"
"Silas," and Agatha dropped her
side of the sheet, you don't spose he
means"
Read on, ma; read on" exclaimed
the old man, excitedly, 'and beside !
have become interested in an invest
ment that can do elsewhere as we'll
as here, and better, l am told" the
two old faces were very near the paper
now-"in fact II you and pa will CO.
operate do not see why l cannot
carry 1t on as we'll at Breton Centre as
anywhere"
"Silas!"
20 ma, DEAR and the old hand trem-
bled we'll now, and mas glasses were
very dim. Still they read on.
Il am not going to tell You what the
business is, but my coming to Breton
with 1t. will call for small building
or q number of rooms of some kind.
You have often talked Of building an
ell on the old house but do not re-
member of your ever having written
that 1t was done"
whats the use of new ell for us
old folks" interpolated Silas; there's
room enough to be lonely in now,s
and Agatha nodded her head. "-now
this Is my project (the letter contin-
ued), If you will build that new two
story ell and reserve three or four
rooms for my own use in my business
will write further regarding the
share In the expense l am willing to
and assure you will do
the correct thing. Then we can settle
on the plans later. l warrant that
this will be nothing you or pa will be
to have your son interested
In. shall want to hear from you
soon, and will try and be a better
hand at writing. l want to see you
and pa more and more each day, and
when this chance offered and l found
could come east could not give up
the idea Of seeing the old place and
you two, for all have been away SO
long"
Poor Silly boy" murmured Silas,
and Agatha gripped the big hand un-
ler the table.
II like the west, but l have got over
he wildness of the feeling that made
ne leave home SO long ago before l
lad done anything for either of you,
although have tried to make it up
'ince have been able, but l was no
more than boy, you know. mother"
"Yes, silly boy" said Silas.
-"Many's the time those first two
7ears would have come, but it was a
ong journey, but was poor and
proud, too, l expect; then later l
would not leave, and then when l
night possibly have come there were
lhings l thought held me. But those
lays have passed, and now l want to
'ome as badly as ever, and am CON-
ng home. Your boy silly has been odd.
know, but he has never been bad,
nother. Rene mber that. This letter
S for father, too, and know you will
cad it together Write soon. shall
wait impatiently to hear. Good-by.
four affectionate son,
"SILAs BALDWIN, JR."
ltseemed TO neighbors that summer
IS II Silas and Agatha Baldwin had re-
lewed their youth. II ust to think
hat Mis- Bald'in was pindlin' at one
ime," said Mrs. Sawtelle to Moses
beams sister, land l up and asked
Ter one day what was the matter of
Ter, she looked SO weakly. told her
he needed to doctor some or she'd be
way down where she couldn' git up;
tut declare to goodness think twas
est one Of them spells she always had
vhen she'd git thin kim er silly so fur
way. Cause now he's comm and
he's lost that mauger look. and seems
o them curls er hern dangled hardern
We seen 'em sence silly went off,"
The rebuilding went steadily on.
The old ell was pulled down and when
he carpenter came to consult Silas
md Agatha about the new one, he re-
marked:
ITS goin' to leave yer main house
way down out er sight. Couldn't think
II raisin' that, could ye? It's goin' to
cave yer main house way down out er
light"
Silas and Agatha looked at each
'ther. Then Agatha said: