The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-10-19
sILY'S INVESTMENT.
A Pretty Romance and a Glad
Home Coming.


twas the middler May. f l didn't
know better, sh'd say thar was snow
in the air"
THAT would be the beatinest, Flow"
said Silas Baldwin, giving the door an
extra push behind him to ensure its
firmness, ''but it's downright chilly,
and no mistake. This must be the tail
end er the back bun err winter. Reckon
he's wavin' his tail as sorter partin'
sloot, and GOBLIN of the air." and
Silas, smiling broadly at his own wit,
gave look with his deep-set twink
ling eyes, at Agatha his wife, to see if
she felt like smiling tonight. But
Agatha only drew the small black and
white checked shawl over her Shout
ders, then held her knitting up be-
tween her eyes and the light and,
from beneath her glasses, picked up a
stitch. When that was done, she in
CURED of Silas, who had subsidized, and
who sat in a corner grunting, as he
pulled off his boots with some diff
Guilty, if he had ''ben to the corner"
"Yes-er," as the boot came.
'Any mail?" with more interest
than before manifested.
''Soon's l git this blamed thing off, "
ierzed Silas. '"rhere l swow if I'll
never git Nose Bean afoul er my foot
ag'in. 1 told him they were Cinderillys
when he got 'em finished, but he
lowed ez how they's big enough for
two err me. We'll, one err mes all
want, sez, and it's no recommend,
l SEE. TO your cobblerin' to stamp
yer boots by SIGH remarks OH. SEE
he, .'Silas, ] was a-foolin, m / low
now CT how l think he was" and Silas
flung the scorned footgear behind the
stove with such force that Agatha
started. However, when she saw the
homespun socks incased in easy carpet
slippers she continued-ycars of ex-
perience having Taught her, as she
told her friends that what was her
"haste was SilascS lcesure.'
'D'you say there was any mail?'
''Seems ter me there was, said Silas,
calmly, as he spread the newspaper
across his knee and felt for his glasses.
He found the letter first, but it was
not until his glasses were discovered
and established, and he had spent
some minutes on the address. that he
looked over the envelope at Agatha,
who sat knitting still, apparently I'M
concerned, but whose repression
showed itself in the short rocking of
her chair and her pursed lips. Silas'
small eyes twinkled. Seems to me"
he said at length, this is for-why!
it's for you, Agathy, arter all. Bless
me, how dull be! 1 was trying to
make a missus into q esquare;" and
coming over to Agatha with his clumsy
tread, he dropped the letter in her
lap, and then pulled the little curl
that hung in front of her ear, as he
had done in counting days, the curl
which from a rich brown had grown
thin and gray. Your mans born
tease, Agathy-can't help THORN SO;
but for better or wuss, you know,
Agathy, especially when the letters
from silly boy" and Silas' hand fin
gered the gray curl.
From Sily?" Agatha had controlled
her eagerness until now. Then she
lifted her faded eyes and gave Silas
one long affectionate look before she
opened it. The boys name hedged
out all feeling of even slight annoyance.
''Set here, Silas," she said in softer
tone, as she pointed to chair beside
her; well read it to onct. Then we'll
know together the good or the bad of
it. How long sence together Gamer"
she went on, as she inserted Il knitting
needle in one corner; and her hand and
her voice both trembled.
"To,day's thirteenth er May,
reclSonz how't was right after Christ
mas, sayin' as he'd got our things"
"Twas January seven'at 'leven in the
mornin'," said Agatha, excitedly, as
she extracted the letter and blew up
the envelope to see if it was empty. 81
was maxim thoroughwort tea for Mis-
Sawtelle, and Eph Rowell brung it in.
You'll scuse me- | says, as polite as
was necessary, while l read my letter.
i sh' think she snapped, shorter'n
piecrust, the letter might wait fifteen
minutes 1T won't says, and that's
the last thoroughwort tea Lie Saw
telle ever got made in this house.
Now, pa, can you sce?" she con-
tinued in altered tones" somehow
my specs amt as good at writing as at
some things"
Don't need wipin', do they Agathy?"
ventured Silas. mine was IN ist min
ute ago." And sitting side by side,
facing the table with its single shcde-
less lamp on the green cover, the two
old people, each with hand on the
broad business sheet, read slowly and
painstakingly, with numerous inter-
polations the following letter:
WHITE SPRINGS, Idaho, May Z, 1S9-
My DEAR MOTHER:
1T is about time for me to write to
you end father again, and let you
know that al is well with me-" Silas
NODDED assent vigoropsly-'I think
am growing stout" think of that,
Agathy!" Agatha's eyebrows went up
land lazy''-''no never" said Silas,
SOLDERING. mot lazy bun In that boy"
Hold still, Silas, do" said Agatha, as
Silas, holding the page emphasized his
statement. but think / will write
something that will surprise you. y
What do you suppose it is, Agatha?''
said Silas, in II loud whisper. "Silas
Bald'in." said Agatha, trying to look
severe, ''if you don't hold still, you
shan't look on. spose the easiest
way to find ont is to read the letter,
and your hand is a-goin' like the shal-
in palsey Do let go, pa. There's u
dear!" But Silas had no such inten-
ton of being so bribcd, though he
said, very humbly: "All right, Agathy,
go on, I'll keep stiff"