The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-11-24

ny chum. John Meredith. was going
home ho was slways siehlng Tor hls
home. and ai times this longing pos
setsed him CD completely that be seem
81 on the point oi abandoning bis pros
49, c's az becoming a rich man.
Meredith had been In 40 health but
tn years residence Ia the west had
made a now man Of him. Success nj
last had came our way. and he sudden
~ announced that be was going homo
for his Thanksgiving dinner. tie was
quiet. queer fellow. any way you put
"a. lately. however. he had seemed
wonderfully alert The arrival Of the
weekly mail found him In a state OF
great expectation. and after be had
read his letters he would sli quietly
all evening looking very happy and
smiling as he read them over again
Tie always was n non-commltial chan
but this time there was no mlstakinr
the signs 80 ! suspected his homoelck.
ness, and Judged bis ease. a. one h
n apt 10 DO. BY the llght OF my own. No
wonder, poor fellow. that he wanted 10
wipe out the 1909 miles which alone
stood between him and that Thanks.
Swing turkey For my own part 1 can
swear that no power as yet known 10
man could keep me back from Jim Nc
Kenzle's Thanksgiving dinner. for
Mary was 10 BE- there-Mary whom an
these years had remembered and low
ed 20 well. had never forgotten her
beautiful deep dark eyes. which seem
ed TO search ones soul with that pene.
trailing look one sees sometimes In a
haby's eyes.
There was but little out here In the
mmountalns TO relieve the tedium OF our
Wong evenings. 30 Jim McKenxle's week
ply visits were always heralded with
toy. We made merry over his coming
and our carefully prepared dinner We
regarded as a feast. We talked Il over
IN the morning. aud when evening came
We began TO plan Tor next weeks COM
ing. No wonder Mckenzie was always
welcome. lils mind was stored with
the thrilling adventures OF early DAYS
Ia the mountains. We never tired of
listening TO the story OF his own good
luck: how. way down near the stream
Aou the side OF the mountain. his quick
eye had detected the bits OF shining
gold; how. day By day and an alone
he followed up the little thread OF gold
until Ae had discovered the secret OF the
mountains heart. the generous Weld
OF ore which had made him the rich.
est man In Golden Point" with touch.
iug pathos be would tell rs OF the brave
hearted men no less worthy than him
Feu who had come out here to meet
only bitter disappointment and blasted
hopcs. At rare intervals he would
speak 10 us OF his own early trials. OF
hl ~>sad wife. 60 whose loving care
a----eAtlc sympathy he confidently and
proudly attributed his entire success
and an that was good In him. Then.
800. he always brought us news OF his
daughter Mary. Al frst her letters were
only ouipourlnEs Of her homesick low
ing heart she was born TO live In the
mountains. and declared she must have
tns freedom of the mountain bird After
) gAlla her letters brcathed a more
- ,niented spirit. In an incredibly short
tIme the mountain bird had ceased 10
fstier rsalnsi the bars OF her cage
Her quick and receptive mind soon
sIeided 10 the guidance OF those about
htr. and with the full force OF an ar
dsnt nature she pursued the work OF
her education.
Thus from week 10 week We listened
with delight 10 the welcome budget
jim would bring. Sometimes Mary's
letters were ouly Of her life a. school
her books. her new fricnds-and my /
heart would slnk-for then she seemed |
- Oar. 20 very far away! Again. she
would write OF herself. Of the love she |
hegc her father and her home. with an 1
ttlasionai-a very message |
ior Harry. al which. Of course my /
heali would beat with Joy. and ! would /
cough or llshl my pipe, DO anything 10 /
aide ihe lell-tale light knew was In
~ eyes During the Last year che bad /
tfiiiea most Of her homs-coming; and