Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-08-19

look ?"
Beautiful" said the boy, his face
overAowing with love. want a cup
of coffee now, or wait till breakfast p
"I'll wait.
The boy pushed long-legged stool
across the hearthstone. The man sat
down with nod of thanks and pulled
on his boots, drawing a long sigh OF
relief as he finished.
"Do you consider this the Mecca Of
the world ?" he asked abruptly
Il should say not T.
Would you like to go to New York
or Frisco"
AS he spoke he took out his pipe
and lighted it at the fire with rather
unsteady hand. AT that moment he
looked all of his forty-two years and
a-half.
"Are you joking" asked the boy,
the knife slipping helplessly from his
unresisting fingers.
"Jokingl Well-no-I wouldn't ex-
actly call it joking -
"What - The boys mouth twitched
with nervous excitement. The words
seemed to act upon him like an electric
current.
Have they found him-the real one
the real murderer ? Oh, Dad r
The man nodded. A look, half
chagrin, half reflection, puckered his
brow. Il think they know where he
is, he said slowly. They've about
located him, reckon"
A silence ensued, during which the
smell of charred dough filled the room
and reached the rafters.
The man seemed to be thinking, and
as for the boy, he was lost in world
of his own. His mind went racing
backwards and forwards over the IN
cidents of the past six years He was
trying to grasp other scenes Of differ
ent character-scenes lost in the OBJ
livion ofchildhood His mind, return
ing to the present, ran on something
like this:
Goodness l haven't dared think
of it, but it's been eating my heart
right out-ever since the day he told
me. Not that it made any difference
in my love-no, no 1t wouldn't ever,
even if he had done it, instead Of just
wishing he had. He's the noblest man
that ever breathed. And now he can
60 back-go back and live like a gen.
tleman. Wear white shirts again and
long-tailed coats. And can wear
oh, won't it be splendid l wonder
how they found out about the other
the real man? They'll hang him, |
guess. He says they always do hang
for murder. ! wonder how far New
York is? Days and days, | guess. Id
like to see him hanged, if only for
sending us out here in the woods.
He'll take his name back, maybe,
George Everett. My, but won't it
sound good Mr. Everett And me
Now he's Just plain Bob with nothing
after it, and Tin just John, with
nothing coming before it. Amt it de-
licious Then, Dad'll get some
thing to do in a bank again. Perhaps
he'll take me some place in the coun-
where the trees grow
tall and beautiful and the birds sing.
Here he found it impossible to 60
on, his pulses had quickened 50 un-
der the stimulus of an emotion called
up by the picture. Presently the head,
with its torrent Of red-brown hair, fell
forward upon his breast.
Dear"
"Well?"
"Have you been asleep"
The boy gave queer little laugh
that was half sob. He jumped to
his feet. His thick boots were noise
less as he crossed the room. I'm 60
ing for the milk. l won't be min
ute - And then be was out beside
the old COW, kneeling in the soft, fine,
green grass. When he returned he
found the man drawn up to the table
and well through the plate of cakes.
He watched him from the threshold
holding the pail helplessly in his small
hands.
ooh, Dad p he expostulated.
The man nodded. Couldn't wait. =
Suddenly he looked up and smiled,
and his grey eyes had merry twinkle.
Better sit down quick, or there
won't be crumb left. What's the
matter? Your face is shining like a
tomato cam
His own cheeks in the clear light of
day looked white and pinched. His
finely cut features stood out like a
cameo. "Fine enough to be copied as
q model of the Lord HIMSELF" the boy