Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-10-27

some TO him and lay her son, coui
HANDS on his and draw the pen away
ard turn him roand In his chair and
command him TO rest. Was she smil-
ing down on him now Is she had smil.
ed down upon him then and as she al
most seemed 20 smile upon him from
the lifeless canvas?
Four ard twenty years, and here he
sat, an old man. preparing n wedding
gift for their son who was to be mar
ried tomorrow. A rift for their son!
Yes. yes. II was n custom-foolish per-
hnps. lie would give him n check for
500. II was n tidy sum and pretty
nearly as much cash as the boys IA
Their had when lie married. A hundred
dollars! Surely n liberal gift for-for
their boy. Their boy!
lie bent forward suddenly and dip
ped his pen In the ink. 1t was strange
how dim the lines on the check SEEM
cd. He wrote the date. -Four and
twenty years ago. Why, the room
seemed full Of herl Was she leaning
over Ills shoulder acaln7 He slowly
made the figure II" and the two Ct.
pners. Their boyl Was that the touch
Of her soft, cool hands on his? Was
was she guiding his pen? The lines
were dim indeed as he slowly wrote.
Then he paused and stared down NJ
bis work and carefully added his sig.
nature.
He dropped back IN his chair and
brushed his hand across his eyes and
for n moment was very still. When he
looked up again Mt the portrait, he
smiled. Then he briskly tore out the
check, pushed back the book, shut
down the desk and, SELLING his hat.
was of.
Ten minutes later he confronted the
serious faced teller Of the Sixth Ma.
tlonal and thrust the check at him
across his plate glass shelf.
Certify that, please" lie said In his
crisp way.
The teller picked up the slip OF "a.
per In his preoccupied manner and
glnnced at 1t. Then his face suddenly
bcamed.
why, that's fine" he cried and GER
titled 1t in n hurry.
Obed said nothing.
1t was q quiet little home wedding.
Only the relatives were present, but
there wns such a lot of them on the
Truman side. 1t was n nice wedding
IL 1t was quiet. The house was beau
tilted with flowers aud vines and rib
bons under the supervision OF the sis.
ter who was In the school of art, and
everybody looked quite happy. lncIud.
Ing the younger Trumans, who were
bearing w bravely.
Arthur took his father with him to
he house and then left him In the hall
In charge Of III usher.
There is usually. | think" said |
Obed to the usher, "a place set aside
for the gifts TO the-the happy pair.
Am | right
You are" snid the smiling usher.
This wny." And he led him up stairs
to the little room whore the modest
gifts were displayed. Fortunately for
Obed there was nobody In the apart
ment at II moment. ana when the
usher's back was turned he slipped the
check from his pocket and laid II I'M
der the edge Of a plaque on the table.
he softly stole down stairs.
After the ceremony he came slowly
forward, following the others who had
offered their congratulations. aud took
his sons hand and pressed II warmly.
Then be turned to his now daughter,
surprised at n look that passed be-
tween the happy pair and wondering
what 1t meant.
"FatLer jarrett" said Alma as she
raised her face and the old man quite
without forethought stopped aud kiss
ed her; Father Jarrett. you know
that nobody can refuse n brides re-
quest. And Arthur and want you to
promise to come and live with us Just
as soon rs we are settled In our fat"
NO, nor said the astonished Obed.
IL should be In your way"
That's no answer" said Alma. "Say
at least that you will come and try 1t"
The old man hesitated. She certain
ly was n dear girl.
Il will promise to try It," he smII-
lngly said. and somehow his heart felt
lighter than 1t lad for many years.
And to think" he muttered 10 him
self as he stepped back. that she In.
Vlted me without knowing a blessed
thing about that checkl'
A few moments later his son called
to him.
Father" he said, acome up with US
and look at the presents. It's a good
time. Everybody is busy talking, and
Alma wnnts you to see how nice and
kind her friends have been"
So they went up TO the little room,
and there Alma began her rapid his
tory Of the gifts and their donors.
Suddenly they were interrupted by a
ny from Arthur. He had discovered
the check.
Whats tnisT' he stammered. PAY
the order Of Arthur Jarrett S1o,OoOY
Why, fatherr'
Somehow the boys note of profound
surprise Jared a little on the fathers
leart.
"oh. OIL Now we can have a home
If our own!" cried the delighted girl.
who was looking over Arthur's shout
Ter. "But you know, Father Jarrett,
you would have been just as well
,ome at the fiat"
NNW