The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-06-30

MT. GrlmmeTSDy came toward him, he
held mis- hand out eagerly.
ooh, here you are!" he cried Joyous
ly. 81 am so glad you came. | have
been watching for you all day."
Where is your mother, boy?"
she went downstairs She will be
back pretty soon. Please, could you
tell me a story-a real funny one.
please?"
"Oh, child, a story! l don't know
how. | never told story in my life"
said She old gentleman.
''Then, l guess you never had a lit
tie boy of your own. My papa used to
tell me stories every night until he
died"
Mr.. Grimmersby cleared his throat.
yes" he said, hnskily. Il had little
boy once. but he died too"
Richards dark eyes filled with
tears. Never mind the funny story"
he said; tell me about your little boy"
There is nothing can tell, child. ]
can't talk about him"
Then shall tell you story, please.
like papa used to tell me?"
Eyes, go on" the old man said
anything to stop this questioning.
WELL" began the boy, 81 will tell
you the last one he ever told me. This
Is the way he said it:
Once upon time. oh, great while
ago, in little town near the seashore,
there was a house, and 1t was large
and fine, and full of all sorts Of beau
tiful things. But 1t wasn't very full of
people, cause the gentleman that lived
I,tk FD1I khN lxV
other person that lived there, 'cept the
gentleman and the servants, was lit
tie boy, and his name was Richard.
Cause when Richard was very little
baby his mamma died, so that was the
reason he and his papa lived in the
big house all alone. Well, Richard
thought his papa was about the incest
person he ever knew, but he was so
sorry cause Richards mamma died
that he couldn't think much about his
little boy. So the little boy was lone
some, and sometimes at night he cried,
and wished God had wanted him too
when he took his mamma. But God
didn't. cause the boy lived, and grew
big and studied his lessons, and his pa
pa gave him money and a pony, but
he never kissed him; and sometimes
Richard wished he would talk to him
stead OF giving him things. An after
while he grew bigger and bigger, till
he got to be man, and his father
talked to him a long time, and told him
he knew nice lady, and Richard must
marry her. But way off in another
place, my papa said, there was the
beautifulest lady, and she was so
ho diAp'f
anybody else to come and live with
him just cept that lady. So when he
said this to his papa, his papa said he
could go and live with that lady, but
he couldn't bring her to the big house.
Then Richard was very sorry; but
he liked the beautiful lady 90 much he
went to where she was and married
her. An after while, God sent them
little boy to keep for their own. An
then my papa kissed me, and said that
Richards father would have been hap
lpier if he had kissed his little boy
sometimes, too. Was that nice
lstory?'
But the old man gave no answer.
He sat with his eyes fiXad on the
ichild's face. 1t was all coming back
Ito him now-the strange unrest, the
Ithronging memories, that had taken
possession of him ever since the night
that brought little Richard beneath his
roof, were all explained. The eyes that
looked so earnestly into his own were
Richards very own.
At last Mr.. Grimmersby recovered
himself. Richard" he said, huskily,
Ibid your father tell you the gentle
mans name?"
mo" replied the boy, shaking his
head, "but he said it was a true story,
and mamma has the picture Of Rich
ards mother; she always keeps 1t with
her | can get it," he said; and, Slip
ping from the lounge, brought to the
old man little miniature, and laid it
in his outstretched hand.
AS Mr.. Grimmersby raised it his eyes
fell upon the sweet and tender face of
his beloved wife. He turned his head;
there at his side stood little Richard,
the pale face full of anxious question
ing. And as he gazed, Mr.. Grimmers-
by put both his arms around him and
held him fast.
There were many mutual eXplana-
lions in the next few days that follow
led; words were spoken that sweetened
the past and frightened the present.
And in the happy future never again
would the old man go unloving or I'M
loved. The stately old halls would
ring with the music Of child's laugh
ter; the beautiful lady would live in
the big house.
A few years later Richard was taken
downstairs, and, lying on couch in
the library, he watched for the coming
of his beloved doctor. The thin face
looked paler than ever against the
crimson cushions. The poor little
ibroken-arm lay helpless on his breast.
Mr.. Grimmersby, sitting by the fire,
watched him silently; the tears sprang
to his eyes as he gazed.
For the last week the weather had
been moderating. The water dripped
from the fast disappearing icicles; lit
tie patches of green showed through
the snow; the sun was shining bright
ly. Richard was delighted.