The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-01-11

"You didn't think to consult me be-
fore you took this STEP" said the old
man grimly.
'You couldn't expect that. father"
said the son. I'll am no longer a
boy. Besides. you can't help but ap-
prove Of her. She's the dearest girl.
Their Is chief accountant with Fancher
& Co. She's the eldest Of six. and
they're awfully broken up at the idea
Of her going. That's the kind of girl
to marry, father-the kind that Is miss
ed at home. But you must see her."
"How do you expect to support herT'
inquired Obed dryly.
"With these two hands and the ex-
cellent education you have given me-"
replied Arthur.
The boy had taken him around to
the Trumans' house one evening, but
there were SO many Trumans, and 1t
was only O short call. and he had
scarcely caught glimpse of the girl.
And now the boy was going to marry
and leave him, he felt. forever.
Their boy! Had he always remem-
bered that Arthur was their. boy?
she had lived? Would he himself have
become the dry, old. money making
machine he was? God only knew.
Hsw happy they had been that brief
year. How ambitious he was for her
sake. How he toiled and planned.
And he remembered how she would
come to him and lay her soft, cool
hands on his and draw the pen away
and turn him round in his chair and
command him to rest. Was she smil-
| ing down on him now as she had sInil-
| ed down upon him then and as she al
most seemed to smile upon him from
the lifeless canvas?
Four and twenty years, and here he
sat, an old man, preparing a wedding
| gift for their son who was to be mar
ried tomorrow. A gift for their son!
Yes, yes. 1t was a custom-foolish per-
haps. He would give him check for
| 500. 1t was a tidy sum and pretty
nearly as much cash as the boys ia
Their had when he married. A hundred
dollars! Surely a liberal gift for-for
their boy. Their boy!
| He bent forward suddenly and dip
ped his pen in the ink. 1t was strange
| how dim the lines on the check SEEM
| ed. He wrote the date. Four and
twenty years ago. Why, the room
seemed full Of her! Was she leaning
over his shoulder again? He slowly
made the figure 81" and the two CT.
pners. Their boy! 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 at
his work and carefully added his sig
nature.
He dropped back in his chair and
brushed his hand across his eyes and
for a moment was very still. When he
looked up again at 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
tional and thrust the check at him
across his plate glass shelf.
Certify that, please" he said In bis
crisp way.
The teller picked up the slip Of pa
per in his preoccupied manner and
glanced at it. Then his face suddenly
beamed.
why, that's fine" he cried and GER
titled it in hurry.
Obed said nothing.
| 1t was a quiet little home wedding
Only the relatives were present but
there was such lot Of them on the
Truman side. 1t was nice wedding
IL it was quiet. The house was beau
tilted with flowers and vines and rib
bons under the supervision Of the sis
ter who was in the school Of art. and
everybody looked quite happy, includ
ing the younger Trumans. who were
bearing up bravely.
Arthur took his father with him tc
the house and. then left him in the hal
in charge of an usher.
'There is usually, think," sale
Obed to the usher, "a place set aside
fer the gifts to the-the happy pair
Am right?"
"You are" said the smiling usher
'NThis way" And he led him up stairs
to the little room where the modest
gifts were displayed. Fortunately fol
Obed there was nobody in the apart
ment at the moment. and when the
usher's back was turned he slipped thu
check from his pocket and laid it un
der the edge Of plaque on the table
Then he softly stole down stairs.
After the ceremony he came slowl,
forward, following the others who hat
offered their congratulations, and tool
his sons hand and pressed 1t warmly
Then he turned to his new daughter
surprised at look that passed be
tween the happy pair and WONDERING
what it meant.
FEATHER Jarrett" said Alma as sh
raised her face and the old man quit,
without forethought stopped and kiss
ed her; Father Jarrett, you know
that nobody can refuse a brides re
quest. And Arthur and want you t,
promise to come and live with US JUS
as soon as we are settled In our fiat"
mo. mol" said the astonished Obed
IL should be In your way"
THAT'S no answer" said Alma. "Sa,
at least that you will come and try it.
The old man hesitated. She certain
ly was a dear girl.
Il will promise to try it," he smiI
ingly said, and somehow his heart fel
lighter than 1t had for many years.
"And to think" he muttered to him
self as he stepped back, that she In
vited me without knowing q blesse,
thing about that checkw
A few moments later his son calle
to him.
= "Father," he said, "come up with u
I and look at the presents. It's a goo
. | time. Everybody in hrsv follyio, m,