Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-02-06
NUMBER 6.


their boy. Their boy!
He bent forward suddenly and dip
ped his pen I'm the ink. Ii was strange
how dim the lines on the check SEEM
ea. 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 II" and the two cf-
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 be
looked up again at the portrait, he
smiled Then he briskly tore out the
check, pushed back the book. shut
down the desk and, seizing 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 his
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
tilted IL In hurry.
Obed said nothing.
| II was quiet little home wedding.
Only the relatives were present, but
there was such a lot OF them on the
Truman side. IL was nice wedding
! II IL was quiet The house was beau
titled 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 TO
the house and then left him in the hall
In charge OF an usher.
There Is usually. | think" said
Obed to the usher, "a place set aside
for the gifts to the-the happy pair.
Am ! rightT'
you are" said the smiling usher.
This way" And he led him up stairs
10 the little room where the modest
gifts were displayed. Fortunately for
Obed there was nobody In the apart
ment at the moment. and when the
usher's back was turned he slipped the
check from his pocket and laid II un-
der the edge OF "A plaque on the table.
Then he softly stole down stairs.
After the ceremony he came slowly
forward. following the others who had
offered their congratulations, and took
his sons hand and pressed II warmly.
Then he turned TO his new daughter.
surprised at a look that passed be-
tween the happy pair and wondering
what IL meant.
Father Jarrett" said Alma as she
raised her face and the old man quite
without forethought stopped and kiss
ed her; Father Jarrett. you know
that nobody can refuse brides re-
quest. And Arthur and want you 10
promise TO come and live with US just
as soon as we are settled In our fiat"
mo, no!' said the astonlshed obed.
| .I .ba ~. IN, ,~ns,-
That's no answer" said Alma. Say
at least that you will come and try IT,"
The old man hesItated. She certain
ly was dear girl
II will promise 10 try IT," he smIl-
ingly said. and somehow his heart felt
lighter than II had for many years.
"And to think" he muttered TO him
self as he stepped back. that she in
vited me without knowing a blessed
thing about that checkw
A few moments later his son called
to him.
"Father." he said, -come up with US
and look at the presents. It's good
time. Everybody Is busy talking. and
Alma wants 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
cry from Arthur. He had discovered
the check.
whats thisr he stammered PAY
to the order OF Arthur Jarrett Sl0.0O0f
Why. father
Somehow the boys note OF profound
surprise Jared little on the fathers
heart
"Oh, oh! Now we can have a home
Of our own cried the delighted girl,
who was looking over Arthurs shoul-
der. But you know, Father Jarrett,
that you would have been just as well
come al the fat"
"Yes, yes, know" he answered.
Then he added a little brokenly: II
want to be perfectly honest about this
money. One hundred dollars is from
me and the rest from Arthur's moth
err"
They looked al him wonderingly. and
he turned suddenly away.
When he looked around, he said with
his grim old smile: "SlIp IT In your
pocket, my boy. The money will be
there when you get back"
But after Alma and Arthur had
started on their two weeks wedding
journey and the old man was walking
back to his lonely rooms he suddenly
Strengthened up and said TO himself
half aloud:
ut will only be two eks."-Cleve-
land Plain Dealer.
Beechep's Horne.
No man loved fast horse more thar
the late Henry Ward Beecher. saws q