The Washington times., 1901-07-14

rails were laid through his orchard Then
the first train came along. roaring tri-
umphantly, and vomiting black smoke
over what remained of the ancient apple
trees.
Upon this Cyrus bestirred himself,
though physical exertion stu sent excru-
ciatins pains through his joints. The reg
uiar passenger train schedule had been in
operation just a day. when he began to
do for himself what the law could not. or
would not, do for him. At O'Clock on a
Tuesday afternoon his wife having driven
to the village Cyrus hitched up a yoke
of oxen and began to drag stumps from
the stump fence on the north side OF the
orchard to the railroad bed. He chose
the largest and sOundest and toughest
stumps he could find, and by o'clock
had a formidable fence built across the
railroad or the exact boundary of his or
chard The roots of the stumps bristled
in the direction from which the next train
would approacll-the train from Whining
ton, due to pass at o'clock In the even
ing. Should a locomotive strike those
formidable roots, the butt of the stump
would only be driven firmer into the
ground Something would have to stop
or smash, and Cyrus felt confident that
it would not be the stump.
1t was several minutes past when the
horn blew for supper. Cyrus was glad of
the extra time, and glad that his field of
operations was hidden from the house by
a rise of land When he came slowly up
IRON the orchard with the tired oxen, his
wife met him at the back door,
Here's a letter for you" she said
'Supper's a leetle mite late, but the old
mare limps so L couldn't git home as soon
s planned. Better read the letter fore
ye set down to eat, hadn't ye?"
NO answered Cyrus. Iimping to the
barn with the oxen. It'll keep until af-
ter I've had a cup O. tea. L reckon
Cyrus StackpoIe ate mis- supper deliber-
ately. and then sank into the old padded
rocker by the window and opened his let
ter. Hardly had he commenced to read it
when. with a startling cry, he spra1g to
his feet again and ran stumbling TO the
barn. Her husbands cry and sudden leap
caused Mrs. Stackpole to drop lot of
plates she was carrying to the sink; but
not even the terrific crash of broken
er9ckery elected the slightest attention
from Cyrus. The letter had ffuttered from
the old mans hand to the foor as he ran,
and Mrs. Stackpole stopped and picked it
up with shaking fingers Something IN
that letter, she knew. had caused her hus-
bands sudden dismay. s4s
She turned first to the signature. It was
from Frank-their own dear boy, from
whom they had not heard for two years.
and whom they had about given up for
dead. since he disappeared in the Alaskan
goIGfields.
Dear Father and Mother. he wrote, 'T
am coming home at last-a rich mani
Have been out of the world, practically
since I wrote you Iast-Iiving in a hut,
200 miles beyond civilization. VIII tell
You all when l see you. Look for me
next Tuesday evening. learn that you
have new railroad now, and 1 can reach
you by train the same evening 1 get to
Wilmington. God bless you bothl Low
insly. FRANK"
What was there in that blessed letter
that could have caused her husband such
distress? Mrs. StaekpoIe wiped the tears
of JOY from her eyes and sped out to the
barn.
Cyrus she cried What on airth are
you doing?
Cyrus WAS hurriediy replacing the yoke
on the necks of the weary oxen. His
hands trembIed. His face was everspread
with al ashen pallor.
Cit out of the wayt' he shouted, as he
Iashed the oxen from the barn. the long
chain that dangled from the yoke clatteF-
ing behind He caught lantern from