The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-26
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Our Daily Short Stories
HE HOME COMING OF TOBIAS
BY EDGAR w ELTON COOLEY.
Copyright, 1901. by Authors. Syndicate,

When the shrill scream of the loco
motive floats over the crest of Lindon's
hill and settles upon the town, the
three stores, the postoffice, the cream
erv and the street corners are imme-
diately deserted, and solemn process
sion, generally headed by the post
master carrying a mail sack on his
shoulder, winds it's way to the little red
station and arranges itself in a stray
Cling line upon the platform. 1t is sell
dom. indeed, that a passenger gets off
at Burton's, excepting during the days
Immediately preceding an election.
Then, candidate for some of the
county offices occasionally drops off the
.'l,p train" shakes hands with all the
men. kisses all the babies and compli-
ments all the women, and then hur-
ries to the station for fear of missing
the down train and being compelled
to remain in Buttons over night.
But the evident lack of interest in
Burton's upon the part of the passen-
gers on the up train" does not dis
courage the inhabitants of the village,
ton each morning, exchange a few
words with the trainmen and then
stand. speechless and immovable, I'M
til the train finally disappears in
cloud of dust around the curve.
But one morning the unexpected
hapepned. The "up train" brought a
passenger for Burtons.
His locks, thin and straight, were
white as a summer cloud: his faded
ewes of blue were dim and deepset; his
face was thin and wrinkled, and his
lower lip twitched nervously. Slowly,
laboriously, he climbed down from the
train platform, leaning heavily upon
a stout cane in his right hand, and
carrying an aged and much-battered
valise in his left.
He advanced a few steps towards the
line of villagers then paused and set
down his grip. Wiping his glasses with
a bandana handkerchief, he scrutiniZed
the faces of those in front of him. But
evidently they were strangers, for no
CLEAN of recognition, no word of
greeting answered his stare.
The old man sighed and turned to
pick up his grip, when his left eye fell
upon the face of the postmaster.
grin spread slowly over his features
and he held out his withered hand with
a chuckle.
'Howd'y, Hiram" he said.
The postmaster regarded him closely
a moment Then he dropped his mail
sack and took the proffered hand in
both of his.
why, Tobias Simpkins!" he ex-
claimed. "Where-where have you bin
all these years?"
Tobias chuckled and his lips twitched
more furiously.
oh jes' bin knockin' round" he
said. Thought I'd come back an see
the old hum place onst more"
well, glad to see yer, Tobias" ex-
claimed the other warmly, glad ter
see yer" Then, after a moments
thought, he added: Say, Tobias,
want you to stay with me while you're
here"
Thank yer, Hiram" replied Tobias,
and added soberly: Reckon most all
our old friends air dead an gone"
Yes" said the postmaster, most
all gone We're gettin' old, Tobias. I'm
70 and you're?
Eighty" said Tobias, softly; 80
last March,
The two men walked slowly up the
main street to the postoffce, where To-
bias took seat while his friend distrib-
uted the mail. He scanned the faces
of all who crowded around the little
u
did he recognize. A sigh crept into
his heart. The village and surround
ings were not much changed, but the
faces-the strange faces!
Tobias" said Hiram, presently,
from behind the little cabinet of mail
boxes, Tobias, do you remember the
time when we ran away from school to
attend the circus over to Pleasant
Plain?"
He, he!" laughed Tobias, in high
key, stamping the floor with his cane.
Yes, yes; he, he! an lost our money
on the road an had to crawl under the
canvas. He, he!"
And do you remember" continued
Hiram, broad smile upon his round
face, 1.-The time we were fishin' down
on Scrub Oak creek an you fell often
limb kerplunk into the water?"
He, he, he!" laughed Tobias, heart
lily, the tears streaming down his
cheeks, his eyes shining; "he, he, he!
An you-he, he!-you-he, he!-you