The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-02-14

II fell at dawn, Just rs big red roostcr
under the house crowed and tapped his
wings. Dave came upstairs and shook
his brother. who had fallen asleep only
about an hour before.
"well," he said. ''the old man has
handed In his checks. Gecwhilikins,
Ron, I'm bcginnin' TO think I've run my
blasted head into a secret of ma an
pas that they've kept from us fur over
| n quarter of u century. All night long,
an up TO the time he tuck his last suck
| OF air the old man talked OF nothin'
else but you-you--you, an some dead
| soldier"
"IIe seems TO imagine" Ronald be-
gan, but Dave interrupted him.
Imagine dogs hind foot!" he blurt-
| ed out. "Thar's somc'n behind all them
hints an threats that have been passin'
bctwixt ma an pa scncc was knee
high to bow.legged duck, an have,
at this late day, jest got my fust whify
of a dead mouse. You don't have TO
knock me down with n load o. mill
rocks as q general thing; can see
inch fore my eyes, cf I am cross-eyed.
The old man kept runnin' on las, night
about n baby an its dead daddy; an
ma kept tryin' TO keep me from under
standin' till she fell asleep out o. pure
wearincss Of the brain an then the
truth begun to creep into my noggin,
Ron, l never did think you was bit
like the rest of us, an now I'm sure
you don't belong to this litter"
Ronald sat up on the edge of his bed,
as white rs death could have made
MIN.
"Are you in earnest, Da,c?" he qucs-
toned.
"If ever was in my life"
Ibid you find ont anything-posi-
tive? the last word came out with
Jerk.
"No, but you can, Ron; ma is all broke
up. She knows you saved the insurance,
an she would answer any question you
ask. I'D go to 'er. after the buryin'.
an demand TO know II all. She'll tell
Iyou."
At this juncture the voice OF Mrs.
Fanshaw came up TO them us she shook
the latch of Ann Joscphinc's door:
Wake ur. josie" she said. "yore pas
been dead COOL half hour. an thar
ain't nobody to cook breakfast"
Ronald began to dress himself.
Dave" he said, "your suspicion has
taken me completely by surprise:
have suspected for good many years
that they did not feel towards me rs
they did to the rest. but | cannot vet
believe l am not rcally--a Fanshaw."
"Wait till you talk to ma" counseled
David. "Bc shore you come at 'er cx-
nctly right. Make 'cr feel shore you
won't give 'er n speck o trouble an
she'll let the cat out the bag"
The next day when Jade Fanshaw's
unpainted box was lowered into the
grave near the meeting house, half n
mile over the hills. the snow was falling
so fas, that the faces of the few mourn
ers and neighbors who stood around
could hardly be recognized. The mound
had scarcely received its shape when
IL was robed In white. II was as-if Ma
ture had spread an emblem of forgive
ness over Jade Fanshaw's list resting
place.
Ronald rode home In the wagon con-
tanning Jrs. Fanshaw. Dave. the two
girls and bud Tarbell. Arriving nj
home the girls went into the house and
Mrs. Fanshaw hustled about on the
hackpcrcb, opening the window blinds
which she had closed tina, no one might
, gain access to her house during the
. absence of the family. There Ronald
found her. still In her bonnet and heavy
shawl. Her eyes fell before the hun
CRY stare OF his own.
II want to see you in private, "he said,
excited In spite Of strong effort at
calmness. She moved as II to pass him
and 20 into the house. and then she
paused before him, dogged expression
in her unsteady glance.
"Dave's been blabbin' to you. Ron"
she said; II wouldn't pay no at'cn Ion
, to that boz"
"You've been keeping something
from me-something concerning my
self, all my life" he heard, himself
saying In deliberate tones.
! She caught her breath, and then
looked through the hall nj Bud Tarbell,
who was turning his wagon awny from
the gate.
"Dave tor me back thar at the grave
jest now," she faltcred, "thnt you said
YOU never would give NC no trouble
about anything. II knowed that
you would not bring me to court, an
that you would let us have the insur.
; ance money TO buy land in Texas, Ron,
Id not keep back u thing"
"Your name shall never be men.
toned" he promised, now chilled "a
the center Of his heart by what might
b:revcalcd. "Ihavc u right TO know Il,
I II am not your son, and not his. You
know you are welcome To the insurance
money"
; Cant you put II of Till after supper.
! when all the rest is asleep? I am SO
excited"
|, "No, Id rather know now" he said.
ITO he Continusd.l