The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-14

homestead begal TO be regarded curs
ously by such as chr need to pass thar
way. The broken fences. which had
become almost a part Of the landscape.
had given place to better ones all
around the clearing. Weeds. brush,
rubbish and the struggling branches OF
the orange trees had disappeared. The
bananas were trimmed into shape. The
cabin door swung graYely on two
hinges instead Of hanging tiDsily 70
one side. The brush along the road
side was cut away and a sidewalk at
tempted
The neighbors kept a sort Of wonder
ing oversight OF the place, and when
It became known that Mr.. Window
had plowed a couple Of acres for
the boy. and was TO take his pay 10
work. they looked questioningly at
each other. Had they made a mis-
take2 Surely the father Of such boy
could not be wholly bad.
Meantime one neighbor gave Bob
some seeds. another showed him how
to ridge up his sweet potatoes 10 the
best advantage, another taught him
how to put a bud into an orange tree
Later, when his peas and beans began
to approach maturity, they frequently
stopped and took his truck into town
and sold it with theirs.
The winter had passed and early
summer was approaching and still
there were no signs Of the elder Crof-
fers. Mr.. Window told Bob that his
business must have been more dlficuls
than he had expected. Likely he
would be back before long" Bob
never heard the full story from any
one.
He had been at work for Mr.. VIII
dom several weeks, grubbing palmet-
TO. and was to take his pay in young
orange trees. He had TO leave home
very early and did not return until
after dark. Mrs. Window usually
forced ON him a small basket Of provl-
slons or filed his pockets with oranges.
One evening, as be approached
home. he fancied he saw some one
leaning against the fence. It was too
dark to see clearly. and for moment
he stopped irresolutely. Visions OF
thieves and robbers rose before him;
but the thought OF home made him
pun himself together and walk quietly
forward.
The figure did not seem to notice
him As he was about TO pass by.
broken sentence caught his attention.
-Ye're difrrunt now. and dressed up,
bnt ye're mine. mine! Only / dasn't
come 10 ye. / never done anything
to be chased of Ike bear and never
let to meet Bobby. Poor little Bobby.
/ expect he's done lost before now, and
4 can't see him any more"
The boys heart seemed TO stop for a
moment. and as half sob caught his
ear. h. sprang forward with a passion
ate cry.
Paw o paw. Ye have come"
For some minutes they clung TO each
other IN silence. Then Bob disengaged
himself from his fathers arms. aud
stood back 70 survey the massive fig.
ure.
-Ye are big, paw just-surely-big-
And now wen be pardners, and make
the orange grove. I've worked for the
trees Of Mr.. Window
"Alr Windomf" repeated the man in
a dazed Tone Does Window know !
were comm backf7
He lowed you were n-comin' be
fore long. and he helped me get in the
crop. he did"
Lowed were a-c0min' before
longs again repeated the man. But
who's jumped the place. Bobby. and
done all this ere flxln'f I amt feeling
hard on him. lad. cause he's taken
care Of ye- Only I just would like TO
know who's to live on the homestead
Il were mine-the only Bit Of ground
I ever really owned"
Bob looked az him wonderlngly.
''Why. paw. nobody's been here but
me We are pardners. ye know. and
Mr. Windcm lowed I'd better look
after the place and Ok It up against
We come back. But let's be gettin'
supper Mrs. Window give me a bask.
ct plumb full OF pies and ixin's"
Slowly the two walked toward the
house: but after Bob entered the man
fingered for a moment gazing at the
stars.
"I'll be good 10 the boy arter this.
sw'arr he exclaimed: and he. too. en-
tered--to be driven out no more. To
be 'pardneFsr with Bob made him a
good citizen.-Youth's Companion.