The daily Republican., 1902-12-17

fte Il IN Gille sure, SHp dHS S"tItN'
che wants to come. he says, but seem:
like something always Lppens at th'
very last minute to keep him.
Il see you're fxin' for him, anyhow
What's them--mirc+ pieS?"
"Oh, yes. fix for him every year.
wouldn't like him to come an not flint
everything ready. don't give him ur
till have to. Thrm's minrr pies, an
these are dried-appIe pies. Come
here" She opened the pantry door
and brckoned him in. Il dou't s'puse
you know .what those are. she SAID
with snije haIf dpprccat ting. r"i sad
lifting cIn,h from III" bre"d-huard.
He peeptd over her shoulder, Gee
whuts," he cried. cNpl"sNcl!. "iou
don't mean to say I've got to have
one o them. Gran'ma Dorkins. sure 5
my names Homer Fox. Horse gin
ger-cakes, by cracky! The very Kind
you used to make when me an Tom
an Susy went to school 10 Aunt Lid
dy Jack."n,"
Grandma Dorkins laughed, and
wrapped him up three Of the big
brown cakes cut into some scmbance
of a horse with her pir-knife. "Thercs
one for you, one for Susy. an one for
iii jeff. Tell Susy | sent 'cn to re-
mind her of Old times. You an she
were sWcclheHrtS even when you used
to sculiic with Tom for picCc Of his
ringer-cake."
"Tum's dom midd.in' well. amt he,
gra ran'ma"" Homer asked. making a
'Ftar 1rg". hut hoItjng ont" The back
door I'd, hr waited for her reply,
"Tom G",n' ,p."ncio." the old WON.
mn laid, uu@H. "lr'> way nP IN tie
raiIr"ud hu.il.'-- u.N.'
AZ, nea. on len years since ne was
home. ajn't it,"
"NIne years thi, Christmas" sh"
corr,rI,d lim. "ilr'~ been tutenGtu'
to come for :" i"nq; hut hc'~ aNfUI.y
busy, fem j.. With =" murh ".ponsi-
biIitN Ir cant hardly ever I,uNr.
"T"ok his wife 10 Europe last gear.
diGn'r he""
"les. rhr} was =. ~ three months.
lie wrote to- IT," after the, got back.
nm >ujI IT, ra"ug!1 far sure ne was
Roin to- arl up rhut year. but now he
rou'Gul, WIS r"'' oi>argoinIrd, fer
I'd ncru most certain IL have ijrn h,rr
last thri>'mas.'
ITS Iite,, lr'H come this s,a>pu."
Homer remarked. 10y wa, "f rsmfort.
"nur,'i YOU knuN, i'm sort q uu>ili,e
Ire v;Il." gl4ndu.a said. frightening.
"l'Nc been uj>Arpuinred often enough
before. hu, Ms Iiar it, HjtIrrrur-
i'm nar h,'u' ho,nr r"r :" 1org an |
nrolr him Iaru't nreu ,,rI lur"l.
Ny r'.0m":i. h"h"@- ne Gr,@DG@
tbs W'>,,n. i'W,;l,' ii "'t"gr1ND".
Homer. I'm hnuud Toms ron,u' hi.
iime.'
Homer F':-h,t at T. faced ,,rr-
hIl>, ,h0l the door anu rjtn rI, ned
It crack tie ruu'Gm', frd i word ro
say.
UId Nj. n,rN.n~ 'aach,H >sc.', as
,he W p,a on the hi'rnrntao "Duuj'
}ou "}rr t.n u,m,.; uu i've DHhcd
h"r>c glr2,r raLr> every year for
Fem, hn0'o.rouiu'. uu' them had to
,"nd '"w IT. he orphan :,>> Inv, u,erat
N"l0ingrri. NrW. this year | cal
r'.a'r Tuu'- r"rt' to rar IN, L'r.~r,f."
"l'~ 'uil TWO cay, 'i'I rhi..'pDu>."
!!umrr ~HjG. >.nNly. - ur ought ~ be-
t+"rin' from him whether he, comm.
Im guiu' IT, tie post otiicr III -re if
therr'~ a lctic' t"r ,.rl."
"No. Homer. CONT" nraurma said.
Easiiy. "l'o ratl rr hn' l",c it III
ihr last ihjuE II lr ~, uI>u't he cuu-
In | N'rI h@Nr aM!Dhiry +" Io"h f..r-
'"ru 90. an '' re- +. my rahc> an piv>
are all u.nrI A. I'.r pot 10 d"now
T. to >fuur ,nr amdirou> over in the
'rltn'.ruuu. an pun UP some greens
{" mnt" il 'e.w Ehr>ruus>>. /
have rhr hearI to- finish. lio.
hrr. If Knew ir wasn't r-mim'." She
,a, still smiling. iut rr'mUIously.
"AIi ri9ht. gran'm.'.' he said. with
II great effect Of chrrrjur>~ il his
'"irr; "hut I'm Iihr you. I'm positive
Toms comm"
AYES, I'u most elIrr Wr't >,c him
his time: bur If th, res letter. Ilu- |
mrr. don't bring it. Peter trump al /
Nay brings 1t up t" me a. he goes
home on Christmas eve"
Homer ci,uned into his GATHERING |
id .priug-Nu2on. nuH with the lines
Mapping io">"A on ,ht gray mare.
back he let her take her own gait down
he long street.
Arriving at the post office. he cx.
hanged greetings with the few
ouugrrs gathered around tire .to,r.
at down on " rrackcr-huX. rhcwrd
lp a bronm->lr"W. and gaIed abstract
@Ir at the Girll noor
"W0nt lour mail. Humcr." tho port.
MASTER inquired. V hen there came :, IuIl
n his dujirs.
Homer got up from he rrarkcr-box
g rccciNc his copy Of he Srarburounh
Weekly Argus. II, held it first in one
and. thel in the olhcr hcSita1inp.
he last loungcr shuflrd away from
he fire and uut the door. Homer
nused TO instant life.
"SaE! Got any letters for Gran ma
'orkinS"' he demandcd
zone from Tom. Guess he amt COM
n this year, same as ever"
Gee whuts." Homer cxclaimed--
was ms nearest approach to swear
1g-"if Tom Dorkins don't come homo
his Christmas, 'twon't be because
fomer Fox aint goin' to do his best to
atch him."
"Tom's got to be rcg'lar high
yer, observed the postmaster. Has
is private car an all that sort Of
hing"
'Io see that poor Of soul havin'
'ith in his comm year in an year out,
n never showin' hair nor hide o ,
i'm elf" Huner hrDke in aycitedIr ,