The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-06-12

IS It gave him Q start. In case 81
accident. Sarah had been anxious
about him then. She had meant Is.
come to him, she and John, If any.
thing happened. He took off 81 his
glasses and wiped them TREMENDOUSLY,
then he put them on and read the
card again. 1t seemed like message
from home reaching out to him
through all the strangeness and dis
comfort. F.. y z# :Ss SIS s;;s .sz
The sun was just coming up next
morning when the train backed onto
the main track and moved on to meet
the train waiting for them on the
5othcr side. When he reached the
river he followed the people uncer-
tainly, down to the rude plank walk
temporarily thrown out over the tim
hers, but he did not attempt to cross.
A brakeman offered to assist him out:
but he shook his head. q: 80 :T S:
..Goin' back to Milwaukee,, amt
ye?" he asked. Ss .1>:E:sS ~ IS. .: :s
eyes,; start in about five minutes"
the brakeman told him. s~.~
"Any boat goin' out to Grand
Haven to-night?''&
eyes. the boat leaves at IL o'clock.
Going back with. us?' ,
= The old man nodded. Eyes, I've
took a notion to-" he said. 49,
When - the last passenger had
crossed Father Harlan walked briskly
back and took his seat again. He felt
Ebetter.ss The empty car was arelief,
and he sat erect and looked. about
him with interest. He even got up
and examined the ak hungaup#at the
endSof the car. Ain sharp enough
to.do no damage ," lie decided passing
his thumb critically along the edge.
Milwaukee almost looked familiar
as he got off the train, and he walked
down to the landing with quite a
feeling of confidence. He had his
passage paid on the Robert Harmon
to Grand Haven.
It was noon next day when he got
into Dumfries. The first man he saw
when he stepped on the platform was
| old Sam Higgins, who seemed sur
prised at the cordial way in which
Father Harlan shook hands with him.
"Been away?'.' he asked, wonder
ingly. .-~
"Yes, been away visitin'. It's ter
rible wearin;," he added.
There was no one. in the house
when he got home 1t was hot day,
but the sitting room was cool and
quiet. Not even a fly disturbed the
restful stiffness, and he sat down in
the big rocking chair with a sigh of
relief, and wiped his face lon his
! handkerchief. The very stripes in
the faded rag carpet were good to
see. Even Sarah's geraniumssdid not
Isseem to look soSscrawny as they used
Ito. He got up and stuck his fingers
into the dirt: .sGettin' TOO dry. Good
thing I've got back he said. going
for water to sprinkle them.
"Sarah's plants"h had always been an
| eyesore to Father Harlan. She
hadn't any ''knack' with flowers like
Nancy, and he had threatened to
throw them outdoors time and again.
Now he picked off few yellowing
leaves CONSIDERABLY. "I'll, take 'em
in hand myself after this" he decided
magnanimously. ..
When John and Sarah came up
from the pasture, Father Harlan had
| on his old clothes and was wedding
| beets in the hot sun. -.
"Why, Father Harlan! What under
the sun is the matter? "Why, - y
Sarah began, but he cut her interrog-
atory remarks short.
81 took a notion to come home"
he explained briefly.
els Aunt Abby well?" venturing one
more question.
''She's well, far as know" he said,
then he gave his undivided attention
to the task of distinguishing young
beets from young red-roots.
John laughed. He was pretty well
used to fathers motions"
Sarah had hoped so much from the
softening effect of this visit upon
Father Harlan. She had hoped he
might come to feel that-the tears
were very close when she turned to
go to the house, but she paused in
, response to Father Harlan's call.
''Would you mind steepin' me cup
O. tea, Sarah, not too strong?" he
asked mildly. 80 - 49,. .
The glow of pleasure that over
spread Sarah's face was a revelation
to Father Harlan. It was a daughters
| pleasure. and it crept into his. old
| heart and warmed it into fatherly
! love at last. =
''Of course will, father" she 70
| plied.-Orange Judd Farmer. x
Would Not Be Silenced.
Attorneys as rule are exceeding
ly quicl1witted, and in encounters