The Forrest City times., 1903-07-03

| ancestors would turn in their graves.
Surely, Jere, you won't disgrace the
good old Nance"
| But Jere answered quietly and
finally. My mind is fully made up
| "Then, Jere Ketchum. you can go.
| won't have my other boy led
/ astray." And Abner Ketchum left
the room, his lips white and set.
All the latent stubbornness in Jere
was aroused by his fathers last
! words and all his mothers pleading
or his sisters tears could not make
him change his mind. And now it
was three years since he had left the
| homestead. and although the mother
heart searned for him. she suffered
/ in silence. Abigail heard her sigh as
| they assembled the stairs and her own
rebellion against her father harden
ed If Abner Ketchum had seen the
notice of Jere's appearance in Salina,
| he gave no sign but sat completely
| absorbed in the news. Mrs. ketchum
| brought out the mending basket and
putting the spools of darning cotton
on the table set grimly to work. After
some moments silence she asked,
What are you going To do to-mor-
row, father"
| Abner ketchum looked down over
his spectacles and shifted his feet
TO more comfortable position on
the fender before replying.
Guess Ill oil up those harnesses.
I've been waiting for Henry to do it
but he's always too busy with his
studying. | expect To be pretty busy
in a week or so. Why"
well, you see" replied Mrs.
Ketchum. as she enyelopcd her hand
in great blue cotton sock. that
fresh pork won't stand this warm
spell and want to take a mess of it
over to Martha and. as my week s
work is we'll under way, | thought
Abbie and l would go tomorrow"
| Now, Martha was Abner's sister
who lived in Salina and was in sym
| pathy with Jere. She always kept
Mrs. Ketchum informed as to his
whereabouts. Mr.. ketchum, however.
had never suspected it. so he said
somewhat pleasantly. well, ! would.
mother. You've been working hard
putting up stuff for the winter and
the fail buteherin' is always hard on
women-folks. | guess daughter won't
be sorry for a little change
Abigail sat with reddening cheeks
and beating heart, not daring to
glance at her mother surely" she
thought, "mother's made up her
mind to something"
Mrs. ketchum finished her mending
just as the old clock wheezed and
whined, then struck nine metallic
strokes.
Il suppose you'll want an early
start remarked Mr.. ketchum as he
shot the bolt in the sitting room
! door.
yes, | calculate to take the quar-
ter past nine car replied his wife.
Did you have any word to send
Martha -
You might ask her if she could
guess that porker's weight by the
size of the tenderloins, for | never
did see such tenderloins iii pig be.
fore, and Martha always was "a good
| mana at guessing.
Miss Martha Ketchum welcomed
her sister-in-law in her usual warm
hearted manner and soon found that
it was more than mess of fresh
! pork" that had brought her.
The mother and Abigail soon laid
their plans before Miss Martha and
she heartily approved of them. She
herself had intended to go to the
matinee that afternoon, as it was
Jere's first appearance in Salna
Two o'clock found the little party
settled in good seats anNiously await
ing the rising of the curtain.
Abner ketchum built roaring fire
in the kitchen stove, carefully spread
out piece of burlap on the spotless
floor and faithfully "oiled harness
the greater part of the forenoon. He
looked particularly downcast as hs
drew up his chair To the kitchen table
preparatory TO eating the cold lunch
his wife had left for him.
This stuff don't taste right. some
how" he said, munching away on
cold sausages and bread. Guess II
make some coffee" But the coffee
too, had lost its charm and the man
absent mindedly sugared il twice, and
stirred and stirred as his thoughts
ran on, The pie remained untasted
Altogether the meal was most un-
satisfactory. The old house shudder-
ed as If il, too. was overcome with
a sense of loneliness. and blind in
the spare room kept slamming in a
most refractory manner. Ahner rose
to fix il. The spare room was an UNI
familiar spot To him and he instinct
lively stopped on the threshold to
wipe his feet on the braided rug The
blind fastened, Abner stood a mo-
ment IN the room and looked proudly
at the great snowy bed with it's red
embroidered shams; the old walnut
bureau had been his mothers; lust
above il a boyish face stared at him
from out gilded frame Abner
looked and looked. he seemed almost
! To devour il. Dash il ALL" he ex-
! claimed Slamminp the door Pm