Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-09-22
The M0untaineer'S
Dream
BY HUGH A. C. WALKER

br00ded over the llttie valley
town for a year had changed to q buzz
sof excitement. Commencement was on
:again at Watauga college; the town
was full Of enthusiastic alumni and
visiting friends from every corner Of
the surrounding country.
It was on different errand that
the two Arvey brothers had come
down from their home on Stump
House In their white-covered wagon.
Only q month before their father had
died, leaving his large family depend.
emit upon the two grown-up sons. and
they were at Watauga for the purpose
Of Strengthening up his small business
affairs and making certain arrange
'ments concerning the management OF
their little mountain farm.
= This required only q short time.
showever, and on Tuesday morning
they found themselves drifting with
the crowd toward the college. wholly
ignorant of the exercises going on
there. The scene on the inside was
q revelation to both, for never before
had an Avery, from Stump House.
been within a college building. There,
upon the high old rostrum. sat the
young men Of the graduating class,
clothed in their best, the center Of at
ltraction to all the vast assembly be.
low. One by one they stood before
vthe audience, and with fervent, rustic
.eloquence delivered their graduating
speeches, each Of which called forth
enthusiastic applause, loads Of flow.
.ers, and o crash Of discordant
music from the noisy brass band
In the gallery. Then. when the
speeches were all over. the gayly be-
ribboned diplomas were handed to
the graduates by the president after
which came more applause and an.
other rapturous burst of music from
the gallery. The scene-impressive
to those who were Llost accustomed
90 Wataugas commencements-was
one which remained forever fadeless
In the memories Of the mountaineer
brothers.
The Arveys' journey homs that aft
ernoon was an unusually quiet one.
For hour after hour neither spoke;
both sat gazing in q kind Of trance
upon the mountain scenery which had
been familiar to them from childhood.
No sound disturbed the stiffness ex.
cent the rumble Of the wagon and
the hoof-strokes Of the little mules
upon the finty mountain road. It
was the older brother who broke the
silence.
"Tom." he said. "I'm gwine ter
stan on tibet same platform some
day an say my speech an git my
paper"
'T've sworn the same, Gus" came
the laconic reply; "the Arveys hev
cot ter be heerd frum."
It was doubtless fortunate for the
brothers that they could not compre-
bend the obstacles that lay between
them and the doors Of the college;
both had times Of encouragement
and II required the strongest deter
animation, combined with frequent
visits to Watauga for fresh inspira-
lion. to keep them faithful. At the
snd Of three years. however. by per
s1Istent labor and with the aid Of the
teacher ct Double Springs, himself q
vWatsuga graduate. they had pre-
pared themselves for entrance into
college.
As II was found impossible for both
30 attend at the same time, the
sather delicate situation arose Of
deciding which one should first enjoy
The coveted privilege.
II s'pose, Gus. bein' the Oldest you
Dught 10 b the Arst to 60" Tom
suggested, rather reluctantly.
But Tom had not proven . very
successful farmer, and that was prob
ably The reason for the plan proposed
~ Gus. -
..No, Tom" he explained. "if you
M on now an graduate you can
Sslp mo along . sight better. Be-
sidss aiw'ys seemed to have .
kind O. knack o. runnin' the farm;
71u must 20 nrst"
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