Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-09-17

ing song.
"L%eastways. III be near Annie" he
said. with almost a sigh. Then he
walked slowly across the yard and
entered the house.
Good evening""
"'Eyenin', sir"
Trying to cool of come. are your
Rather warn weather yet-for Octo-
Der"
We'll, no. sir. ! wasn't here for
that particular purpose; but it Is
about as cool a place a. I've struck,
this side O. the mountains. Just
stopped to take a look at the old col.
lcge as ! was passin'."
The first speaker vas Or. Black.
wood, the venerable president of Wa.
tauga college, dignifed but kind
hearted, tall and straight IN spite OF
his years-a perfect picture Of the
old southern gentleman. While walk.
ing across the campus toward his
home he had come upon the stranger
seated on the ground under a magnif.
cent water-oak and gazing intently
at the college building. In the road
a few steps away stood a whitc.coy.
cred wagon to which two sturdy look.
ing little mules were hitched. In the
background beyond the college
stretched the dim outlines Of tho
Blue Ridge.
As the doctor showed no di5posi-
ton to move on, the stranger, with an
air Of Difference, rose to his feet and
leaned his long, gaunt form against
the water.oak. The doctor eontin.
ued:
you have never seen the build.
ing before? Or is there something in
its architecture that interests you?'
"0h, yes, doctor, I've seen it a
good many times. To tell the truth |
king o. love the old place, somehow;
used 10 think I'd come to school here
myself, but my dreams never did
come true Still, | love to stop here
an watch the boys an just imagine
I'm one of EN-, don't you see?"
The doctors next step vas to in
quire the strangers name. for he
had become deeply interested IN his
story.
"Arycy," came the answer, and tho
strangers rough, brown hand took
within its strong grasp the soft, white
one Of the doctor.
"From Stump House,
yes. sir"
Related to Tom Aryey that grad
uated here in $50
Eyes, sir, he's my younger BROTHER
you don't say So" exclaimed the
old gentleman, why, | am truly
glad to know you, Mr.. Aryey. How
Is Tom getting along? The last news
| had Of him he had gone out west
soon after eraduating-four years
ago it must be-
yes" replied Arvey, tom went
west Just four years ago, | never
heard from him since he left; don't
even know if he's alive. He was TO
help me through college, but, poor
fellow, | don't know what's become
of him. It's all right now, anyhow,
for I'm too old. Besides, the home
was all broken up by deaths and mar
riages, and it was powerful lonesome
livin' in the old house all by myself
an couldn't "a asked Annie to
wait on me any longer. We're mighty
happy in our little home up yonder;
but I've never quit dreamin' OF the
college education | expected to have,
an every timo | come down this way
| set here an just look at the old
place over there. An, somehow, it
aw'ys seems to make me feel better
an | go back TO Annie with a light
err an stronger heart. We've got q
fine little Teller at home, just a year
old-named Tom; I'm soin' to send
him down here some day to take my
place an live out my dream for me-
The mountaineer shaded his eyes
with his hand and looked at the sun
in the west. From a group of stu
dents SPRAYING on the grass near
the college came the strains OF an
old song:
"0h, he never cares to wander from
his own iireside'
"Now | must get started for home"
he said, for it's gettin' late; good.
by, doctor
A moment later a whip was cracked
over the heads Of the little mules.
and the white-covered wagon was
rumbling away toward the mountains.
National Magazine.