The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-07-08


overhead a hawk circled slowly in the
blue of the sky.
The boy gazed at the mans heavy gold
chain and at the diamond in his shirt
| front.
Gee, I'll bet you have lots of money"
1 he said.
The man laughed, good naturedly.
"Well-yes," he said, 'I have all i
think l will ever need. But them" he
placed his hand on the crown of the
boys torn hat, Il can't skip rocks like
you can, can II"
NO" said the boy. proudly. There
amt nobody around here can do that"
'I got rich after left here" said the
man, after pause. but do you know, /
am sorry | ever went away"
"Why?" asked the boy, digging his
toes in the wet sand.
Because was happier here than
have ever been since" said the man.
The boy loked at him questioningly.
You see, have forgotten how to skip
rocks" continued the man. That is one
OF the big things have lost. And then.
don't you know. all the time have been
gone have seemed to hear the ripple of
the river. and have dreamed of wading
in the water and seeing the minnows
dart away from my bare feet. And there
hasn't been day that haven't thought
Of her pure. young face"
The boy grinned.
"Who is herr" he asked.
"Oh," said the man. as though awak-
ening from a dream. "she was little
barefoot girl knew when I was boy.
She was always with me when was fish,
ing or wading in the water. She grew
Iup and so did l. Then we had silly
quarrel and / went away"
"GeeI" exclaimed the boy. excitedly.
did you see that big fish jump out OF the
| water"
The dog raised his head. wearily,
gazed at his master a moment. then low
cred It again. A blue bird darted through
the trees, and a turtle, summing himself
on log. slipped into the water with
faint splash. Somewhere in the damp
grass a cricket was chirping.
'I wish was a man and had lots OF
money" said the boy.
And I wish was Just boy and didn't
have to wear shoes and could skip rocks
like you can" said the man. 'If could
. see the sunshine cleaning on the bronze
OF the hair OF that little girl l used to
know, wouldn't care whether l had
any money or not"
'T don't like red headed girls" said
: the boy. 81 like girls that's got-Gee!
That old fish jumped again. Bet come
: down here tomorrer an catch i'm"
Where does your father live?" asked
the man.
: The boy threw himself in the grass be.
side the dog and let his hat fall on the
I ground.
"Papa's dead" said the boy. He died
long while ago. l guess the reason
don't like red headed girls is because my
hair Is kinder-what did you call it
: bronze?"
He raised himself on one elbow ant
: = glanced up the hill.
"And your mother?" asked the man.
That's her comm down the path,
replied the boy. "Guess she must wan
!, me for somethin'."
The man busted himself a few mo
ments with skipping rocks. Then h
: turned and saw the woman standing be
fore him.
ii Her sunbonnet had fallen back upoI
her shoulder and the sunlight wa
Il cleaning upon her auburn hair. On he
face were the lines of long years Of sor
row.
An instant the two gazed into eacl
others eyes. Then the man held out hi
hands.
Jennie" he said, Tets go wading II
the river"
The woman's face flushed. but her eye
II frightened and she put her hands in his
They were trembling.
III "Bob!" she cried; "oh. Bobi"
II Then gently freeing one hand. sh
Il turned her face away and lifted he
Y apron to her eyes.
I'll II am sorry" he said. Ct"
mo, no." she cried. quickly, don
be sorry. Bob. don't be sorry; oh. b
slad-as glad as I am. l believed
knew II you heard that-that he wa
dead"
The boy was sitting upright in tn
grass. watching them with wonderin
Z eyes. The man saw him and smiled.
Jennie" he said, still holding on
,e of her hands. "your boy can beat m
at | skipping rocks. Just watch him once.
The boy sprang proudly down tn
II bank and gathered up several fiat pei
q bles. which he sent. one after anothe
skimming across the water.
But neither the man nor the woma
nm saw them. For the woman's head wa
i'd buried on the mans bosom. and he wa
,k kissing the bronze of her tresses.