The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-09-17

been stabbed and fed, Gus stood for s
few moments looking silently across
the mountains as the night slowly
fell around them and blotted them
from view. In the window Of a
cabin across on Roundtop a red light
flickered, and there came to his ears
the sound of girls mellow central.
to voice singing an old corn-shuck.
ing song.
'Leastways, I'll be near Annie" he
said, with almost a sigh. Then he
walked slowly across the yard and
entered the house.
Good EVENING""
'Evenin, siri"
Trying to cool of some, are you?
Rather warm weather yet-for Octo-
her,
We'll, no, sir, wasn't here for
that particular purpose; but 1t is
about as cool a place as I've struck,
this side o. the mountains. Just
stopped to take look at the old col.
lege as l was passing"
The first speaker was DR.. Black.
wood, the venerable president Of Wa
tauga college, dignified 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 magnif.
cent water-oak and gazing intently
at the college building. In the road
a few steps away stood white-cov.
cred wagon to which two sturdy look.
ing little mules were hitched. In the
background beyond the college
stretched the dim outlines of the
Blue Ridge
AS the doctor showed no DISPOSE.
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 contin.
ued:
"You have never seen the build.
ing before? Or is there something in
it's architecture that interests your"
ooh, yes, doctor, I've seen it
good many times. To tell the truth
king o" love the old place, somehow;
used to 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 'em. don't you see?"
The doctors next step was to in-
quire the strangers name, for he
had become deeply interested IN his
story.
''Arvey," came the answer, and the
strangers rough. brown hand took
within its strong grasp the soft, white
one of the doctor.
From Stump House?"
eyes, sir"
Related to Tom Arvey that grad.
uated here in 1872"
Eyes, sir, he's my younger BROTHER
''You don't say sol" exclaimed the
old gentleman. ''Why, I am truly
glad to know you, Mr. Arvey. How
is Tom getting along? The last news
/ had of him he had gone out west
soon after graduating-four years
ago it must be-"
EYES," replied Arvey, "Tom went
west just four years ago. l 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 time / come down this way
/ set here an just look at the old
place over there. An, somehow, it
alw'ys seems to make me feel better
an go back to Annie with light
er an stronger heart. We've got a
fine little Teller at home, just year
oId-named Tom; I'm goin' 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 group Of stu
dents sprawling on the grass near
the college came the strains of an
old song:
"Oh, he never cares to wander from
his own fireside"
"Now 1 must get started for home,@
he said, "for it's gettin' late; good
by, doctor"
A moment later whip was cracked
over the heads OF the little mules,
and the white-covered wagon was
rumbling away toward the mountains.
National Magazine.