Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-02-02

ped up photograph from an inside pock-
ct and showed ii proudly.
Hair brown, like yours, ard curly
suggested Thornton, "and blue eyes,
too, reckon
Yes sub. She's the rrettiest moth
OF you ever saw, said the boy. Il
don't know any lady that can come up
to her"
"She certa.nl, Is mighty fine look
Ing" returned Thornton heartily as lie
handed back the picture.
He paid the BILL and the two went
out into the street
IL reckon" Thornton said, you
wouldn't mind sleeping in real bed
tonight. Well, I've got big double
bed IN to the hotel, and it'll be just
about Il tit for us two. No, sir; I'm
not going to let guest go that way.
1t amt the way we entertain our
friends back home, and you've just got
to come along with me-
Thornton did not sleep much that
night. He lay awake to think of the
home the boy described-of its big oaks
and CLANCY" trees, of its clean swept
yard of white sand, of the negro cabins
sitting in the midst of cotton fields, of
the long, waiing calls of men echoing
through the woods as nightfall came
and the melancholy crying of the whip
poorwill in the dusk.
A great wave of inconsistencies swept
No ~ I, ,n civ IN,
see it all again? And why shouldn't
he? What was to hinder?
lie turned and looked at the sleeping
boy. lit wouldn't be bad idea" said
he thoughtfully. IL reckon she'd be
right glad to see him. | certainly
would like to see the meeting"
1t was Christmas morning when the
train ut last dropped Thornton and the
boy at -Four Pines Station. They had
telegraphed from Silver Bow they were
coming, and the old, rickety carriage
was waiting for them. with white
wooded Peter grinning on the front
seat
The mistis didn't like to come IL
because of the drinkin' an drammin
but she says | was to BUN the grit
gon' back" he explained as they rat
tied out of the village.
Everything was good to Thornton on
that drive The creakins OK carts they
passed, the sunbonneted women rub
bling snuff at cabin doors, the thin
hounds lying asleep in the sun, the
rich soft voices of the people they
met; the gaunt razorbacks scuttling
under the horses hoofs, the stick and
mud chimneys, tie martin gourds
swinging from the high poles gave
him welcome home and wished him
merry Christmas.
He sent the boy ahead when, at the
turn of the road, the stately old white
pillared house came in sight, feeling
that In the greeting between mother
and son there was no place for Il
stranger, and walked slowly up the
grass grown avenue.
She and the boy were waiting for
him at the gate-a slender, graceful fig
ure she was. looking hardly old enough
to be the mother Of the lad beside her.
AS Thornton came near she ran for
ward and gave him her hand.
How can ever repay you. Mr..
Thornton" she cried, "for all your
Kindness to my boy and for bringing
him back TO me"
IL don't know as I did bring him
back 1t seems more like he brought
me. I'd never have got started but for
meeting elem"
but at least | can try to thank you
for my Chris mus CIR
II ought to do the thanking, ma'am
If you had seen what IL lonesome sorry
Christmas was expecting to have the
night | met your boy" replied Thorn
ton gravely well, reckon you'd say
It was who got the Christmas CIR.
And ~ events turned out II WAS.