Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-10-14

CAN Y Girls home!

lml 1t happened just as ! thought
~& it would, only she came sooner
than expected, though l was expect
ing her pretty soon. l thought she
might stay at Lakeville over one more
Sunday. / told her she better and
have a little more Of the fresh air and
lake breezes that were doing her and
Little Son so much, good. l couldn't
go up there Saturday on account Of Its
being near the last Of the month and
my having to be at the Office in the
evening, but advised her to stay and
she said she'd think it over. She said
II In way that let me know she had
something lurking in the back Of her
mind. She didn't tell me what it was
and let her keep the secret, for
knew was sure to be in 1t.
Thursday afternoon / finished work
early, so I thought I'd walk out home
and then go back down town for din
ner. The truth Of it was, something
told me to go and I felt in hurry to
get there. got fidgety imagining our
down or burgIed or something like
that. I guess / had what they call a
premonition; anyway, I had it hard
enough to go out to the house and
make sure It was there.
AS soon as turned the corner and
had the place in sight, 1 knew there
was something different It looked as
II It had come alive and was once
more a place that people lived in and
not merely big box to hold furniture
One thing, the shades at the windows
were rolled up straight and all on q
level. I'd had them up few inches
or few feet, just as they'd happened
to hitch after I'd given them a jerk,
but now they looked like well-behaved
members Of society. The windows
were raised, too, and through the
screens could see the lace curtains
gwaying little in the breeze. I knew
all when I saw Mick stretched out on
the veranda like he owned the house
and most Of the adjoining property.
When was sure My Girl was there,
! put more action into my feet and
Sprinted along like racer, thinking
all the time, my, I'm glad 1 got up
early this morning and cut the grass !:
the lawn had grown full set Of whis-
kers."
The place certainly looked neat and
tidy and the little garden in the mid
die Of the yard was blooming itself to
death. My Girl likes old-fashioned
flowers and she's planted a border Of
verbenas around center Of four
o'clocks. Maybe four-o'clocks isn't the
right name, but whatever it Is I know
it's some time in the afternoon. 1t
may have been after Office hours for
them to be working, but they were
still doing business and filing the air
with sweet scent. Micky almost tore
himself to pieces to come and meet
me, and when he was sure 1 was there
he cantered over to the neighbors and
chased their cat Just to show of.
My Girl was at the front door be-
fore I was, with Little Son In her
arms, trying to do handsprings to get
to his father: Right then and there l
embraced my whole family, and when
we got ourselves sorted, Little Son was
on my shoulder, my arm was around
Ny Girls waist, and there we were,
snug as you please, back in the old
holhe once again.
Ny Girl said, sort of coy and kitten
Ish, II thought I'd come home, Teddy"
"Yes'm," l answered, II Judge from
appearances that you did"
II didn't expect you quite SO early"
she went on. II haven't had time to
do all 1 wanted to. The house Is a
perfect sight-but don't care; Teddy.
please don't think care" she finished
In hurry, fearing she might hurt my
feelings.
"Why, MY Grip 1 exclaimed, pre-
tending to be indignant, 81 blew the
dust of the parior mantsl this morn
ing, what moro can you expect?"
We had to laugh and we laughed so
uproariously that Little Son kicked Up
his heels and giggled, too, not having
the least idea what it was all about.
MY son." 1 explained, "this is
family reunion and an enjoyable occa-
sion"
He seemed perfectly satisfied.
My Girl said, beamiEg on me, that's
right, Teddy, always explain to chill
dren, no matter how young they are,
the meaning Of what is going on
around them"
She spoke as one reading out Of
book and I, feeling awed by her supe-
rior knowledge, meekly answered,
"Yes'm."
We had what My Girl calls pick
up tea" that evening" There wasn't
anything in the house to pick up, SO I
hustled over to the corner grocery and
GA0- A. Ass> nnH