Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-06
banker handed the boy his small valise.
You may carry that" he said socially
NOW we'll go to some good hotel"


But the boy drew back.
I'll carry the yalise to the hotel for you"
he den1urred, but I'd rather not stop my
self I've got in debt enough already-fare
and dinner and all. I'll walk out to my
place tonight; it's only three miles, and
they'll be glad to see me-"
Just as you like. But as there are no
folks on my old place to be glad to see me
I'll go to a hotel. Tomorrow I'll drive out
and see what changes forty years have
made. II l buy the place as I expect to-
we will see more of each other. You must
visit me occasionally and get acquainted
with my doodlebugs.'
The boy turned away. What did the fine,
white-haired old gentleman who seemed to
by such foolishness? Doodlebugs indeed!
Why, he had not played with them since he
was small boy who ran around with the
girls.
days for which the Shenandoah valley is
famous. The mountains seemed to have
approached to half their distance in the
clear atmosphere, and from every grain
field came the piping of quail and the brac-
Ing odors of harvest. The bankers spirits
rose as he was whirled out from the town
across the first iron bridge, and then across
the second, and on over the well cultivated
hills beyond. The bridges had not been
there in the old days. Then people had
forded the river, and sometimes the ford
tngs had been very dangerous. He was
glad to see the country was improving.
At length they came to small building
on the right evidently school house, for
there were children playing under the trees
outside. group of them were kneeling in
circle under one of the great pines, IL
examining something on the ground in their
midst. The banker half rose from his seat,
his face flushed, and suppressed excitement
In his voice.
Hold on a minute, driver That's the
place where l used TO go to school. and
those are the very trees 1 used to climb,
and yes-bless my soul, driver! | believe
those children are actually calling up
doodebugs now. l remember there used to
be few under that tree. Lstent'
In the interest of their occupation the
group had not noticed the approach of the
carriage, and now there came a low, sing
song:
Doodle dandy doodle dandy,
Doodle up Doodle up
the last uttered in a quick accelerating
voice.
The banker was breathing hard.
Just the same driver-just exactly as 1t
was forty years ago. Hush' for now the
invocation was changed and came to them:
Doodle dandy, doodle dandy,
ct is wonderful driver Bless my soul, it
is perfectly wonderful / almost believe
could go and pick myself out among those
children. Forty years! 1t don't seem pos
sible. You may drive on.
A little farther and the carriage turned to
the left through long lane, over a ridge
and then down to where very small house
and very large barn stood. Off to one side
oblong basin of clear water, evil
IDENTIFY a boiling spring, for while a good
sized stream flowed away from it across the
meadows, no stream appeared to flow in.
The banker looked about with glistening
eyes.
Just the same" he murmured. Every
thing just the same, except the barn; that
is new. Hello! you here?" as his fellow
traveller of the day before appeared from
the barn with an inquiring smile of welcome
on his face. This YOUR DlaCe?'
Yes: sir" the smile broadening into
grin. rs it yours?"
Yes, it is mine. too" He descended from
the carriage, the flush of pleased recogni-
ton deepening on his face as one familiar
object after another presented itself. will
You go and tell the owner l wish to see him
say MIR. WhartOn?"
The boy had already departed to comply,
but at the sound of the name turned swiftly.
Not William Wharton?"
Yes why?"
william Wharton, who had brother
Andrew"
1t was now the bankers turn to look sur
pr!sed.
Il had "a brother Andrew, but he died
twenty years or more ago. 1t was reported
in the papers,"
No; that was another Andrew Wharton,
no KIN OF ours. I've heard father tell about
it. Father didn't die till three years ago,
out west. I'm William Andrew Wharton"
The banker took a quick step forward
and placed both hands upon the boys
shoulders.
Yes; 1 see now" he said. after an earn
est examination of the boys features.
you have Andrews looks. / thought the
eyes seemed familiar, and that way OF
carrying the shoulders. But how-why did
not your father write to me?"
The boy looked embarrassed.
He said he couldn't after what YOU had
done for him; it would seem like asking
more help. He said you started him in
business and told him how to carry it or,
and that he went just opposite your ad-
vice and lost everything. Father was
proud, and after his bad luck he went out
west. He married out there"
But he ought to have written again"
wistfully. 'He was the baby of our FAMILY
fifteen years younger than the rest of us.
What was a little money? 1 would have
helped him again-a dozen times If he had
liked"
''Yonder comes Mr. Hatch" said the boy
as a tall, loose jointed man slouched down
from the porch toward them
THE owner?"
Yes: and he'll SELL" eagerly. 81 told you
a gentleman came with me who was going
to buy a place in the neighborhood, and he
said he only wished some one would offer
to buy his place, he'd sell mighty quick"
We'll" said the banker. smiling. well
give him a chance TO keep his word"
And so they went forward, hand in hand.
to meet the man who was TO sell them the
place which was TO belond to them both.