Middletown transcript., 1906-08-18
My, yes; 7 know you as well as

I.|
Grandfather opened his mouth
IN cackling laugh.
Lost Not much! he chuckIed.
Not in these parts. ] reckon Do
ypu know how long LIVE lived
hereabouts? Sixty year. Why
whenrI fust came 10 this county
there wasn't more n three houses
it, and when T built mine out Of
logs, that made four! And said
Ito my wife, says
You look very tired, interrupt
ed his auditor Won't you get
in? I've lots of room
No. thank ye. I'm not a bit tired,
assured grandfather; and putting
on his hat, and gathering bis cane
and bundle, with snndry grunts
and considerable dependence on
the tree. trunk, he gained his feet
I'm goin over to Sam Cunning
hams, he explained, wheeling
from his exer6ons, and this hill
kind of tuckered me. I'm nigh
ninety year old, so my breath
ketches me a lettle short.
Sam Cunningham'sl repeated
The young woman, merEily. Why,
Grandpa Pierce! The Cunning
hams moved to Kansas two years
ago! You've got big walk
ahead Of you!
Grandfather's oountenance fell
and he stood stunned into speech
lessness.
To Kansas! Well, | want to
know! he stammered, at length
recovering his tongue.
| Yes; you remember, don't you?
she prompted, kindly. You must
have heard, and you have for
gotten.
Of course. TO be sure, to be
sure, he responded meekly.
Now you get in here with me,
and I'll drive you home, she
urged. It's an awful hot day.
She, invitingly turned out the
forward wheel on his side and
waited.
The props, always unstable,
had been knocked from under
grandfather's resolution With
out saying a word he clam mbered
into the carriage. The cushions
of the seat were nice and soft,
and as he settled back apon them
Ibis bundle in his lap, he heaved
La sigh of relief:
When they drew up at the
Trenche house his daughter came
from the door to greet them.
Well! she CALCULATED, in a tone
at once interrogative and exclam
atery.
Oh, grandpa and | have been
having a ride, explained Miss
Custer.
Twas jes'on a litsle walk, ,sweetie
bird, supplemented grandfather,
and she brought me home.
Miss Custer considerably left,
and grandfather. not disdaining
to accept his daughters arm, en-
tered the honse. He was con-
Quoted straight into the parlor,
where he thankfully sank into
his chair by the window. that |
friendly, familiar chair, which, |
but an hour previous. he had
abandoned forever.
1t exactly fitted his weary old
bones.
His daughter tripped away with
his hat and his cane and his bau-
danna. Then she returned.
Now, father. she said, acensing
half playful, half in earnest, |
want you to tell me where on
earth you We been at this time Of
day!
I thought mebbe I'd visit Gun.
ningham's for a spell. he falter-
ed, sheepishly. Sans father
and / were allus good friends,
and Sam
The idea. said his daughter,
smoothing his silvered head.
Without saying anything about
it to the rest of us-and the Cum
in Kansas these two
years.
Both were silent, while her
hand kept gliding absently over
his silky, beautiful hair.
/ do believe | hurt your feel
ings, she hazarded. Did 1?
No, no, honey bird, he protest
ed, reaching upand grasping her
hand, to fondle it. Only, it oc- I
Cured to mel reckoned that
perhaps
Father, dear, she cried, kneel. i
ing and laying her cheek close !
against his, didn 't-oh, ! didn't, 1
didn't mean to. Don't you know
that think you're the finest man