The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-25

me alive"
Your granddaughter" repeated Gra-
| ham. Grandfather Rosln closed his lips
| hrmly, while Elspeth looked In puzzled
way at the two men. Graham called to
Elspeth without looking around or ceasins
| to die
"Elspeth. run for the clothes liner'
Elspcth bounded up the bank and was
change a word Now" Graham went on.
tess one end over that branch of the
tree, pointing to one that the ola man
| faced. ''and throw both ends out TO Mr.
| Rosln. Now. Mr Roslin." as the old man
eagerly grasped the dangling rope ends,
| you must pull on tho rope with all your
| might. while l try to lift you on to the
| door, Elspeth. you'd better come out ana
| help"
a few moments OF silent struggling. and
Grandfather Rosln lay under the willow
| tree, white and shaken. but unhnrmcd.
Elspeth chafed his hands eagerly.
Are you hurt grandfather, she cried.
| Tho old man did not answer for lttle
While, then he opened his eyes and looked
| at Graham.
| why do YOU want to take my grand.
child away from me- he said, ''an old
man like me?"
The puzzled look returned to Elspeth's
| face. Graham glanced down at the old
m6n. why do YOU want to keep her,
| ho asked when YOU have no right tor
Mr.. Graham. he's my grandfather,
ci!cd Blspcth Indignantly,
"Oh. no, he's not your grandtather.' re-
Piled Graham steadily, ! knew your
grandfather very well. He was an artist
He left Mr., RoslIn enough TO give you an
education, and what has he done with IT.
"But-but-" stammered Elspcth,
dropping Grandfather Roslln's hand and
rising, my mother-and why
Your mother broke your Grandfather's
heart" Graham went on. Your father Is
Gcad. Your grandfather wanted you
brought up away from every influence
that could harm you. Mr.. Roslin was
friend OF his boyhood.'
Grandfather Roslin sat up cxcitedly.
And amt l give her q good home?' he
cried.
Yes" replied Graham, "and incIden-
tally you've given her q chance to work
like galley slave taking care OF you. !
could not interfere till ElSpeth came or
age. but she is 81 today"
And now you want her, / suppose"
snarled the old man.
I've wanted her and waited for her for
five years" answered Graham,
Silence fell upon the group. Grandfath-
er Roslin lay with closed eyes and COM
little scowl between his eyes. ElsPeth
stood with flushed. troubled face. Yet,
already the revelation seemed an old
story. so completely had It answered her
lifelong questonings, She looked at the
familiar scene-the quiet river. the OLD
shack. gray and silent In the noontide
sun, tho oloping garden, with the cottage
at its crest. She thought of the days OF
toll that she had spent In house and gar
den OF the years OF thwarted ambition.
She turned toward Graham.
Y
me-" she said, -
Graham looked down at her. The
troubled face seemed very lovely 10
Il was not sure that you wanted TO
know"
''oh, you must have known that
did," she cried, "and how glad Then
she stopped as II some thought of the
old man detained her. She went over
and knelt beside him. Grandfather,
Y,t 70 he hunnN
Grandfather Roslin opened his eyes,
Then, as the night before, the fractlous
seze gave way slowly to softened one: one,
Grand ia thcr,' she cried, Il can't leave
you alone, after all these years"
Grandfather Roslin sat erect; I've
been pretty cussed in my day, Elspeth,
Re said 'sbut you've been good daugh-
ter to me, and / amt mean enough 10
keep you from the mar YOU want
Cousin Emily IL come and take care OF
me. I'm gon' to change my shoes
The old man rose. and waving back
their, proffercd hands, hobbled up the
bani:-
'I never thought he had 1t In him" he
seid Then, taking Elspeth,S hand in
his he walked slowly toward the door
less shack. Within. he looked at the
beauty OF the sandstone carvings Tor a
few silent moments, then: -;,.
"Elspeth." he said, will You give me
bic for you to put these things in last
irE form?"
Elspetb looked at him with wonder
IN her eyes You want n.e?" she asked.
Just plain ignorant me-
HIS answer was another question.
"Elspeth, are you sure you care? Have
you cared long enough"
Elspeth turned to the table and slowly
Drew the cloak from another tlgure,
1t was Grahlms face that looked up
ar them from the clay, modelled with q
fSithful memory that only love could
have bestowed Without word Graham
e. thered her close to him. There was a
long silence Out of doors the river
Tapped the shore tcnderly, the sweet,
damp smell OF the thawing earth fioatcd
in to them, and n robin alIghted in the
doorway and watched the two with In
curing chirp.
Copyright 1906, by Ruby Douglas.