Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-08-29


Maybe So" she assented, doubtful
ly. But you will be seeing them pretty
soon, and can find out all about it,"
did they say anything about COM
ing back?" Mrs. Torrey asked Miles
on his return from a visit to the Cas-
wells.
Uncle Nathan did, after we left
Aunt Mary's. They want to come and
camp out in their barn next summer,
he to work for the neighbors | guess
the boys don't think much of it, by the
way he frightened up when l said
twas a good scheme and we'd lend
EN- the furniture for it. | made up my
mind then and there that they must
have this house. Well give 'em the
biggest kind of surprise"
In March came Miles Torrey with
an invitation: Mother wants you
both to come out and stay over East
er Sunday; the new chapel is going to
| be dedicated then. And / am going
to take you there in my new automo-
bile"
The journey was interrupted half
way by the rain, and Miles and his
guests had to spend the rest of the
| afternoon at a hotel. At nine in the
evening, however the rain had entire
| ly ceased, and they started once more.
/ The air was warm, but there was a,
| great deal of water standing on the
| road, and that and a dense fog made
it necessary to proceed at snaifs
pace.
Aunt Mary and Uncle Nathan's
cheerfulness was unimraired, but
Miles was disappointed and disguised
This was all so different from what
he had planned.
Then suddenly the fog suggested an
idea. He would still let them think
they were going to visit his mother,
and let the situation reveal itself az
it would. He could not be witness
to the surprise, but wouldn't it be tre-
mendous!
Here we are at last" said Miles,
bringing the automobile to a stop.
And it is as feared everybody
is abed"
Don't wake her up!" they both be-.
sought him earnestly. You jest show
us to our room, and we won't make a
bit more noise than we can help"
A Sabbath quiet brooded over the
house when they awoke in the morn
ing. Outside they could hear birds
singing - chickadees, bluebirds, q
robin, a nuthatch.
They talked awhile in whispers,
then Uncle Nathan said: Don't you
s'pose we could get up real still and
slip out and over to the old place?
Seems 'sif 'twould make it seem more
like Sunday somehow"
Il don't see why we couldn't" Aunt
Mary answered. Il wonder if we can
see it from here"
She got up and went to look cut Of
one of the front windows.
'Why!" She held the curtain far
Their aside and locked harder. why,
can't-make it--seem right Why, Ma
than!"-as the sun burst forth-"the
sun is rising over across the road in
the west, or else I'm losing my mind"
Uncle Nathan sprang out of bed and
stared out over her shoulder. TT
amt the Torrey place." he said slow
ly. Miles has been playing some joke
ON us. If l didn't know it couldn't be.
l should think"
He went to window on the other
side.
"Mary-come quick!" he cried, ex-
citedly. IT'S CT elm tree, and our
barn; the Torrey place is over there,
and their house is gone!"
Aunt Mary sank into a chair. What
does it mean?' she asked weakly.
II don't know" he answered. be-
ginning to dress in feverish haste
: They were both dressed, when a
, large piece of paper, half under the
, door, caught their attention. AS Uncle
} Nathans name appeared on it, he
opened and read 1t.
"Mr. and Mrs Caswell: This house
n and everything in It is yours. free gift
o from your many friends
a They moved the Torrey house over
1 here and fitted it all up for US, said
p Uncle Nathan in an awed voice.
8 They looked at each other as If stun
y ned for moment, then Aunt Mary
= threw herself into Uncle Nathan's
! arms, and they cried together.
: He was the first to recover. How
ridickerlous for us to stand here
e a-weeping!" he said. "Come-let's ex-
g plore."
Aunt Mary wiped her eyes and fol-
lowed him into the kitchen.
g Just like our old one, for all the
y world" said Uncle Nathan. And the
u woodbox full of kindlings, all ready to
start a fire"
l. They went over the house togeth.
4 er. 81 see how twas" said Aunt Mary
thoughtfully. "As long as the house 1t.
Il self was like the old one, they thought
1t they'd make the rooms as near like as
t they could, and everybody helped
That grandfather clock must have
s come from Jed Washburn-you know
N his and our'n was jest alike; the sit
II ting-room carpet is the one Susan
" Witherell had in her spare room-we