The new South-news., 1907-10-19
By FRANK II. SWEET.

away from me Flhkr, whfn QunFtT-
ing voice asked. "Bc yc goln' 20 the
village. ,hris;yr"
No. grandpa; over TO Beck's farm
for Al Martha
"Ohf" There was n sigh Of dis.
appointment In the lonr-drawn mon.
oe5linbIc. "You Amt goin' nowhcrel
nigh the postonicc. thcn?'
Not rs time. anHwc-cl chrlsfy
mechanically. Grandpa was always
asking about the postofiico whenever
any one stirred from the house. and
fho did not give tho remark much
thought lie was sitting IN bic favor
ite place BY the window. tho soft
summer breeze blowing hts thin
white hair about his face. and there
was a wisiful look in his faded eyes
ae they turned from their long watch
Ing down the rond 20 the girllnh face.
We'll. nposc faint much matter:
only ] thought n you was goln'-"
'Sho ANTI" intcrponod Aunt Ear
ihs promptly. and her voice, always
A-ish 10 the verge Of sharpness, had
decided tone ~ impaticnco. Il
want Mrs Beck TO know about the
currauis: and n Christy goes 'wny
round by the postorice, there won't
be time to do anything about 'cm to-
night
ain't askin' her 10 20, Martha.
don't want 10 bother nobody. only
there might be letter from Dcbby'a
folks--if rho was e-goln'"
Tho gentle. dcprccatinE tone struck
Christ. The wish was only one of
grand9a's notions. of course. but II
would be very little thing TO crafty
H. So she answered with careless
good nature; Il don't mind the Walk.
might 80 that way"
Hut Aunt Martha was not 80 com
plant. No; you can't. Christine.
ltli 'hc you 'mogt an hour longer.
and cant walt. Besides. there's no
sense in & iler" won't be no letter
there II YOU do 20"
Maybe there amt. Narthv. I
don't want TO -othcr nobody" re-
peatcd the patient voice. II had a
Kind OF fcciln' there's be a letter
to-day, but amt noways sure
Never mind. Dhrlsty.~
There was look in chris,y's
Drown eyes which hoded rebellion.
and to that the hurried housekcopcr
sodresscd her cxpostulation. There's
70 eenee wastin time any such way
CnTsetine' reckon II that letter
Hnoo'o happen To get TO the ONCE. Il
sSsse see oysrnlsh. p but. - beeh
1kSz <I.- ~ ccrs.s r.nf
nve Years R-comin'. and hain't got
here yet. and It never Will"
y A sudden white ess swept over the
worn old face A look of utter hope
lcssncss for moment hlottcd out its
esgerness. and the old man looked
from his daughter-in-law TO Christy,
~ II questioning tie truth OF what he
had heard. A memory mcrcifully
treacherous had. perhaps. prev ntcd
HIS realizing how long the waiting
had hccn. and the sharp fact smotc
him like a blow. Then hope slowly
reasscrtcd itsolf.
Tis long time" he faltcrcd
but there might ha' been reasons
They might ha' been h'ndorcd a spell
what with work and sickness, and
such. but you know Ephrnim said
Yes. | know" admitted Mistrcs,
Martha hastily. with as near an an
proach f., pcnitonce as IL was In he,
o"'''.' to feel. ~nu; all Ephrain
said didn't mean anything. Aud
wish TO goodness he hadn't said Il,
she added the minute she was safel,
In the kitchen again. and out OF hear
Ing. ITS cnoug' to poster body I.
DEATH"
What did he say" asked Christy
carefully fitting the lid on the iittl
basket she was to carry. Thas "lottc
from bebby's folks" had been 20 he
merely a familiar household phrase
running back into the midst OF he
childhood. She had classcd II wit
Ersndpa's rheumatism. and other III
firmities OF age, and it had never b.
fore occurred to her TO inquire ser
ously into its origin.
why, twas whe- Ephraim wa
here-that last visit he made. Il
was goin' away, and he had to sa
something. YOU know. SO he asks I.
thor how he'd like to come out. an
visit them a spell, and fathers IA,
chirks all up, and he says; Fir
rate. 90 Ep..raim laughed and sa,
nc; so you'll be all ready. then. whs
We scnu You letter that we're cont
after youg' Aud | declare for Il, he
been watchin for that letter ev
since-crasy TO see pchby: sure tn
Dctby wants him. and was setti
ready for him.
Il don't s'poso Ephraim ov
thought about IL again, and
wouldn't be likely to lay out mon
any such way as comm to him.
amt SO anxious TO get an cid faths
in-law ct his hands. though | don
think 'twould he more than fair
they did have the care OF him a spe
even II they do think Johu's the b,
on. Amt sayin' anything agair
father AS Christy's face darken
~ don't Erudgc him what he h
dear knows. I'm always willin'
take good care OF him. too. though