Middletown transcript., 1907-07-20
EcosrrNurp rROM LAsr wEEKl

110O OAO AASS o. .
Cherryfeld by rail and be set up
in the cemetery by the time the
procession gets there, about one
o'clock. One of the men talked
on as the boys helped to lift a
slender shaft of stone upon Q
wagon.
Cherryfeld ? echoed Rob in
terrogatively.
The governor promised it to
about as nice a young girl as
you often see, and she wanted to
surprise her brother with it. The
governor is going to have it get
there anyhow, said the man.
AS the team was backed out of
the alley Rob clung onto it and
lifted the burlap covering from
the stone.
To the Memory OF Silas Jetferds
He walked with God.
For a moment all sights and
sounds, of the busy street seem
ed far away, like something in a
dream, to Rob. Then it came to
him with a sharp sting that Pat
ty had made continual sacrifices
to buy that stone, chiefly for his
qualification. And Silas Jefferds,
his father, had walked with God.
That was true-true The
thought thrilled Rob's heart more
than all the flags and music had
done.
I belong in Cherryfield and I
am going home. Silas Jefferds
was my father, he said proudly
to the man on the wagon.
Jump on and ride my boy, said
the man.
But Rob said he had an errand
to do first; he thought after it
was done he could catch the train.
lam going to Dimon and Blett's
to tell them to let the other boy
have the place, he explained to
Tom.
Well, you are a great fellow,
sneered Tom, to go back and be
a slave to your uncle just because
your father got a gravestone!
It's being a coward to desert
Patty, said Rob. Memorial Day
and all makes you feel such
things.
I suppose you think I ought to
go and drudge on a farm all my
life! said Tom, his face as red as
if something had made him very
angry.
I think that while your father
is so lame, and because it's such
an awful hard pull, you ough t
not to run away from it! said
Rob slowly.
Tom strobe off to his ware
house without a word. He turn
ed his head once and scowled
contemptuously at Rob.
Rob easily secured release
from his engagement to the
apothecaries-there were twenty
boys who wanted the place-and
ran to the train bound rCherry-
field.
1t was not yet one o'clock when
the stone was set in Jefferds lot,
the yellow rosebush leaning low
ingly against its base. Rob him.
self helped to set it.
Patty came, 'breathless with
haste and excitement, in advance
of the procession. I didn't see it
and I have been so worried! she
stammered. I couldn't think
where you were. Did you find
out and hurry them up, Rob !?
Her eyes were bewildered, as
well as shining with joyful tears.
She had not found the note!
and Rob had hidden his travel
ing bag under the lilac bush at
the foot of their garden before
the wagon with the stone turned
into the Blue Hill road. Some
time he might tell her the whole
story, but it would only dampen
her satisfaction now. Moreover,
the procession was coming with
its music and flowers to deck
the graves.
Rob could see nothing, think
of nothing, but the beautiful
radiance of Patty's face. He
and Patty walked home together
and as soon as they had left the
throng Of people Patty laid her
hand upon his arm. You should
have been at home this morning,
Rob, she said. Uncle Aaron
came in. He said he had found
ont that you could do hard work
without shirking or complaining,
and he was going to take you in,
to the countingroom, next month,
when Stebbins, the bookkeeper,
leaves! If you do as he thinks
you will, he will take you into