Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-09-11


| come to them,"
They are beautiful indeed, and you
are very kind to offer. me such a
treat!' answered the man, looking up
at her sweet, flushed face and then at
her sisters, whose countenances bore
such unmistakable signs Of scorL and
displeasure
Dell is always such a fool" said
one of them in an audible tone
The meal was finished even to the
last strawberry, and the man arose
and placed the silver quarter Cd tho
table beside his hostess, very politely
expressed his thanks, and stepping
over to the open door of the kitchen
where Dell stood, placed a coin in her
hand, saying: Here's a trifle for your
kindness in waiting on me, my little
friend"
He strobe hastily out and away. snd
the girl in her surprise let the coin
slip from her fingers, when IT, went
rolling across the door stone aud out
into the grass. They all droppe{, their
work and came out to help look for
it, and Kate. the eldest of the sisters,
found it.
Gold! as true as I'm q livih' sin.
ner!"
All crowded around and the muth
y reached out and took it in he, eager
hand.
Yes, it's a ten'dollar p.ec-. I dc
declare! You're in luck for ONCE,
DELI but the girl was flying down
toward the gate. Child, come back!
why, l do believe she's crazy enough
to try an give it back"
That had been her first thou.;nt. but
the wayfarer so newly rested and re-
freshed, had made wonderful speed
and was out of sight
On, dear, he's got away over the
hill, and he must have made mis-
take. Here's a trife,' he SAID. II
| hadn't dropped it, should have had
time TO return it to him, but now what
can I do?"
why, keep it, OF course, you little
goose!" said one sister.
oh, girls!" gasped their mother.
Il do believe with all my heart an
soul that was your Uncle Oliver," and
In the shock Of the terrible conviction
she sat herself down fat on the kitch-
en- floor.
Good erasmus, mother. you can't
mean it?"
"Im-I'm deathly afraid it was, an
If it's rely him. we're outdone for.
everi
An to think how talked to him"
moaned the II other rocking herself
back and forth
DO you s'pose he'll come back
again. mother?"
Back? No, indeed, We've lost him
forever-money an all; an what will
your father say? He's sot sech store
by his comm ever sence we got that
letter about it. an so have l."
Don't you think pa had better 60
over to the village and see if he can
find him? / guess he could coax him
to come back"
When Mr.. Bailey came in the ap
pearance of the stranger had to be.
minutely described again and again.
and then he said:
Yes, Uncle Oliver always was a
dretful quiet, soft-spoken sort of
man; but yet | can't seem to think il
could have been him-though l do SUP.
pose he might have grown round.
shouldered an gray in 20 year. But
why didn't you ask him right in?"
Cause We never had a suspicion
till he was clean out of sight. an
we see the gold piece he give Della:
then we put some bits he said along
with that; an yet we don't know for
certain, only we're afraid twas him"
Dell went out when her father was
Harvesting and handed him the gold
coin.
"If you find the man, and he ism.
Uncle Oliver, l want you to give him
the money. for / know he must have
mistaken it for a silver piece. and
tell him he was perfectly welcome to
the little l did for him"
Toward evening Mr. Bailey returned
with the same person who had so TN.
expectedly called on them. The men
came in the house together. and the
duly-presented uncle, whom he proved
20 be, was very smiling and gracious.
and seemed TO all appearances totally
oblivious Of the fact of his previous
call; but when Mr. Bailey went ont
TO care for the horses, his wife began
a profuse and abiect apology. second
ed by her two elder daughters.
But the good uncle begged them
not TO distress themselves. and said
that he bore no malice. and II waa
partly his fault in coming I'm such
a manner, though he had no suspicion
at first that it was his nephew'g
house; and then giving them no
chance for further speech he went
on to tell how glad he was TO see
his nephew, and how many changes
had taken place i'm the village. and
so on. until Mr.. Bailey came in and
then the mother and daughters pro.
ceeded TO set the supper table load.
ing it with profusion OF good things
but il was very subdued circle who