Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-10-24
Maybe So" she assented, doubtfu,-
~. But you will be seeing them pretty
soon, and can find out all about it,"

Ing back?" Mrs. Torrey asked Miles
on his return from 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,
ne to work for the neighbors. I guess
the boys don't think much of it, by the
way he frightened up when 1 said
twas good scheme and we'd lend
EN- the furniture for it. I made up my
mind then and there that they must
nave this house. Well give 'em the
biggest kind of SURPRISE"
In March came Miles Torrey with
an lnvitation: 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 hotel. At nine in the
evening, however, the rain had entire
~ 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 dense fog made
1t necessary to proceed at a snails
pace
Aunt Mary and Uncle Nathan's
cheerfulness was unimpaired, 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 as
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 stop.
And it is as l 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, a
robin, 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"
III don't see why we couldn't" Aunt
Mary answered. 81 wonder if we can
see it from here"
She got up and went to look out of
! one of the front windows.
''Why!" She held the curtain far
| Their aside and looked harder. why, I
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 1T
amt the Torrey place. he said, SLOW
| ly. Miles has been playing some joke
on us. If I didn't know it couldn't be,
| should think
He went to window on the other
SIDE
"Mary-come quick!" he cried, ex-
citedly. Its our elm tree, and our
! barn; the Torrey place is over there,
and their house is gone!"
Aunt Mary sank into chair what
does it mean?" she asked weakly.
Il don't know" he answered. be.
ginning to dress in feverish haste.
Hurry up, and we'll go somewhere
and find out"
They were both dressed, when a
large piece of paper, half under the
door, caught their attention. AS Uncle
Nathan's name appeared on it, he
opened and read it.
"Mr. and Mrs. Caswell: This house
and everything in it is yours. free gift
from your many friends.
They moved the Torrey house over
here and fitted it all up for u.s." said
Uncle Nathan in an awed voice.
They looked at each other as if stun.
ned for a 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
a-weeping!" he said. "Come-let's ex
plore.'
Aunt Mary wiped her eyes and fol-
lowed him into the kitchen.
Just like our old one, for all the
world" said Uncle Nathan. "And the
woodbox full of kindlings, all ready to
start a fire."
"They went over the house togeth
| er. 81 see how twas" said Aunt Mary
thoughtfully. LAS long as the house it.
self was like the old one, they thought
they'd make the rooms as near like as
they could, and everybody helped
That grandfather clock must have
come from Jed Washburn-you know
his and our'n was jest alike; the sit
ting-room carpet is the one Susan
Witherell had in her spare room-we
bought 'em off the same piece; the