Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-09-26
:IsI3N -.ssagsea-ass srse-sss1 fasla 5 THE OLD l 1 HOMESTEAD 1
 ! By L. M. MONTGOMERY 'sSssN sss,5l@~ssNjesa~ss.vlpls
By L. M. MONTGOMERY
(Copwlght, by Joseph B. Bowles)

l ' II i E~.vt,a~sss,Jys-ssrvssa-ss.vlpE Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.) Stephen Winslow backed his horses down to the brook to drink before turning in at his gate, as had been 1 his lifelong custom. To-day he felt tired, and even after the animals had ! lifted their heads from the water he still sat there, leaning back contented- ly against the sacks of flour piled up behind him.
 q shouldn't wonder if missed that brook" said Stephen, reflectively. When you've heard a thing for 60 odd years, it's apt to ring in your dreams, maybe"
 Stephen was small, lean old man, half lost in loose clothes that seemed : far too large for himself His white beard combed into struggling locks by his nervous fingers, flowed in a , patriarchal fashion over his breast. i Presently he chirruped to his horses and they numbered along through the water and up the steep little rise to 1 the turn. AS he drove through the open gate a woman came out of the house.
 Well, everything is about wound up at last, Pris." he said, contentedly. 'I went into Dan McCulloch's on my way to the mill and we made the dick. CT He's rented the farm for a year Laws. Pris, it makes me young again to think of it! Seems 'sif we were starting out in life all over again, don't it, now?"
 Priscilla smiled
 Maybe you'll be wanting to get back before you've lived long in Red mond," she said.
 Stephen chuckled, as if at joke.
 That was all the talk at the store to-day. Peter Shackleford says, says he: 'Winslow, you'll never be con- tented in city life. You'll be wild to get back here afore next spring. says he, Shackleford-like, as if he knew it all.'
 T don't know that I care a great deal myself" said Priscilla, placidly. But I'm tired of this lonesome life, too, now that the children have all gone. I'm sure of myself, but I'm not so sure of you, father You are as full of enthusiasm as boy over mov- ing to the city, but perhaps you won't find 1t all you expect. and you may feel discontented.
 "No I won't, Pris," protested Steph- en. I've thought it all out, I tell you. There'll be no hankering for Rose meath on my part. You'll more likely be homesick yourself"
 Stephen and Priscilla Winslow had decided to sell or rent their farm and move to Redmond for the remainder of their days. Their three children were settled there and they wished to be near them. Gordon, the oldest, was president of the university. Be sides the natural tie, there was a bond Of intellectual comradeship between him and his mother, from whom he had inherited his most marked charac. teristics. Theodore, commonly called Ted, was a prominent Redmond law yer, and Edith, who was the youngest, had recently been graduated from col lege and was the teacher of mathe- matics in the Redmond seminary.
 By Christmas they were settled down.
 I'm glad it's finished" said Priscil- la. I've had enough of shopping and 'harmonizing.' must say I like the result, though. Don't you, father?" Yes. piped Stephen, with a.acrity. In his heart he was wondering if he would ever feel like anything but a visitor in this fine new house of his But he would not say so to Priscilla He was ashamed and alarmed to find that he was longing for Roseneath- after all my bragging," he reflected. sheepishly. He grew more ashamed as the winter went by. He could moi feel like anything but a stranger in the city. He missed his old cronies at the store. He had been wont to laugh at them to Priscilla, but he had in reality enjoyed his simple pre- -eminence among them. He had been looked up to as a clever, weli-reaG man. Now he did not like being s nobody. Above all, Priscilla must never suspect it-Priscilla, who SO evi dently enjoyed the new life as fully as she had predicted.
 When April came his homesicknes: grew worse. The spring air wakeu ed in him keen desire to get back te the farm and its old, homely ways One day 1t overpowered him.
 "Things'n be widening up ip Rcss heath by now" he thought These evenings the store1l be full. Wisht' I could drop in! S'pose Dann be getting ready to work the farm. Won der what he'll put in the south hill field? Fought to be wheat. but like as not he'll SOW it with oats"
 Presently Priscilla came in, flushed and bright-eyed. Father" she said. abruptly. do you think you can get aIoug xrffhnr.t r,-, for a roupla of dava