The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-10-17


Christy drew hear. He looked Up
with pitiful bewilderment in his pale
face, and the wrinkled old hands
trembled so that they could scarcely
hold the paper.
/ ''The letters come, Christy, but /
II can't seem to know what it
| means. Don't seem like-like Deb
by'd write that way, when I've waited
SO long. Mebbe it's cause my eyes
is so dim, and can't rightfully make
it out 'thout my tother glasses. You
read it, Christy." u
Christy's eyes were dim also. How
could she break the sore heart with
the knowledge that the patient walt
| ing had brought nothing better than
disappointment and ridicule? Then
a sudden suggestion flashed upon her,
and changed in an instant to purpose.
She flung the fraudulent epistle from
her, and dropped down on the grass
| by the old mans side
| ALet it go, grandpa! I know all
about it, and it isn't your letter at
all; yours hasn't come, But, grand
/
longer, but just go together, you and
I, to see Aunt Debby?"
For moment the face grew SO
radiant that it looked almost young
again. Then the brightness died out
in doubt.
Il don't suppose we could, Christy;
| don't never have no money, an
John wouldn't think he could spare
it,"
@I've got it," said Christy with
| determined nod of her brown head.
cts my very own and we'll CO."
swell, Christine Holmes" ex-
claimed Aunt Martha when this new
plan reached her ears. Here you've
been savin' your school-teachin'
money this whole term cause you
was so crazy to take music lessons
this vacation!"
"Tll be young enough to take
music lessons for long time yet, and
| can earn more money" answ cred
Christy bravely. "The trustees want
me to teach next year. Grandpa and
want to go on visit this vacation"
Such journey as that was! Every
mile of the way was fresh delight
every view of village, woodland or
river JOY. The old man, aroused
from his long silence, grew pleasantly
garrulous,. and the cracked, quaver-
ing voice rose above the rattle end
roar of the train to pour into Chris
tvs ear hitherto untold stories of the
old days. And when too weary to
talk longer, he leaned back in his
seat with sigh of content and the
words, often repeated: Most seems
as if was on the way to Heaven. Be
you enjoying it. Christy?"
Indeed I am" Christy answered
gayly. And she did not know that to
her it was a journey out of the care
less selfishness and thong htlessness
of girlhood into tender, ministering
noble womanhood. ~
AS for "Debby's," when it was
reached at last, it was only a plain
Western farmhouse; but the old
mans fancy glorified it, and it held,
moreover, warmth of welcome
which atoned for many deficiencies.
II didn't know pa felt so about
comin's" Debby confided to her niece.
II thought he was that settled at
Johns that no other place wouldn't
seem comfortable, at his time o. life.
If knowed he wanted to come, I'd
but then I don't know how I ever
could have managed it, either" she
concluded abruptly, with remem-
brance that garden truck" though
it provided for the family, was but
rarely transmitted into coin.
A homely, hard-worked, middle
aged woman was Debby; but the old
father viewed her and all her sur
roundings through. magic glasses;
and as he followed her and the chill
dren about to look after wonderful
broods Of chickens, or watched her
about her work while he sat with
baby Mary in his arms, he repeated
often in blissful content: Seems just
like old times to see you flyin' round
so, Debby-jes' like when you was a
girl"
Christy counted regretfully the les
sening of vacation, and shrank from
clouding his happiness by any men
ton of going home. But there was
no need. The summons home came
by another messenger, and in such
guise that it swept away from the
aged face the last shadow Of earthly
pain, and left smile of perfect
peace.
The children, knocking at his door
one morning, reported that they
"could not waken grandpa" He had
journeyed on without Christy, and
she went back alone.
''Of course. twas kind-hearted of
you, Christine" said Aunt Martha,
as the girl sat i'll the low doorway
the evening after her return; "but
you see now" she added with the
calm reproof o. superior common
sense, 1T wasn't really no use,s after
all. He didn't live but few weeks
after you got aim there-no lons
enough to make mite of difference
where he was. Likely he was fallin'