The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-09-04


Maybe so" she assented, doubtful
ly. but you will be seeing them pretty
soon. and can find out all about 1t.
did they say anything about COM
ing back?" Mrs Torrey asked Miles
on his return from a visit to the Cas-
wells
Uncle Nathan did after we lo't
Aunt Mary's. They want to come and
camp out in their barn next sumner,
he to work for the neighbors. gu'ss
the boys don't think much of It, by the
way he frightened up when | said
twas good scheme and we'd lend
'em the furniture for Il. | made up my
mind then and there that they must
have this house. Well give 'em the
biggest kind Of a surprise"
In March came Miles Torrey with
an invitation 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 a hotel At nine in the
evening, however, the rain had entire
ly 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 a dense fog made
Il necessary to proceed at a snails
pace.
Aunt Mary and Uncle Nathan's
cheerfulness was unihpaired. but
Miles was disappointed and dlsgusted
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
Il would. He could not be a witness
to the surprise, but wouldn't 1t be tre-
mendous!
Here we are at last" said Miles,
bringing the automobile to stop.
And 1t is as | 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, a nuthatch.
In xrrhf
| 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"
81 don't see why we couldn't Aunt
Mary answered. II wonder If we can
see Il from here"
She got up and went to look out OF
one OF the front windows.
! Why" She held the curtain far
ther aside and looked harder. why.
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 II | didn't know it couldn't be.
| should think"
He went 20 window on the other
side.
"Mary-come quick" he cried. ex-
citedly. It's our elm tree, and our
barn; the Torrey place is over there,
and their house is gone!"
Aunt Mary sank into chair. What
does Il mean?" she asked weakly.
Il don't know" he answered. be-
ginning to dress in feverish haste.
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, no
opened and read it.
MI and Mrs Caswell: This house
and everything I'm II Is yours, a free gift
from your many friends
"They moved the Torrey house over
here and fitted it all up for us, 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 S
arms, and they cried together,
He was the first to recover. How
ridickerlous for us to stand here
a-weeping!" he said. "Come-lets ex
, plore."
Aunt Mary wiped her eyes and fol
lowed him into the kitchen.
Just like our old one. for all the
wordl" said Uncle Nathan. And the
woodbox full of kindlings, all ready to
start a fire.
= They went over the house togeth
er. II see how twas" said Aunt Mary
thoughtfully. "As 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
3 come from Jed Washburn-you know
1 his and ouT'n was jest alike; the sit
! ting-room carpet is the one Susar
Witherell had in her spare room-wS