The Newark journal., 1908-09-04

figure of Greuze. That vagrant thing.
joy, had come back But whence?
How?
Sally, what's the matter? l nefer
saw you look so. My Cod what's the
matter?"
Shut your eyes!"
The light of the fire flooded her
face now and made it too wonderful to
close his eyes upon.
Sally-for the Lords sake"
pleaded the old man.
Shut your eyes" she glanced over
her shoulder, and be happy"
Don't, Sally"
She slipped to the floor and knelt
at his feet
"Pappy. tonight am a magician. To
night | can give you anything you
want. But you must ask for what you
want most"
She smiled lovingly upon him.
Shut your eyes and ask"
Poor cid Baumgartner did as she
commanded. And. for long moment.
there was silence. Then tear
dropped on his face. For in the fire.
light poor, sad, sorry old Baumgartner
was making a picture, too; a white,
old, hopeless, piteous, pleading face,
framed in masses OF hair, shaggily
gray when Seffy went away, senilely
white now. The sunken eyes spoke of
Fastening peace after sorrow, and the
whole piteous figure begged for those
tears which fell upon its face.
"Oh, pappy, excuse me-" said the
voice which had gathered to itself all
the music of the life he thought
broken, but you have SO often called
me beautiful that l want to tell you
now that you have the most beautiful
face have ever seen! Pappy-pappy,
dear pappy, God bless you"
And her lips descended upon his, her
dear fingers closed his eyes once more,
her handkerchief wiped away the tear
she had dropped upon his face and
others which had followed it, and she
said
Are your eyes shut? Yes! Now,
ask for anything you want on earth
or in heaven-and you shall have it.
Do not be afraid! The very dearest
thing you can think
"Seffy-" he whispered brokenly-
"Sefy and you-and me-together!
Presto! Open your eyes," cried
Sally.
He did so-and there. kneeIing be-
fore him, was Seffy-and one arm was
about Sally, the other reaching out to
him-not quite certain how it would
be received but with the old smile OF
Sefy. He seemed bigger, and he had
q young beard on cheek and lip, and
he appeared quite worthy to be the
president of the Kansas State League
of Farmers clubs.
Old Baumgartner looked without a
word at first to be sure, then 10 fill
all his being And then he rose to his
feet and shook off all the years that :
had accumulated during Seffy's alb
sence, and, when his arms were about
them both. and theirs about him, their
joint shadow rose and filled all the
room and ceiling-blotting out all else.
And, 10, it was not three shadows, but
one!
.Seffy,' asked his father, while his
arm went about his shoulders with the
Inconsistencies of what seemed yes
terday, how did you efer git president
of that sing ?-what is it?"
Il fought for it, pappy."
you? Gosh-a mighty
They both laughed happily.
"Yes-you and Sally were right
peeded to learn to fight | went out
into the world where you sent me-
thank you both-and found life. And
| found it fight from start to finish.
Only with some there is no quarter.
But not with YOU" said Sally
But not with me-" agreed Seffy.
That is not necessary to success.
Gosh! Seffy.' said his father, you
are as wise as oil Kellerman, the
preacher. Say, you remember him."
Il remember everything-the small
sst-and it is all precious, pappy-
more precious than you can know. II
one were never to leave this Happy
Valley, one might live and die as | be-
5ahs Anu IL OHe SHOulu never lCdi
better it is good-good! But it is not
the life of the world out there. And,
for me, it is gone for ever In one
way | am sorry. For the world has
nothing to exchange for these little
things. Out there my heart has al
ways yearned for them and always
will. You and Sally must keep them
as they are-nay, as they were. And
| shall live in them and with them and
we shall be happier for them"
During all this Seffys arms and
hands had been busy in the old fashion
OF the days OF their simplicity. 1t was