Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-07

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thoughts of another world than in those of this The
children felt instinctvey the generosity in the atmos-
phere of their uncle's personayi their parents had
fought too long and too unsuccessfuly to have any
spring left At last Dave spoke, and his voice was
plantive " 1t amt but what I'd do anything in Gods
world to give the boy what he's hankering after but,
Reuben | haven't got the necessary money for it
Ei@S" H ' - " ''' = 80
quite yet tell all that Reuben had in his heart to tell
he wanted to show his brother in figures how much he
possessed, and how he had the right as well as the
Mrs Reed pushed back her chair, saying: "We
might just well go into the sittingoom; there's fire
there, and want Lucy should keep warm Her coughs
troublesome" she added her eyes full of dread she
spoke but it's only the leave after an attack of
grip it's nothing serious" Her voice almost seemed
know what's going to cure that cough" said Reu-
ben He laid his hand his niece's shoulder as he
spoke They had let the others leave the before
them, and no one could overhear Lucys low repy
STheres nothing but a complete change of air
it, Uncle Reuben" she said bravely, and | might just
we'll cry for the moon as that I've seen the doctor
about it, but mean to keep them from knowing TILL it
can't be helped any longer"
Its going to be helped, and that before you and
are week older and don't you forget it," said Reuben
emphatically. Then he pushed her the entry
before she could do than turn wide grateful eyes
Dave was standing in the sitting-room at the book
between the windows; he had unlocked its DOORS
and taken out the old family Bible that Reuben remem-
bered WELL the bright spot on Sunday evenings had
been to look at the engravings, and of his rare
agreeable associations to him. Before he could
speak, Dave beckoned to him to draw near and laid his
gnarled veined hand on the yellow leather
Reuben | hate to go back to unpeasantnesses in
this hour of reunion and happy feelings, but | must
make alluson to the past; then promise you
mention again. it's too full of shame and bitterness
for my. own blindness for me to want to-
Let's not say anything tonight" urged Reuben un-
comfortably: I'll up the first thing in the
ing and it'll be easier to talk it out in the sunlight"
"No, Reuben; what have to do now has waited
twenty years to be done and that's good deal too long
for me to put off an hour more. Ever since you left
I've kept that ftydollar bill between the leaves of this
Bible ready for you when you should come back My
wife tell you of more than night I've laid awake
tossing and turning, thinking that maybe you in
cruel want and that money idle here Now, | want
you should take it, the unjustly wrenched from
you twenty years ago"
Reuben took the bill held out by his brother, and
of paper that had changed all his life if he had been
allowed to it. what would he have been to-day?
moderately successful farmer perhaps and he would
have known that Grace in the world waiting
for him, for him alone the made for him.
He almost caressed the banknote gratitude in his
heart as he pondered on his lot.
1 guess I'll keep it and show it to Grace day.
shall tell her it marks the turnng-point in my life
Dave If you'd let me hold on to this, I'd abeen
the successful man | am"
Il didn't know that, Reuben" said his brother SOL
emnly: God is my witness never took that fifty dol
lars for my own profit; but was full of pride, and
thought knew better than you; and l too stiff
necked to try and explain matters like older brother
should have done. So turned to my fists, and your
going has taken the sweet out of every JOY I've
had and added bitterness to all my sorrows"
+" Now, Dave, look here; and you, too, Lucy-yoH, |
mean" he said giving his siser-in-law gentle little
shake that made quick, rare smile brighten up her
faded face and called back echo of the pretty school
mistress AS for those two kids there, don't care
cent whether they attend to their old uncle not Reub
probably thinks he knows all big sight better than
| do, and Lucy's already planning how many gowns |
mean to give her to take out to Colorado with her"
:" Reuben ReubenP gasped the mother, shaken out
of her apathy
Now, don't interrupt I've made good bit of
money and my wfes not poor, SO there's plenty to do
that I fo xyitl, Aud fo I
want to do bad, and, what's more, | mean to do them
First want little Lucy to get away from here as quick
she can, and you settle between you who's going
with her. Ihere be plenty of cash to take the whole
lot if you all care to 60 Second Reub is to enter col
lege in the fall I'll talk about details with him tomor-
row. Third assume the mortgage the farm"
Dave WINGED. "Eow did you find out there was one ?"
he asked in his old, harsh voice
let it out, Dave it was my fault. was so fright
ened seeing stranger fatered his wife Dave growed
little, but Reuben went without noticing him.
And fourth, I'm darned if don't try my hand with
the cranberry bogT he ended.
You can't do thing with it." said Dave, leaning
forward; I've heard my father tell more than fifty
times how he set in to work it, and how it just
Well, I'm not going to be baked by other folks
failures returned Reuben with increasing warmth I've
got the plans for getting all the cranberres we could
Dave twisted his lips sullenly; for moment the
brothers glared each other they used to do in the
bygone days Then Reubens face lighted up
I've not done talking yet" he said; 81 love to hear
my own voice, and I've got a confession my side to
make: No joking, came here with about as bad feel
ings in my heart mar. ean have l meant to wiring
that fifty dollars out of you, Dave with twenty years
interest. | wanted my revenge had wanted it every
second all this time I've toed and moed to make a
fortune thought of any pleasure to be got out
of my money till | met my Grace she first gave me
glmmer that possession wasn't everything but that
the power to enjoy Still, | held to my
idea of revenge like dog does to bone till actu
ally came right here and talked with little Lucy out in
the barn. Then the thought struck that, perhaps,
there had been design underlying past; that you
Dave were carrying out some project we couldn't ar-
derstand when you took this bill from I'd worked
and saved to get. ] didn't forgive you, then
only excused YOU But since you've shown me how
you'd kept this fifty dollars-and thought of all the
times it would have helped you like thunder to it,
and began to from hearing young Reub here talk,
how age always thinks the next pretty fools
why, somehow, my idea of revenge has melted away,
and all | want is to help along the way | should 1eve
done FIVE years ago..