The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-07

Reuben, while her mother sat as more wrapped in
thoughts OF another"word than i'll those of this The
children felt iustinctvey the generosity in the atnlos-
phere OF their unccs personality; their parents had
fought TOO long and too unsucccssfuly to have any
spring lett At last Dave spoke and his voice was
plantivc: 1t air but what Id do anything in Gods
world to give the boy what he's hankcring after butt
Reuben, haven't got the necessary money for il; so
hi@a" ''' 'S s''''''s MN "p Just 10 0's'pp0H's
No one answered him; the moment had not come
quite yet to 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 we'll as the
capacity TO help in family matters
Mrs, Reed pushed back her chair, saying: "We
might just as we'll go into the sugroom; there's fire
there, and want Lucy should keep warm Her coughs
troublesome. she added her eyes full OF dread as she
spoke, but it's only the leave after an attack of
grip; its nothing serious" Her voice almost seemed
know what's going to cure that cough" said Reu-
ben, He laid his hand on his necc's shoulder as he
spoke They had let the others leave the before
them, and no one could overhear Lucys low reply:
There's nothing but complete change Of air can cure
it, Uncle Reuben, she said bravely. and might just
we'll cry for the that I've seen the doctor
about it, but mean to keep them from knowing till it
can't be helped any longer"
It's going to be helped. and that before you and
arc week older, and don't you forget it, said Reuben
cnphat!caly Then he pushed her across tho entry
before she could do than vide grateful eyes
Dave was standing in the sune-room at the book
case between the windows; he had unlocked its DOORS
and taken out the old family Bible that Reuben reme
bcred well the bright spot Sunday evenings had
been TO look at the ergravmgs, and of his rare
agreeable associations came to him Before he could
speak Dave beconed to HIM to draw near and laid his
gnarlcd; veined hand on the yellow leather cover.
Reuben, ] hate to go back to unpleasantnesses in
this hour OF reunion and happy feelings, but must
make alluslon to the past then promise you never
TO mention again it's too full of shame and bitterness
for my own blindness Tor me to to-
Let's not say y, anything tonight urged Reuben
comfortably, III up the frst thing in the morn
ing, and I'LL be easier to talk it in the sunlight
No. Reuben ;lwhat | have to do now has waited
twenty years be DONE and that's good deal too long
a left
I've kept that hftydollar bill between the leaves this
Bible ready for you when you should back, My
wife can tell you OF than night I've laid awake
tossing and turning, thinking that maybe you i'll
cruel want and that money idle here Now, want
you should take it, the same unustv wrenched from
you twenty years ago"
Reuben took rho bill held out by his brother and
snoothed 1t on the palm of his hand this the bit
OF paper that had changed all his life If ne had been
allowed to use IT. what would he have been to-day?
moderately successful farmer, perhaps, and he would
have known that Grace was IN the world waiting
Tor hlm, Tor hlm alone, the made for him
He almost caressed the bank-note gratitude was in his
heart as he pondcred on bis lot
guess I'll keep 1t and show il to Grace some dav;
| shall tell her it marks the turning-pont in my life
Dave If you'd let me hold on to this Id never a-bccn
the successful man | am"
4 didn't know that Reuben" said his brother SOL
eunly God IS my witness, never took that fifty dol
lars for my own profit; but I full OF pride and
thought l knew better than YOU and | was too stiff
necked to try and explain matters like an older brother
should have done SO 1 turned to my fists and your
gong has taken the sweet ont of every JOY I've
Now, Dave look here; and you, too Lucy-you
mean, he said giving his -in-law gentle little
faded face and called back an echo OF the pretty School
mistress As for those two kids there | don't care a
whether they attend to their old uncle not Reub
probably thinks he knows it all big sight better than
| do, and Lucys already planning how many gowns |
mean to give her TO take out Colorado with her"
Reuben Reuben" gasped the mother, shaken out
Now, don't interrupt I've made good Bit Of
money and my wifeS not poor, 50 there's plenty do
want to do bad, and, what's more, | mean to do them,
First want little Lucy to get from here quick
as she can and you can settle between you who's going
with her. lhercll be plenty OF cash 10 take the whole
lot Il you all TO go. Second, Rcub is 10 enter col
cge IN the faIl III talk about details with him
Dave WINGED How did you Gnd ont there vas one"
he asked in his old harsh voice
let 1t out Dave it was my fault so fright
encd seeing stranger fasrcd his wife Dave growed
a little. but Reuben without noticing him
And fourth I'm darncd il l don't try my hand with
the cranberry bog :" he ended.
You can't do thing with it, said Dave leaning
forward I've heard my father tell more than 6fty
times how he set III to work il, and how was just
We'll, I'm not going to be balkcd by other folks
failures returned Reuben with increasing warmth i've
the plans for getting all the cranberres VIC could
sell out OF that Bit of land and I'm going 10 try it."
Dave twisted his lips suenly; for a moment the
brothers glared at each other they used to do in the
bygonc days, Then Reubcn'S face lighted up
I've not done talking yet he said love TO hear
my own VOICE and I've got confession my side to
make NO Joking, came mere with about bad feel
'ngs III my heart As can have | meant to wiring
That hlty dollars out OF you Dave with twenty years
interest | wanted my revenge; had wanted it every
second all this time I've toilcd and moicd to make
fortune never thought OF any pleasure to be got out
Of my money till met my Grace she FIRST gave me a
zlmmer that possession wasn't everything but that
he power 10 enjoy Still, held on 10 nv
dca Of revenge Ike dog docs to bone til | acti-
lly came right here and talked with little Luc9 out in
he barn, Then the thought struck me that PERHAPS
here had been design underlying our past: that YOU
Dave, were carrying out project couldn't un-
lerstand when you took this bill from me Id worked
md shaved to get didu,t forgive you, cyca then,
'nly excused YOU But srSe you've shown me htw
oud kept this fifty dolars-and I thought of all the
ines it would have helped you like thunder to use i,
md | began 10 from hearing young Reub here talk,
low age always thinks the next pretty near fools