The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-04-13

the low range of hills to the south
Jared Cross pulled open the gate in
the meadow fence and slowly crossed
the enclosure. He was man well
advanced in years, a man of rather
heavy build who stopped a little and
carried a thick cane. His hair was
gray and he wore a stubby gray mus
tache. He was comfortably clad and
he had a well fed and well satisfied
look.
Jared particularly liked this path
across the meadow because it gave
tim an excellent view of the sur
rounding view of the surrounding
farmland and more especially of the
broad acres of that thrifty farmer, Ja-
red Cross, the younger.
AS the older Jared neared the fence
on the opposite side Of the meadow he
noticed that a stranger was sitting on
. stump just beyond the stake-and-
rdder barrier. The fence was on the
dividing line between the Cross farm
and the Sedgewick farm, and the
stump that bore the stranger was
Sedgewick stump.
Jared looked closely at the man on
the stump. He. was an old man, ra-
ther tall and thin and very straight,
and his chin was decorated with a
slender tuft of white whisker.
"Mornin'," said Jared.
"Howdy?" replied the man on the
stump.
Jared came little nearer.
Fine view" he suggested.
''It's right smart farmin' coun-
try" admitted the stranger, but I
prefer my hills little higher. 'Taint
no ways like home"
He talked with a peculiar drawing
accent that was quite the opposite of
Jared's quick manner of speech.
There's no better farmin' country
in tn state" said Jared, an tn hills
are Just as God .made EN-"
The strangers mild blue eyes were
turned Jared's way.
II reckon that's true" he drawled.
'An' pears to me it's mighty lucky
He didn't always think alike when
maxim hills"
Jared leaned on the fence.
II guess you're homesick," he said.
II guess mebby l be-" replied the
stranger. But I'm goin' to get over
It,"
Course you are" said Jared "Vis-
dtin' hereabouts?"
I'm visitin' my daughter, Sally,
Mrs. Tom Sedgewick," the stranger
drawled. "She an Tom want me to
make my home with them an dun
no but will-if l can get used to the
hills"
Jared overlooked this studied slight
to the landscape.
I've always lived here" he said. 81
was born on this farm. Tn old house
stood where tn new one stands. I'm
living with my son. He runs tn farm,
MY name is Jared Cross, Major Jared
Cross"
He pushed out his chest a little as
he uttered the title 1t was his pet
weakness. This expansion brought his
@. A. R. badge into greater promi-
nence.
The stranger nodded.
This is only my second visit
no'th," he explained, "an' cie first
one didn't count for much. My home
ds in nothern Georgia-where God
makes the hills higher. I'm Cunnel
Henry Magrudder."
A frown gathered on the majors
brow.
II understand you to say that you
once paid visit to tn North" he ex-
claimed. May ask what part of tn
North 1t was?"
The colonel's blue eyes opened lit
de wider.
"It was part of Pennsylvania, sir"
he slowly drawed. THE place was
called Gettysburg"
The major suddenly snorted.
II was there, too, SIR"
II don't doubt it, SIR" said the COL
hnel calmly. There suttenly was
right smart lot of folks there at TIL
time"
"I was there with my regiment, sir"
cried the major; 9Th Ninth Michi-
gan"
Il was in good company, too," said
the colonel; "the Fo'teenth Georgia"
His face suddenly clouded and he
Hooked away. I'VE left a right smart
lot of tn boys sleepin' on the hill
side" he softly added.
The major was angry. The strang-
er's GOODNESS was exasperating.
AN you fought against the old
nag?" he bitterly said.
''The best / knew how" the strang-
yer replied. "Just tn same as I'd fight
Tor it now"
The majors face grew red.
You are talking to man, sir, who
wore tn blue an imperiled his life
FOR that flag, sir" he hoarsely cried.
The colonel acknowledged this
statement with courteous wave of
- hand.