New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-06

i I'G b;s nn His knoity fingers took me in UNI
certain grip and his free arm swept quickly across o"i
front. ,,t:u,, from, TOR,
70 bottom3 Flower gardens fountains, summerhouseS'
fancy walks lockwood hedges, and mgrown lawns
where good crops and good pasture used to be. \oV
enough grass over it all, Davy to churn you OUT :.
mound Of butter; still he's got neWfanged ddify out
back. And look YOU well, Lad what we re nigh RUBIN
orr backs against The old man and turned as one.
~ castle it is and this ground-thc ground was
born on , -. : ,., 90. ,,,,
oninion: and for that was sorry on the instant. My
good friend surveyed ms IN silence LOT IiuGC ol
two and in infinite scorn. When at last ne spoke "9
with little tremor which carried full measure Of re-
you don't mean it, Davy You don't dare stand
before me and say you'd give this barn OF castle Tor
the wee house that stood long and stood kindly Stood
bright dav and dark day and would be Sandn yet IN
its four walls sound and snug, only Tor the plague Oh
Yankee money: =,
could do no more than answer honestly, and with
a sense Of pcnitence me- "Nly heart was III the wee
house, Mr. Fitch"
"Why?"
You used to call the wee house home
Home God bless you, Davy. you've got 1t rght,
rs was wishin for YOU. Home Of me flesh ana blood!
Sit YOU down. sit YOU down. Sonny, and / Il be alter
tellin YOU
Ne seated ourselves on the topmost marble step,
with our backs toward the carved panels OF the gloomy
and pondcrouS door. Its shame, Davy' a cTylh
shame said my companion and drew me halt around
until faced him But I'm worried how to begin on
it-wait breathn spell Boy I'll tell you, III tell YOU
waited in good grace | should wait geetully to
this minute for such man. FOR, believe me- nave
gone rp and down the best part OF the world and eX-
beet TO 90 farhcr-without the privilege OF meeting
another such as Andrew Fitch-Andy Fitch ! mean.
that without dSrcSpcct. lie q Ike Andy bellcr, ana
know we meant him.
II was a fair to middlng brcathin spell. 1t lasted
while the old man slowly took of his faded and dusty,
cracked and dentcd. felt hat drew forth generous
cxpasc Of red calico handkerchief and rubbed across
his brow II lasted even longer than that and still not
word said l. 1t lasted, in sober truth, while Andy
Fitch ground wads Of black tobacco IN his palm,
scratched match on marble, and pulled on clay Guilty
with hollow checks. And while Andy Fitch pulled and
pulled he had eyes only for the transformation OF his
beloved hillside while | had eyes only for Andy Fitch
4 venerable man. good for eyes to Elghty-tour
wears had done their very best for Andy Fitch. OF
course there was price he had to pay but It wasn't
much considering all things and they usually run
in mortal affairs Twice eighty years If Andy Fitch
only could answer then could cfiaCe the stamp Of
a man among men. There was fear and guile in
Andy Ftchs gaze; but there were great hrmncss and
great gcntlcncs there. look Of real majesty which
toll and weather could hide was not lent alone by
snow white hair and white beard; for there was
expression that eloquent in that full and rounded
brow that regular and determined nose, that rcsolute
and yet sensitive mouth-cloqucncc, moreover, IN the
gcnaty the bcnignity, the serenity, resting over all
that meek and gracious head. And Andy Fitch $
shoulders might droop than little, still It was
plain 10 that another time and another place they
would have bestowed dignity on a toga.
Legs crossed, elbow on knee, pipe in uptuncd ringer
and thumb, the old man pulled away compaCcntlN I'M
til thought he had forgotten But he hadn't
And to think II was me own sons doin' he re-
marked suddenly, and looked straight at me. III !
back where II started, | wouldn't let him DO It,
ll,',f