The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-30
The Big Cele.
brdti0n
By DAVID C. GALE
copyright. 1912, by Associated Literary
prooa


makes you wonder why cities are
built. The streets were parched and
glazing. and the offices-everyone
knows how they are in midsummer.
Marshall kenton leaned back in his
chair with his eyes half closed. A
bit of paper had set him to dreaming
OF the distant hillside where he had
first become acquainted with green
fields and shade trees.
IF You could arrange it so as to
be at home the first week in August
the letter ran, there's going TO be
big celebration Town is hundred
years old Most likely you would see
some people you know
So the sleepy Old town had decided
to mark the advent Of its second cen
tury with birthday party What
record of uneventful years. He could
remember when. as boy, he had
climbed the hill out beyond the mea-
dow and counted every house in the
village. And the last time he was at
home he had found it surprisingly
easy to point out those same houses.
THAT was when Alice was married"
he unused. Five years-no-can it
be as long ago as that? wouldn't
have believed it."
All that afternoon he was living
ov~,tA ~ 0npa
more he set out on path that
leads up past the trOut-brook to the
spring In the edge of the woods. He
threw himself down beside it as OF
old, and watched the bubbles zigzag
their way to the surface. He could
almost hear the call of the south wind
in the naples over his head.
When he reached home at night. his
eye was still vibrant with boyish en-.
thusiasm.
You must have had good day"
was his wife's greeting.
Il got letter from home" came the
smiling reply.
"Thcn I'm sure there must be
something nice in it-yOu are so light,
hearted. You ran up the walk like a
boy"
81 am a boy" he cried. as he hand.
| ed her the letter. I've been a hoy all
| the afternoon. Don't ask for a rea.
son: it's impossible to explain it. No
one can tell why this letter Of all the
others should have given me such a
backward turn--lnless it's the hun
dred years idea. Anyway, I've squan
dered my time in dreaming"
And have VOW decided to co.
I'VE must. It would be crime tc
put It off any longer, business or nc
business. hadn't realized until to
day that it's been five years since We
paid the old folks a visit. No wonder
they keep asking when we are com
Ing home"
"I'll tell you what you ought to do.
she exclaimed. Get the whole famil!
home"
"Ours!"
"No-theirs."
1.-THE old house wouldn't begin Il
hold u.s." protested Marshall.
Il mean their sons and daughters
OF course I would love to 20 mysel
and take the children" she hastenet
to add, but that can come later. Jus
for this once, I'd like to have you al
60 back alone. In no other way coul'
you give your father and mother s.
much real pleasure: II would seen
like old times to them. Think OF wha
II would mean to you. too"
81 don't believe 1t can be arranged
The rest of the family might not h
able to get away"
"Oh, yes it can" she persisted "rl
write to them tonight"
Thus Il came about that. on the frs
Monday in August. the grown-up ker
ton children were on their way to tn
big celebration. They met at it'll
town six miles from their destination
They met there because the trail
could carry them no nearer-beyon
that point the stage was their onl
choice. II was the same stage whic
had carried them to and fro whe
they were children In reality.
Had Uncle Jerry. the driver. bee
in charge Of things that afternoon. b
would never have set out with an
; such collection Of baggage and e,
press-he would have left a part OF
until the following day But the bo
!. was sanguine. and thought he coul
take II all He was about ready I
start when the Kentons came
sight.
wait a minute." w:eezed Ma
shall. who had run on head TO max
arrangements. Where's Uncle Je
ry!"
Hes sick. I'm driving today"
Can you make room for us"
Guess soft you don't mind beir
crowded. Get in anywhere you can
At any other time they would ha,
resented such accommodations. but r
this particular day il seemed like a
other touch of realism Often.
years gone by. had they started fl
home after spending the day in tow
Il only to be confronted by similar CO.
' ditions. So they climbed in anon