Gilpin observer., 1912-08-01
The Big Ce!e-
bra6OIl |
By David c. Gale
Copyright, 1919, by Associated Literary
Press.)

It was a sweltering day when the
letter came, one Of the days that
makes you wonder why cities are
built. The streets were parched and
glaring. and the omces-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
frst become acquainted with green
fields and shade trees.
III you could arrange It so as to
be at home tho first week in August"
the letter ran. there's going to be O
big celebration. Town is a hundred
years old. Most likely you would see
some people you know"
So the sleepy old town had decided
to mark the advent Of it's second cen
tury with birthday party. What a
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 1t surprisingly
easy to point out those same houses.
That was when Alice was married"
he unused. Five years-no-can 1t
be as long ago as that? L wouldn't
have believed It,"
All that afternoon he was living
amid old-time surroundings. Once
more he set out on the path that
leads up past the trout-brosk to the
spring in the edge of the WOODS He
threw himself down beside 1t 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 a good day
was his wife's greeting.
'T got a letter from home" came the
smiling reply.
Then I'm sure there must be
something nice in it-you are so light
hearted. You ran up the walk like a
boy"
IT am a boy" he cried. as he hand.
ed her the letter i've been a boy 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 q
backward turn-unless it's the hun.
dred years idea. Anyway. I've squan-
dered my time in dreaming"
And have you decided to gor'
I'VE must It would be a crime to
put II on any longer. business or no
business. hadn't realized until to-
day that it's been nve years since va
paid the old folks visit. No wonder
they keep asking when We are com
ing home"
'Tll tell you what you ought to do" "
she exclaimed. Get the whole family
home"
"Oursr'
'No-theirs."
The old house wouldn't begin to
hold u.s." protested Marshall
II mean their sons and daughters
OF course I would love to go myself
and take the children" she hastened
to add. but that can come later. Just
for this once. I'd like to have you all
20 back alone. In no other way could
you give your father and mother %
much real pleasure: II would seem
like old times to them. Think OF what
II would mean to you. too"
II don't believe II can be arranged
The rest OF the family might not be
able to got away"
.Oh. yes II can" she persisted. Til
write to them tonight"
Thus It came about that. on the flrst
O.. -
ton children were on their way to the
big celebration. They met at a little
town six miles from their destina ton
They met there because the tram
could carry them no nearsr-beyond
that point the stage was their only
choice. II was the same stage which
had carried them to and fro when
they were children IN reality.
Had Uncle Jerry. the driver. been
in charge Of things that afternoon. he
would never have set out with any
such collection Of baggage and OF.
peess-he would have left q part Of II
until tho following day. But the boy
was sanguine. and thought he could
take It all. He was about ready to
start whom the Kentons came in
sight.
wait q minutei" whessed Mar
shall. who had run on ahead to make
arrangements. where's Uncle Jer
ryr
Hes sick. I'm driving today"
"Can you make room for usf'
"Guess so-if you don't mind beina
crowded Get in anywhere you can
At any other time they would have
resented such accommodations. but on
this particular day II seemed like an
other touch Of realism. Often. in
years gone by. had they started for
home after spending the day in town
only to be confronted by similar con
ditions. 30 they climbed in amone
tho strawberry crates and mai