The chronicle=news., 1913-01-08

Prens.)
1t was \ sweltsrinE day when tho
letter came. Que Of the days that
makes you wonder why cities are
built. The streets were parchsd and
and the ofhces-svsryons
knows how they arc In midsummer.
Marshall Kenton leaned back In his
chair With his eyes half closed. A
bit Of paper had set him to dreaming
81 the distant hillside whore he had
arst become acquainted with green
aelds and shade trees.
III you could arrange II so ~ to
be At home the hrst week In August.
tho letter ran. there's going TO be .
big celebration. Town 10 hundred
rears old. Most likely you would see
soms people you know"
40 the sleepy old tovs had decided
70 mark the advent Of it, second cen
,ury with . birthday party. What
record Of unsventfui years: He could
rsmsmbsr when. A. . hoy. he had
climbed the hill out beyond the maa'
low and counted avery house In tho
village. And the last time hs vas at
home be had found II surprisinGiy
Easy to point out those same houses.
That was when Alice was married"
he unused. "Fivs years-no-can It
be A. long ago a. that: ] wouldn't
have believed t."
All that afternoon he was living
smid old.time surroundings. Once
more he set out on tho path that
leads ZIP past tho trout.brook to tn"
spring In the edge Of tho woods. He
threw himself down beside II as OF
old. and watched the bubbles stsaae
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
rye was still vibrant with boyish en-
,husiasm.
"You mus. hsvs had . good day
was bis wife's greeting.
II got letter from home" came the
smiling reply.
Then I'm sure there must b.
something nice In it-you arc 20 light
hearted. You ran up the walk like
boy."
'T am . hoy" he cried. a. no hand.
ed her the Letter. ''f'vs been boy all
the afternoon. Don't ask for . rsa.
son: IT'S impossible to explain u. No
one can tell why this letter Of all the
othsrs should have siven me sueh .
backward aiYn-GL!sss its the hun
jr.d yesrs idea. Anyway. I've sauans
dersd my time in dreaming"
And have yor decided TO so:'
I'VE must ]. would bS = crime to
put Il OF any longer. business o. no
huslnesa. I hadn't realised until to
day that It's bssa hvs ysafs since ve
paid the old folks visit. No vuoasP
they keep askina vhsu ~ are CON.
inE homo"
tn tell you what yoa ought TO DO
she exclaimed. ',Gst the whole family
home"
"Ours-
"No-thelrs.-
The old house wouldn't begin to
hold us protested Marshall.
Il mean their sons and dauEhters
of courss I would love to 20 mysslf
and take the ehildren.- she hastsasd
10 add. but that can come later. Just
for this once. rd like TO have you all
90 back alone. IN no other way could
you give your father and mother %
much real pleasure: II would seen
like old tines to them. Think Of what
Il would mean 70 you. TOO"
II don't believe Il can be arranged
The rest Of the family might not be
able 70 get away"
"oh. yes II can she persisted. TIL
write to them tonight"
Thus II came about that. on the 6rst
Monday In August. the grown.up Ken
ton children were on their way 10 the
big celebration. They met st . little
town SIX miieP from their destination.
They met there because the train
could carry them no nsafsr-bsyond
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 bAssass and ex.
press-As would have left = part Of II
until the following day. But the boy
WAS sanGuins. and thought he could
take Il all. He was about ready to
start when tho Kentons came IN
sight.
'Wait . minute!" whsessd Mar.
shall. who had run on ahead to make
arranssments. where's Uncle Jer.
~"
"Hs's sick I'm driving today"
"Can you make room for us?'
Guess so-if you don't mind being
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.
ditiana 60 fhay climbed In amnna