The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-05-21

little wooden clock on the rnanteL
with the queer pink roses on the face
marked eight, Ave minutes past, ten
minutes past; and still the family had
not gone out. The old man sat and
thought-thought Of the day he was
married. OF long ago Christnases and
rows OF little stockings; OF children
that had never lived to grow up; and
then. with the sword before him. OF
Buena Vista and Monterey.
After a time he began to feel hun
CRY lie remembered that there had
been cream cakes for dinner. and that
he had refused them They we're
very nice. those little cream cakes
but then, after all. what did II mat
ter? N they would only go out
Grandfather Huxley sat looking at
the picture hanging under the unfad-
cd spot on the wall paper which
marked the swords resting place. Al
ter little the picture faded and
grew misty In outline. The old mans
head dropped on his chest. and ne
was asleep The FIRE burned TO
dun red. bursting now and again into
a smoking jet OF fame, shining on the
sword across the old mans knees. on
the bottle beside the bed. and the mar
row. dropping chin OF the sleeper
lie Weakened with start Tho
crust over the smoldering Goals had
fallen In and the room was bright.
From somewhere below was audible
a faint. creaking cry. a wall that beat
against the ear insistingly. that
paused for second. To go ON wv
fresh vigor
Grandfather Huxley looked at the
clock Il was 10 80 so Ellen was not
at home lie listened for Nora's step
Hearing no one. he got up heavily
and went To the head Of the stairs.
The cries kept on. longer now. with
fewer intervals for breath. and with
an occasional hoarse note OF infaniie
rage.
The old man lost his look Of indeci-
sion. he turned back into the room
and fumbled for his slippers Then.
with an agility that no one In inc
house suspected. he went downstairs
I to the nursery
The wicker structure OF the baby =
bed was vibrant with It's occupants
rage From among the dotted Swiss
I rulings and blue ribbons Grandfather
/ Huxley extracted his great grandchiid
| and gathered him into his empty old
arms The baby quieted at once: his
wrinkled old face relaxed. and he set
tied comfortably. seeming TO recog'
nize the practised touch OF hands that
/ had handled on occasion. three gener'
ations OF babies
Il was an hour later when Ellen
came home She tiptoed upstairs
ahead OF her husband, then she
paused and. with her finger on her
lips. cautioned him to silence The
oldest and the youngest member OF
the family sat before the fire In
dreamy open-eyed content When she
saw they we're awake. Ellen went
over and. STOPPING down kissed FIRST
the baby then the old man
"Ie wakened. and Nora must haV.
been asleep" said Grandfather Huxley
apologetically
Ellen slipped her hand into his WITH
n grateful little pressure.
What would We do without you
she said impulsively. This family
without you would he a ship without
keel wouldn't IT."
Grandfather Huxley smiled. the first
time for a week Ellen got mp and
vent toward the door
I'm going to bring you something
20 eat You ate no dinner at all, and
there are some OF those little cream
cakes left Perhaps. n you eat some
thing. YOU won't need the sleeplns
medicine"
Grandfather Huxley choked
I'm going 10 throw that stun away
every drop OF H." he said firmly
Left alone. he gathered the young
ster closer In his arms
SO the old mans Of some use, afte'
all" he unused A ship without
keel. Oh >"
A little later Ellen and her husband
in the buffers pantry below. stoppes
20 listen Grandfather Huxley wa
singing TO the baby. and down th'
stairs came the stirring words OF 'Th'
Sword OF Bunker nm" sung IN thin
tremulous old voice 4
Copyright by the Frank A. Munsey %