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

FOOT OF THE HILL
BY MARY ROBERTS RINEHART.

grandfather Huxley was relic IN
the family. lie had been handed
down for many years. from father to
son. along with the brass andirons and
the mahogany settle. Unfortunately.
although the last two pieces Of fam
lily property were more or less appre-
ciated the older they grew. almost the
reverse was true with the old man
When his daughter had died. In
late middle life. she willed the family
homestead -and her father. who had
built ito her son The old man
was seventy i've then, and his wife
had been dead dozen years The
grandson was kindly enough; to his
mothers father he gave comfortable
room and a halfcontemptuous kind
illness which showed itself in total
disregard OF the old mans politics
and an evident idea that at three
score and fifteen one should lose all
interest In this world and prepare for
the next
said nothing. lie began to take the
evening paper upstairs after the fam
lily had finished with Il. and to spend
great deal OF time polishing the
sword ne had carried in the Mexican
war
Old people as a rule have few pos
sessions One BY one they dispose Of
unnecessary things The belle OF 80
years ago. who took dozen trunks
and boxes with her To make month
visit. az seventy five generally has an
old-fashioned bureau full Of necessa
ries and locked away In little
trunk. a handful OF letters and senti.
mental trifes And so with GRANDPA
ther Huxley; the possessions OF q
lifetime had dwindled to a huge up
holstered chair. with which he de-
family refused 10 part. and his old
sword
The sword hung IN its scabbard just
across from the old mans bed. where.
IN the sleepless hours that come To
age. he could lie and dream about Il.
From much tramping and dragging
the scabbard was worn away nj one
corner: II was that corner which gave
Grandfather Huxley his dreams OF
long-ago marches through cactus
plains and desert. his Nightmares OF
long ago thirst and heat
Below the sword was his wife's pic
ture There was another portrait OF
her In the room: a photograph taken
hen her checks were furrowed and
her thin. white hair parted and
crimped. hut. oddly enough. he never
looked at that one He was very
very old and he lived In his youth
Everything between was hnIy and
dim The picture AZ which he looked
was that OF girl little old water
color of girl with thoughtful ewes
and frivolous hair
After his ninetieth birthday Grand
father Huxley became abnormally sen
sitive Sometimes he could hear
scraps OF conversation about him
And how old is the old man today
It's almost uncanny isn't IL
oh. he's always Just the same
Rut ~ the nature Of things he Won
be with us very long d."
One day some army officers dine,
at the house Grandfather Huxley pol
ished his sword until II glittered. an'
fixed his white neckcloth with trem
bling fingers Al the table the CONVEX
sation turned to things military an'
the old man. filled with fire. told o
that wonderful campaign OF lSi7 Thu
officers listened respectfully -thel
were gallant fellows, but when Grand
father Huxley dropped back In hi
chair he heard the Apologize voice
his great -granddaughte Ellen. acros
the table
He's dear old soul" she sait
but getting childish now go on wit
what you were saying"
After dinner the old man went NJ
stairs He took the shining swor
from his bed and fingered II lovingly
Il guess you and | have lived pas
our time" he said huskily. and the
he reached for his handkerchief an
polished away carefully spot
moisture that might have been
tear
That night an idea seized him II
was OF no use In the world; no on
depended on him no one needed hin
lie had lived % years past his a
lotted time perhaps the good Lor
had forgotten him. There could b
no harm In taking a life that wa
nothing but a burden. And so III
next day. he began his pitifully fe
preparations. lie sorted out his le
tiers, and. finding none that he care
to have profaned by alien eyes, b
burned them all lie went over h
wardrobe and decided that Mike. th
gardener, should have his winter Goa
, When Il came to his most cherishs
, possession-the sword-doubts a
sailed him; so few we're worthy OF n
honor Finally. however. he decided
give II 10 Ellen's husband After a
, they had been kind TO him; II wi
not their fault that they lived In a I
, ture in which he could have no shar
. and that he lived In a past while
; they had never known, So he wro
A little card. ITO my granddaught
D Ellens husband" and tied II 20 Il
Z scabbard.
D His preparations were made no