The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-01-07

morning hours. but ne found no lo'k ~
/ prevent his entrabre And he had In
creased his ability ~ Straithinpss ~ tn,
years that he had bern gone 80 TINT me-
was easily able To- make hls ruom up
stairs without being heard.
II was NJ " he had been gone but q
day the smoky Kerosene. iamp on the
bureau. the vHricuurpd quilt on the
saggiug brd Unrp. on betting hnlf
/ aroused. he expected ~ hear the rattle
" trucks aud the yell OF u-wslpy
but. instead. there cuue only the CROW
Of roustpt weiruuling the dawn.
lie surprised his mdher when she
was ~ the task ~ getting dinner ~ b.
stalked hair dressed through the kitrh.
en- on the way To the sink.
There. now. cant fellow come
home once In awhile without there I've
Ing fusSy' he complained NJ the wo-
man gave n little startled cry aud rush
ed toward MIN. Where's pay" he IN
qulrcd. forcing the arms away from
about his shoulders. TIN glad it's
nearly dinner time-l'm hungry
II wasn't counting on you" his
mother answered apologptirally. wip
Ing the tears from bri eyes aud start
luz for the pantry. Burke noticed that
she lmprd In her walk She had aged,
his mother had
The donr she opened gave glimpse
OF the queer shaped aud colorpd dishes
such Ms he had never seen except ut
home. They were accompanied by an
odor that had been peculiar to them
too. Ills mother came back with one
Of the biggest jars from the row on
the shelf currant Jelly.
Burke was wiping his face on the
red bordered towel when his fnthrr
came In The Old man had his rake In
his hand aud slowly removed bis slouch
black hat before he spoke.
well" he said. you've come home"
The removal OF the hnt showed how
white his hair had become. aud his
face was ike II In spite Of It's contart
with sun aud wind lie came over TO
wash his gnarled hands In the same
basin with his son
I've the garden nearly all In again.
he continued finally I'm going TO
put In onions again this year They
take lots Of WORK. but II the season
turns out Just right they bring more
than other stun
Burke noticed that the table had
been shortened up until the ch,-ckerrd
cloth touched the floor on all sides. but
the dishes were the same. the food
cooked the same
How long YOU going 10 stayy'' the
father inquired nc length. pouring hts
coffee into n saucer
'Oh. ] only u be here a day or two.
answered BURKE Its pretty dead
here after one IL used to Chicago"
Just n day." his mother fiuttered
"Still travelling for that Chicago
housei" the father interrupted TO IN
qulre. eying his son rs he cooled the
coffee NJ his lips Times amt been
30 very good out here"
I'm stu with them" SPARED
Burke ATS been little duh with
us. too. lately. but he faltered for an
instant-"we're expecting quite big
piece OF business out this way soon"
The plaster on the wall back Of
you's all healed mp now DO You no |
tice IT," the father went on. pointing |
to Burke 90 turn around "You three |
boys used to lean back so much when /
you sat together there on the bench |
that Il was always broke OF There
wasn't much use fixing IL"
The mother entirely ceased with her /
pretension NJ eating and nervously IN. |
gered the tnblecloth
Sometimes" she lnterposed In an /
effort 10 appear unaffected by the ref /
erence Just made sometimes your IN.
Their goes Ia the hail door and calls 70
you all upstairs just rs N you were all
here yet Tie calls each OF you sep
nrnte by name ITS time for school,"
Her ATTEMPTED laugh with the words
fell lame, and To- keep brave she start
I'd In Ia clear OF the dishes
Burke sought the lounge In the sit.
ting room. the springs Of which had
been ruined by his acrohatic stunts
years before lie could close his eyes
md see every unchanged object In the
room-the cheap organ, nj which his
sister had spent many weary hours
IN practice; the enlarged crayon p0r.
trait Of his little brother. who had been
taken by diphtberia at the lime OF
heir quarn ntine during the awful cold
spell. and his fathers war relics and
badges
He had planned 10 get plenty Of
sleep, but he was surprised 10 find II
lark when he awoke. The lamp In the
kitchen was already lighted. and a dog
was barking outside Rubbing his
Eyes. Burke avoided his mother. busy
n the pantry. and found his way into
he back yard lie had not counted on
he apple tree spreading It's brnnrhes.
)ut he refralned from cursIng when u
brushed his face In the path Az the
Illey he found his partner pacing In
mpatience.
Its fine time TO be coming" the
man complained sarcastically.
I've been waiting half nm hour.
What was the matterf"
Il fell asleep" explained Burke. but
IN awake now-clear awake" He
"a used moment before going on.