West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-12-16

tnefe was silence. Then tear
dropped on his face. For In the nre
light poor. sad. sorry old Baumgartner
was making a picture, too: a white.
old. hopeless. piteous. pleading face.
framed In masses OF hair, shaggiIy
gray when Seffy went away. seniIeiy
white now. The sunken eyes spoke OF
Fastening peace after sorrow, and the
whole piteous figure begged for those
tears which fell upon its face.
"Oh. pappy. excuse me-" said the
voice which had gathered to itself all
the music OF the life he thought
broken. but you have SO often called
me beautiful that want to tell you
now that you have the most beautiful
face l have ever seen! Pappy-pappy,
dear pappy. God bless you'll"
And her lips descended upon his, her
dear fingers closed his eyes once more.
her handkerchief wiped away the tear
she had dropped upon his face and
othcts which had followed II. and she
said:
"ASe your eyes shutl Yes! Now.
ask for anything you want on earth
or In heaven-and you shall have Il.
Do not 90 afraid! The very dearest
thing you can think"
"Ssfy--" he whispered brokenly--
"seffy and you-and me--togetheri"
"Prestoi Open your eyes," cried
Sally.
He did so--and there, kneeling be-
fore him, was Seffy-and one arm was
about Sally. the other reaching out to
him-not quite certain how Il would
be received. but with the old smile OF
se1y. He seemed bigger. and he had
young beard on cheek and lip, and
he appeared quite worthy to be the
president OF the Kansas State League
OF Farmers clubs.
Old Baumgartner looked without a
word. at frst to be sure, then TO fill
all his being. And then he rose to his
feet and shook on all the years that
had accumulated during Seffy's abb
sence, and. when his arms were about
them both, and theirs about him, their
Joint shadow rose and filled all the
room and ceiling-blotting out all else.
And. 10, II was not three shadows. but
one!
"Seny," asked his father, while his
arm went about his shoulders with the
Inconsistencies OF what seemed yes
terday. how did you efer git president
OF that sing what is tit"
Il fought for 1t, pappy."
You? Gosh-a' mighty!"
They both laughed happily.
fes-you and Sally were right
needed to learn to fight. / went out
into the world where you sent me
thank you both-and found life. And
l found II fight from start to finish.
Only with some there is no quarter"
But not with you." said Sally.
But not with me-" agreed Seffy.
That Is not necessary to success"
Gosh! Seffy." said his father, you
are as wise as OIL Kellerman, the
preacher. Say. you remember him?"
I remember everything-the small
est-and II Is all precious, pappy-
more precious than you can know. II
one were never to leave this Happy
valley, one might live and die as be-
gan. And, IL one should never learn
better IL 10 sood-goodi But Il Is not
the life OF the world out there. And.
for me, II is gone for ever! In one
nothing TO exchange for these little
things. Out there my heart las al.
ways yearned for them and always
VIII. You and Sally must keep them
~ they are-nay, as they were. And
l shall live In them and with them and
We shall be happier for them"
During all this Seffy's arms and
hands had been busy In the old fashion
OF the days OF their simplicity. II was
good to see and better to bel
Il don't beliefe IT," cried his happy
old father, returning his caresses.
You Amt forgot a sing! You chust
the same-except the dictionary words
-chust the same-our Seffyl Amt
SO. Sally? Why don't you talk, any.
way?"
"Just-the-same." said Sally. But
the tears were In her dear eyes and
she knew that her words were for the
father and not the son-for him she
understood that IL would never be
the same-Quite, and II was she who
had sent him forth to lose the SIM
plicity OF the Happy Valley.
Not a bft-you amt changed" re-
peated the father. as II saying It might
make II SO.
Yes, / am" laughed Serfy.
You Anti" said his father.
oh. yes! Sam couldn't get away
with me now!"
Nor Sally. hah?"
Nor Sally"
Don't" pleaded Sally. you hurt
mel"
You see." se1y went on, you no
uce the changes In me, but not in
yourselves. Shall / tell you about
them? For none Of us will ever again
DO quite as we were. Shall tell you
about the changes In your"
No" begged Sally quickly. with
dropping head.
They are beautiful All beauti.
full"
MOI" she repeated.
His father had dropped into his
chair. still happy but very tired. For
you know. great happiness tires one.
too.
"sefy." he sighed. why did you wait
30 long-tell got old?"
There is still one thing you haven't
noticed about me. or spoken OF. n
you did. in which am not changed a
bit"