The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-08-24

tired faced, 20 bed. And II was Sarah's
faith which outlasted the years which
followed She never weakened In her
belief that some day the boy would
come back-she and one other whose
faith In his last boyish promise, phras
ed IN bitterness, also endured. For
during the NEXT ave years there was
not n summer which brought Allison
into the hills but what the first ques
ton OF his daughter Barbara, mother.
less now herself, was Of Steve.
"Has-has Stephen come backY' she
asked invariably.
At first the query was marked by
nothing more than a cbild's naive es.
gerness, and later, when II was brought
up IN a casual. by the way fashion. II
was, nevertheless, tinged with hope.
Five years heightened into ten. and
still Steve did not come. But when
ever Barbara asked that question Ca
leb remembered. as though II had hap
pened only yesterday, that morning
when she first appeared to the boy.
Then came q morning when stephen
O'Mara did return. All winter and
throughout the summer, too, the Hun
ter place had been closed until that
day In late October. II had been a
warm week-a week of such unseason.
able humidity for the hills that Caleb.
rising somewhat before his usual hour.
had blamed his sleeplessness, as usual.
upon the weather. He was glad TO be
home again that morning. Caleb was
wondering II Barbara would be with
her father ON this trip. Barbara had.
he knew, been two years on the cont.
nent. finishing" Allison called II, al
ways with a wry face and a gesture
toward his wallet pocket He was
wondering as he came down the stairs
II she would ask him again if-if-and
then at the sight Of seated figure
outside on the top step Of the veranda
he pulled up sharp In the doorway.
Caleb didn't have to wonder any
longer.
The attitude OF that figure before
him was SO like the picture which time
had been unable 10 erase, so absolute
~ Identical In everything save gHrb
and size alone. that the man. recoiling
a little. dragged one hand across his
forehead as though he doubted his own
eyes But when he looked again II
was still there. sitting chin I'm palm.
small head under a rather weather
beaten felt hat thrust slightly forward.
gazing fixedly toward the stucco house
beyond the shrubbery. And before
Caleb could move. before he was more
than half aware Of the painful pulse
In his throat. Il all happened again Just
ms IL had happened years and years
before
Caleb heard voices In the adjoining
grounds, and as be half turned In, that
direction Allison's bulky form. vivid In
a far more vivid plaid. appeared in the
hedge gap. While Caleb stared anoth.
er figure flashed through ahead Of him,
laughter upon her lips. and paused
a-tip-toe 10 wave a hand In greeting.
And instantly. as they had ten years
before. Barbara Allison's eyes swung
In instant scrutiny of the one who was
seated at Caleb's feet. She hesitated
and recovered herself. But when with
quite dignifed deliberation she finally
came forward 10 pass that motionless
figure upon the steps every pulse In
her body was heating consciousness OF
his nearness And yet at that when
she paused at Caleb's side and bobbed
her head with a Characteristic impet-
uosity which she had never lost she
seemed completely oblivious to the
presence OF any one save Caleb and
herself.
Good morning, Uncle Cal" she muir
INJURED very demurely.
Then the man upon the steps moved
He rose and turned and swept his
rather weather beaten hat from his
head. His hair was still wavy. still
chestnut In the shadows. And Caleb,
though he could not force a word from
his frightened throat. marveled how tall
the boy had grown-how paradoxically
broad OF shoulder and slender Of body
he seemed 10 be.
Dexter Allison, coming up less airily
across the lawn. surprised his daugh
ter poised with one hand outstretched
red lips half open. He found her star
ing. velvet eyed and pink Of face. at d
tall figure In blue flannel and cordu