The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-10-27

there was silence. Then tear dropped
on his face. For in the freight poor,
sad, sorry old Baumgartner was making
picture. too: a white old hopeless,
Piteo. s, pleading face, framed In masses
OF hair, shaggily gray when Seffv went
away, senilely 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.
voice which had gathered to itself
all the music of the life he thought
broken, but you have so often called
me beautiful, that I want to tell you
now that yOu have the most beautiful
face have ever seeni Pappy-pappy,
dear pappy, God bless youi"
And her lips descended upon his,
her dear fingers closed his eyes once
more, her handkerchief wiped awav
the tear she had dropped upon his
face and Others which had followed
1t, and she said:
care your eyes shut? YesI Now,
ask for anything you want on earth or
IN heaven-and you shall have it.
Do not be afraid! The very dearest
thing you can think"
Seffy-" he whispered brokenIy-
Seffy and you-and me-togetherl"
".Prestol Open your eyesL" cried
He did so-and there, kneeling
before him, was Seffy-and one arm was
was about Sally, the other reaching
out to him-nOt quite certain how it
would be received, but with the old
smile of Seffy. He seemed bigger,
and he had young beard on check
and lip, and he appeared quite worthy
to be the president OF the Kansas State
League of Farmers Clubs.
Old BaumgarfOar looked WIT ho,1t q
word, at first to be sure, then to fill
all his being. And then he rose to his
feet and shook off all the years that
had accumulated during Seffy's absence,
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 ali else. And,
10, it was not three shadows, but
Onel
'Seffy," asked his father. while
his arm went about his shoulders with
the Inconsistencies of what seemed
yesterday, chow did you efer git pres
ident of that sing?-what is it?''
i fought for it, PaPpy:,,'
Your Gosh-a' mightyT'
They both laughed happily
es-yOu and SallyS were right
needed to learn to fight. I went out
into the world where you sent me
thank you both-and found life And
I found it 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"
HGoshI Seffy," said his father. ssvou
are as wise as or KeIlerman, the preach
er. Say, you remember him?"
remember everything-th small
est-and it Is all precious, pappy-
more precious than you can know.
If one were never to leave this Happy
Valley, one might live and die as 1
began. And, if one should never
learn better it is good-goodI But
1t Is not the life of the world out there.
And, for me, it is gone foreverl In
one way | am sorry. For the world
has nothing to exchange for these
little things. Out there my heart
has always yearned for them and always
will. You and Sally must keep them
as 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 It was good
to see and better to bel
81 don't beliefe 1T cried his happy