Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1918-08-30
Little
Copyright. 1913. Western Nsvspspsr Union. }
By AGNES c. BROCAN


was printed soldiers photograph, but
the old mans eyes gazed past this I'M
seeing. or perhaps he was in fancy,
seeing the face more wildly.
The resemblance Of the pictured fea-
lures to his own, was remarkable; 80,
the eyes behind the spedacies might
have looked before life and it, reaii-
ties had made them stern.
How long was it since the bog had
left him in hts lonely old age?
He had wondered through al this
stress Of war. wondered secretly, II
his son had been one 1 those to take
up his country's colors. But he might
have known. Was not patrfotism in
the blood? He, himself, still moved
through this dcsoIate old mansion lean
ing upon the crutch that was his ever
present reminder Of fighting days long
past. And Ned had been cue Of the
first to enlist, 50 the paper said, and
with rapdity had won his hoaors. The
smile beneath the soldier cap brin was
uncloGded: the father noted this with
jealous pain. Then the vaudeville sing
er had sufffced, leaving no need like
that Of the aching Old heart.
Ned had been his ali. his Own little
lad. His beautiful mother had not
fingered long enough to d4ap her child
to her breast. but the father had ecgn-
per.sated. Oh! there was no dos1sk At
that! Nothing had beea left undone
which might ada to the l,o9's cmsfort
and happiness. Fumb2tagly the ~wrink.
led fingers moved tuward 4 long IA.
opened dcawer At the massive ma
hognny desk; 1t was here that he lad
locked the lads picture forever f1Qn
his sight. Forever, bat todey he swsn(d
open the drawer once more. He x11Ilr
ed to compare with the soIdier'k pho&pr
graph, that of Nedtlfe, when he A9A IT,
ken his first leave Of home.
There was something very 9ks, he
remembered, in the yost1t's hsaxo md
hopeful expression. He found the pie
ttfe and trembiingly adjusted HE spee"
tacles AZ he bent above It. The lad
had been proud as he waved good-by,
starting out upon his college career.
They had agreed together, that at its
eullniratiM Ned would take up t1,B
business interests which his father bad
been obliged to lay aside. In Ned,
would his own ambition find fuffitlrnelH
Money did not much matter, he had
acquired plenty OF that, but Ned should
still carry on the old name, and in the
old power. And then, like 4 tfsunder.
e1ap'it had come, the announcement of
the boys hasty marriage.
II had to leave college 50 tAst I
coald take care Of Msfe," Ned had
written. You see Sizes a vaadevtla1
singer. and the travelling arou.d il
hard for girl" A travelling vaxcie-
Vile actress his sons wife.
The fathers head lad been bowed
long between his hands, as he thought
the matter out. With l,fs own stxIct
! standards. in his disappointment at l1is
sons lack Of confidence, there csuid be
| but one decree-the boy must keep to
| himself the wife he had taken, there
would I've for her. no welcome benent1,
| his fathers roof.
The older man had been long in com
posing the letter Of dismissal. and when
it was sent its way, he changed grad
| ualIy into the morose and unapproach
able creature, which he had become.
| AS Il step sounded on the polished
| floor behind him. he pushed az though
| guilty, the photographs back into the
| drawer.
| ''Little chap at the door wants to
see you sir" a servant announced, and
| waited questioningly. But the guest
had entered unbidden. and the old
| man turning in his chair, stared at a
very little boy standing framed in the
! doorway.
II followed him. the child said
smiling, and pointed finger at the
servant. Then as the servant with
drew the lad yentured cheerfully into
the room, How do you dot" he asked.
you'll be awfuiIy surprised when you
learn who am. and 1 had the dickens
Of time getting over to see you. My
mother is out hunting us tiny fiat to
live in. aad tinlest fats cost 50 much
! she's afraid she won't find one 1t all.
| MY father is over In France fight
ing the Huns" the boy drew himself
up proudly, land this is the city he
used to live in before he married my
mother. She thought she could find
work here, but not like she used to do,
though think that would be better.
Mother used to sing lullabys on the
stage, what the eolored mammys' sing
| to their babies you know, and they say
no one could do It as we'll as my moth
er. But father-he told me about you,
] about the big stone house near the
park where you live, and 80 I beat It
out today and came to see you.
Father. he says you were the great
lest soldier In the world and you'd
fight for your country while you had a
leg to stand on. And so win he. "a
Their wants to be just like you; and
now" the boys eyes glisteDed, who
do you '1>ose ami" He laughed glee-
talty.
SWELL, how do you do, grandfather -
/