Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-12

"E'zRA' that dog knows that Val is $
Il coming just as well as you and
know It: look at him, will you? Ezra
Newcomh turned his gray head around
and gazed Mt Pete, the Irish terrier, as
he lifted his head now and then 10 give
vent to an uneasy whine,
Pears like he does" he admitted.
Good thing mother tied him or like
as not he'd be hanging round the depot.
The two men smoked on n silence Tor
' moment. then Ezra's voice broke the
silence Jim don't 1t beat all: the way
we pamper that boy? Here he's been
away three months, just chucked un MS
ioh. took the notion into his head he
| wanted to go to work on Aunt Sarah
Maud's farm. and away he went. And
did his mother and | protest. ala
| says to his mother says i, val amt
a child nc mere: VS. about time ne
and his mother bundled him off. Now
he's tired of that. and he's coming home.
Why, his mother has baked cake az
hig as mountain. and there's frosted
iinows what all And like az not Aunt
Sarah Maud has got him stuffed to the
| ears"
why not. Ezra?" the other man an
swered slowly. He's the only boy we've
got between us When my boy died
| lust 'noi Val right into my heart and
sometimes feel as II he really was my
hoy. even II l am only Uncle Jim"
"Taint that, Jim, tain't that, I'm not
only mighty fond of him. hut mighty
proud of him. The lad is eighteen TINS
coming winter and I want he should be
a man not spoiled boy. Why, II
were his age fI'd be serving my country
but we haven't given him a chance to
grow up: we've petted him and kept him
child They say names sometimes have
| n lot to do with our lives II II fits oI
not. Val was born one clustering win,
| ter morning. the l4th OF February.
was for naming him Andrew Jackson
but his mother wouldn't near OF II. ne re-
| my valentine she SAID 10 me- anu sht
| named him Nalentine'
A woman came softly out the screen
door and put her hand on Ezra's shoul.
| der And. father .he was the sweetest
valentine I have ever had" she said.
There, now, mother. there now" Ez'
ra's hand closed over hers tenderly
| II didn't mean to criticize. though II
| did break my heart about the name
but we're all to blame. What do you
| say we all turn over new leafy He's
reached the ninth inning of manhood
and it's time the boy played the game
| alone All through the other eight In
| nings we've been at his side
His life depends on the way he plays
| this last inning. He must either los'
the game or put over the winning MT
| Why, twas only yesterday, Ames tn
man he worked for, asked me what Va
a
My boy is In the service he said.
His boy pleaded exemption. but 1
didn't work" retorted Jim angrily.
The woman smiled a little to hersel
as she smoothed a lock of hair from tn
brow of her husband. Deep down II
her heart she knew why her boys IA
ther had that smolderng resentmen
ia his eyes: why he wanted them {
stop treating the boy as though he wa
child He wanted Val to enlist, no
that he would ever have breathed sue
a thought but the mother knew just tn
same Ezra" she said soothingly, IVA
Is young yet he'll come out all right.
She leaned her head against his
second, and had Ezra seen her he woul
have been decidedly startled. for catch
ing Uncle Jim's eye she deliberatel
winked.
AT any rate" she continued. II don
think it's very nice TO wrangle so whe
we haven't seen the blessed boy 10
three months Shame on us, ! say.
. Nevertheless" Ezra spoke with
, most dramstic dignity. his father won
mollycoddle him his father will let hi
play the ninth inning in his own way
I no coaching. no"
Ezra stopped abruptly.
| With a joyous bark Pete had cleare
| the fence at bound and was maxim
straight for a khaki-clad figure comm
down the street. Ezra looked In amezs
ment for Pete ignored strangers IN
khak-clad hgure turned In at the gai
and clasped the woman In his arm
My boy, she said. 'my boy" ~