Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-21

wrong thing nrst. believe. sewed me
up abssnt-mindedly. then remem-
bered Il was the other thing, and did
It over again. At any rate. that's the
only way ! can account for their
mswtng me up there for two
months"
well, well. that Is hard luck! I'm
sorry. old boy! Things didn't begin
to 70 my way either till within the
last few months. I've always made
q fair living and saved little money.
but never gained any real Roadway.
Now I've got a .first-rate start and
the future looks pretty favorable.
and best OF all, pretty safe.-No
trouble at home calls you back to
Beulah? I hope Lefty is all right"
Dick cast an anxious side glance at
David, though he spoke careIessly.
"Oh, no! Everything's serene. 90 far
as know. I'm poor correspondent,
especially when I've no good news to
tell: and anyway, the mere sight OF a
pen ties my tongue. Tn just running
down to surprise Lefty"
Dick looked at David again. He
began to think he didn't like him.
He used to. when they were boys,
but when he brought that unaccount-
able wife home and foisted her
and her babies on Lefty. he rather
turned against him. David was
younger than himself, four or five
years younger, but he looked as if he
hadn't grown up. Surely his boyhood
chum hadn't used to be so pale and
thin-chested or his mouth so ladylike
and pretty. A good face, i. though;
straight and clean, with honest eyes
and a likable smile. Lack OF will,
perhaps, or a persistent run of ill
luck. Lefty had always kept him
stiffened up in the old days. Dick re-
called one of his fathers phrases to
the effect that Dave Gilman would
spin on very small biscuit, and
wondered if it were still true.
"And you. Dick? Your fathers
still living? You see haven't kept
up with Beulah lately"
Keeping up with .Beulah! 1t
sounds like the title of novel. but
the hero would have to be a snail or
he'd pass Beulah in the first chapter!
Yes, fathers hale and hearty,
believe"
"You come home every Christmas,
I s'pose?" inquired David.
mo: as matter of fact this is my
first visit since left for good"
That's about my case" And
David hung his head little, uncon,
sciously.
THAT so?, Well. was a hot
headed fool when said goodbye to
Beulah, and it's taken me all this
time to cool off and make up my
mind to apologize to the dad. There's
there's rather a queer coincidence
about my visit just at this time"
Speaking Of condolences" said
David, II can beat yours, whatever
it is. If the thought of your father
brought you back, my mother drew
me-this .way!" And he took some
thing from his inside coat pocket
do you see that?"
Dick regarded the object blankly.
then with q quick gesture dived into
his pocket and brought forth another
Of the same general character. How
about this?" he asked.
Each had one Of Reba Larrabee's
Christmas cards, but David had the
first unsuccessful one and Dick the
popular one with the lonely little
gray. house and the verse about the
folks back home.
The men looked at each other in
astonishment and Dick gave a low
WHISTLE Then they bent. over the
cards together.
1T was mothers picture that
pulled me back to Beulah, don't
mind telling YOU" said David, his
mouth twitching. Don't you see it?"
''Oh! Is that your mother?' And
Dick scanned the card closely.
Don't you remember her portrait
that always hung there after she
died?"
Eyes, of course!" And Dicks tone
was apologize. you see the face is
SO small didn't notice it, but /
recognize it now and remember the
portrait"
"Then the old sitting-room!" ex-
claimed David. Look at the rag
carpet and the blessed old andirons!
Gracious! I've crawled round those
Hessian soldiers, burned my fingers
and cracked my skull on 'em, often
enough when was a kid! When I'd
studied the card five minutes, I
bought ticket and started for
home"
David's eyes were suffused and his
lip trembled.
II don't WONDER" said Dick. "I
recognize the dear old room right
enough. and of course I should know
Lefty"
ut didn't occur to me that it was
Lefty for some time said her
brother. There's just glimpse Of
a face shown. and no real likeness"
Perhaps not" agreed Dick. "a
stranger wouldn't have known it for
Lefty. but il 1t had been only that
cape I should have guessed. It's as
familiar as Mrs. Popham's bugle
bonnet, and much prettier. She wore
1t every winter.-skating. you know
and it's just the color of her hair"
Lefty has good-shaped head"
said David judiciously. 1T shows
even in the card
"And remarkable ear" added