The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-12-30
Copyright. All Rights Reserved
"My Dear Mother:

pehFcd behlnd the great masses 10 the
west, and the valley which my win
dow overlooks Is filling up with black.
ness. The Arthurs are pure gold. and
] have told them everything. They
don't blame anyone. not even father.
How ls hel Shaving as usual, sup
pose.
"Well. | must tell you about my
trip. When | left the house that night
! had no idea where ] was going. bur
the simplest thing seemed 10 be to go
first TO Plainville.
You've no idea how heavy that
suitcase got. but took my time. ms
there WIS nothing 10 gain by reaching
town before daylight when got
there II struck me II might be good
plan 10 have some breakfast so
walked round Ia Goodies boarding
house. After breakfast went over
20 The station. and asked what the
fare was 20 Arthurs' station: I found
had enough money for the trip. and
] bought ticket without further ado.
THE homestead rush Is on here In
earnest: the trains are crowded. most
~ with Americans. and the hotels are
simply splitting over.
II wanted 10 ask some one about
Arthurs. and didn't like TO inquire
In the hotel. There was lot OF
drinking going on there. But near
the door were two young men talking.
and ! overheard one OF them mention
Arthurs' name. Pulling myself 20
gether. ! asked him II he could tell me
where Arthurs lived.
Eyes. miss he answered. lifting a
big hat and showing when he spoke a
clean set OF teeth. It's twenty-five
miles mp the river. Were you expect
ING him 10 meet your
IL explained that had Intended TO
drop In on them by surprise. but ! had
had no idea they lived so far from
town.
"'oh. that's not far he said. Can
you rider
Everybody here rides horseback.
It's the standard means Of locomotlon.
And the women ride astrIde. ] was n
bit shocked at first. bu; you soon get
uNt-l W buN AWfuhlruNt uiHtN "
different from romp round the pas
ture-held so I said was afraid not
"'Arthurs Is coming down with the
blackboard remarked the other man.
4 passed him on the trail as ! came
In
himself drew up at the hotel. ]
wouldn't have known him. but one OF
the young men pointed him out and
II would have done you good 10 see
how he received me- And you. are
Jack and Mary's daughter he said.
taking both my hands In his and
holding me nj arms length for a mo-
ment. Then. before knew II. he had
drawn me up and kissed me. But I
didn't care. All OF sudden II
seemed 20 me that had found a real
father. II seems hard to say Il. but
that Is how ! felt.
swell. he just couldn't keep away
from me all evening. He showered
me with questions abou, you and In
Their. which | answered az well as !
could. but I soon found ] couldn't
keep my secret, so Just up md told
him all. lie was very grave. bit not
cross. You need time TO think things
over. and TO get right perspective,
he said and our home will be yours
until you do
I'VE drove home the next day. up q
wonderful river valley. deep into the
heart OF the foothills. with the blue
mountains always beckonlng and re-
cedlng before us. Mrs. Arthurs was
a. surprised and delighted as he bad
been. and won't try TO tell you NIL
the things she said 10 me. She cried
a little. too. and I'm afraid came
near helping her a hit You know tho
Ar,hurs lost their little girl bcf1r,
they left Manitoba. and they have bad
no other children. They Ao:h seer1e'
just hungry.
"There's nothing so very fre about
their home. except the spirit thats H.
side II. | can't describe II. hrt ~
there a-certain lelsurely way ~ do
ing things, sense that they have
made work their servant instead OF
their master And stlll they're GER
talnly not lazy. and they've accom-
plished more than we have. When
they left Manitoba In the early days,
discouraged with successive frosts,
they came right out here into the foot
hills with their few head of stock.
Now their cattle are numbered In
thousands. and they have about n
township Of land. And still they seem
20 live for the pure happiness they
find IN life and only 10 think Of their
property as secondary considera-
ton.
snow really must close. Mrs. Ar
thurs sends a note. and I'm quite sure
it's an invitation. Oh, mother, what
could be loyelieri Now, don't say you
can't. Father has plenty Of money;
LEI him hire a housekeeper for
while. The change will do him good.
Love TO you. dearest, and TO Allan.
II he still thinks OF me.
"BEULAH.