Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-12
T IE tore open the telegram rap
- idly.
Robert Murray.
Care of Granger Co.. Penn

He read 1t repeatedly. What couio
be the matter? Might something have
happened to his mothere Why didn't
his father eXplain-at least fill out
the ten words? 1t wasn't like him to
be so brief. If only they had tele-
phone on the farm.
He looked at his watch. The next
trolley for Three Valleys lett at 10
o'clock. He showed the telegram to
MIR. Jones, the secretary OF the con-
Germ. then slipped on his coat and
hat and left the office. In half-hour
he and his bag were aboard the or
ange suburban car for Three Valleys.
There was no one to meet him at the
little town. Evidently his father had
not expected him until later. He
pushed his bag under the seat OF
Weller livery rig. and. with young
Jimmy Weller beside him to bring
back the horse. started out along the
Friedensburg road.
1t was raw March day. A gray
mist hung over the brown helds anu
sagged among the leaf1ess trees in the
woods The cold drizZle changed 10
sleet and back to rain again. 10
young man of the city, fresh from
modern city conveniences and at
fractions, the ride was unexhiiarat
ing Somehow. when they reacneo
the crossroads by the big red mapie
on tNe TIuSc anu g. hiPS>
lar farm lying below. half in the
meadow and half on the ad)oinih,s
hill, instead of home it seemed iike
thirty-six acres Of loneliness. Excep.
for the curl of smoke above the mouse
chimney and the low call from the
barn. the buildings might have been
deserted The rambling orchard was
bare of leaf or fruit. the berry patcn
a succession of red rows OF thorny
bayonets. and the meadow desoiate
of marigold. water thrush or cropping
cattle. His only satisfaction was that
none of the boys from the Office was
along to see. They would not I'M
derstand the life his parents led.
At the familiar picket gate ne
turned the horse about for young
Jimmy wished him a safe journey
hack. then hurried to the house. habit
taking him to the kitchen door. Rust.
the dog. was not in evidence-doubt-
less on one of his periodic collie ex-
cursions. At the sound of the iatch
his mother turned from the stove:
Thank God. she was all right; DIT
pinched and worried. perhaps, but up
and active.
Hello" He greeted her with Wig
orous kiss on the mouth. What does
dad mean. soaring me with an uitl-
matum like that?'
a mother does. Your father didn't
send the telegram, Robert
He felt sudden staggering about
the heart.
"Dad's-all right. MOTHER
She shook her head. He hasn't been
out of his room since about three
weeks on Tuesday,
Bob paled.
ITS his eyes again." went on his
mother. her voice choking. He can
tell you the name the doctor called It
The room must stay dark all the time.
r,,~ fnI Rnhhiof "a
he might never look at sunlight again.
He sits there alone in the dark-so
patient, Robbie" She began to cry.
softly.
stroking her. Don't you worry one
particle. I'll get the best kind of a
doctor for dad. Maybe 1T won't take
very long. Why in the world didn't
you send for me before?"
Il wanted to. Robbie: but he made
you'd worry about the farm"
should say not" declared Bob.
I"T1l just get Johnny Grimes or Ed
Summerhill or somebody to come here
and take care of it for you. Wages
are high Just now. but what's dad
II he can't take a rest when he needs
HIS mother began to sob openly.
oh. Robbie. your father never made
~ nohey mere. ne oIou want me
to tell you. but" 4e e.
Never made money!. exclaimed
Bob blankly. why. how could he
send me to college, mother?'
He borrowed the money from
Bob swallowed painfully.
His mother bowed her head and
went on: when the squire wouldn't
give any more on the farm, he bor-
rowed from George Good. He told
George he hadn't any security but the
stock and furniture. and they weren't
worth $1,000. But George said he'd
trust him.
Bob had grown white.
"Oh, Robbie" begged his mother,
don't feel bad toward your father.
He didn't want you to grow up and
work hard all your life on a farm for
Nen township all his life. and he
hasn't been a school director or a
clerk at election. They never even
asked him to be deacon in the church
or deal at the Farmers Bank in Three
Valleys. Oh. Robbie. he never said
much to anybody-your father doesn't
act that way. but he's always wanted
to be somebOdy-so he could feel that
he had done something in the world"
She finished piteously. The boy
sat bewildered. Then he started up
the rag-carpeted stairs. In the dim,
cold bedroom a spare form sat wrap
ped in a ,red-checkered blanket on a
rocking-chair near one OF the drawn
blinds. AS Bob opened the door. the
wondering. mother. when we might
expect letter from Bob?"
A guilty tremor shot through the
boy as he remembered how little he
had written. Hello, dad!" he swal-
lowed.
The rocking chair trembled. Bob
! can't see. you know. lad-how did
you know
The almost imperceptible nudge
from his mother was unneeded.
eft fellow can't run home to see
his folks once in a while" exclaimed
the boy.
I'm not very bad. Bob" said his
father earnestly. "A lot better my
eyes than my heart giving out. They
don't hurt all the time, and-then I
can sleep: TIL be all right after
while. You mustn't worry or lose time
from your business. lad. on account
Of me. When had you counted on
going back?"
I'm not counting on going back:
dad" answered the boy. "If you and
mother will let me, I'm going to take
care of the farm"
ono. NO. Bob" excitedly protested
the father, trying to rise from
his chair. "It isn't worth it. You
mustn't take one day from your
Office"
1--WE had to give up office work for
a while, dad" lied the boy. I'm to
work out in the air. the doctor said"
For a few moments no one said any
thing. Bob felt his mothers work.
beaten hand slip silently into his.
Late in the afternoon. in felt boots
and old clothes. he started on an