The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-05-01

INN l0E Top OF t1e NH &tuQQ the ui
~ 3rick house--a mansion, compare
10 the other houses OF the New Enl
land village. All the foot Of the hil
nestled the tiny brown farmhouse. hal
buried IN lilacs climbing roses. an
hoilyhocks.
Years ago when Reuben had frs
brought Emily TO that little brown col
tage he had said 10 her wissfully
Sweetheart. faint much Of place
! know. but wen save and save. ever,
cent we can get. an by an BY well &,
up to live In she big house ON ID,
hili'" And he kissed so tendcriy th,
pretty little woman he had marries
only that morning that she smilet
brightly and declared that the small
brown hcuse was the very niees; rlact
In The world,
But. as tirne passed. the big house
cane to be the Mecca cf all their
hopes and penny by penny the ssv-
sngs grew. II was slow work. though
and to hearts less courageous the
thing would have seemed an impossi.
hilify. No lnxuries--and scarcely the
bare necessities OF lIfe-came to, the
little honse under the hill. but every
month tiny sum found Its way into
the savings bank.
Reuben never smoked. While other
men used the fragrant weed to calm
their weary hralns and bodies. Reuben
--ate peanuts. II had been a curious
passion Of his, from the time when as
a hey he was first presented with a
penny of his very own. TO spend all
his spare cash On this peculiar luxury !;
and the slow munching Of this Pile
belan delicacy had the same soothing
effect ON him that good cigar or an
old clay pipe had upon HIS brother
man. But from the day OF his mar
riage all this was changed: the dimes
and the nickess bought no more pea
nuts. but went 10 swell the common
fund.
1t Is doubtful II ercn this heroic
economy would have accomplished the
desired end had not certain railroad
company cast envions eyes upon the
level valley and forthwith sent long
arms OF steel bearing putting engine
up through the quiet village. A large
tract Of waste land belonging To Ren-
hen Gray suddenly became surprIs-
inrly valuable. and sum that trebied
twice over the scnnty savings OF years
grew MI In night.
One crisp October day, Mr.. and Mrs.
Reuben Gray invoke to the fact that
they We're q little under sixty years OF
nge, and In possession " more than
the big sum Of money necessary 10
enable them to carry out the dreams
Of their youth. They began joyous
preparations at once.
The big brick house at the top Of
the hill had changed hands twice dur
Ing the Inst forty yenrs. ana the pres
cnt owner expressed himSelf as moth
Ing loath 10 part. not only with the
house Itself, hut with many Of It's
furnishings; and before the wiuter
snow fell the little brown cottage was
sold to a thrifty young couple from
the neighborhg village. and the Grays
took un Hleir abode in their new home.
"Weil. Emily. this Is livin', now.
nin't III" said Reuben. as he carefully
let himself down into the depths Of a
velvet covered chair ia the grea. par
lor. My. ain't this nicer
Just perfectly lovely Quavered
the thin voice Of his wife, az: she
threw a surrepfitious glance at Ren.
ben's shoes to see II they were quite
clean enough for such sacred pre-
cincts.
Il was their first evening. In their
new abode. and they were little
weary. for they had spent the entire
day In exploring every room. peering
into every closet and trying every
chair that the establishment con.
tainec- Il was still quite early when
they trudged nnxioussy about the
house, intent on fastening the numer-
GUS dsors and windows.
'Dear me-" exclaimed the little
woman neryonsly. I'm most afraid 10
80 10 bed, Reuben, for fear some one
VIII break In an steal all these nice
things"
We'll, you can sit up Ii you want
To-" replied her husband dryly. s.bnf
| shall 30 70 he'd. Most Of these things.
have been here nigh on to twenty
years, an gness they'll last the night
through : And he marched solennly
upstairs to the big east chamber,
meekly followed hy his wife.
Il was the next morning when Mrs.
Gray was washing the breakfast
dishes that her husband came in az
the kitchen door and stood looking at
her thoughtfully.
SAY. Emily said he, syon'd ought
er have hired girl. .Tain't your
place to be doin' work ike this now.
Mrs Gray gasped--half terrified.
half pleased and shook her head
bnt her husband was nor to he
silenced.
"Well. you had---an you've got to.
too. An you must buy some new
clothen lots Of EN-! WHY. EmYy.
we've got hesps Of money nov, an We |
hadn't 6ughter wear. such lookin'
thines.r
Emily nodded |; she had thought Of
This befnre And fhe hired -eiri hint