The Dolores star., 1922-05-19

with apprehensive eyes upon the little
old man in the rocking cnair.
How be ye, dearief Yer hain't
wanted fer nothin, now, have ye?" she
asked.
Not a thing, Harriet" he returned
cheerily. I'm feelin' real pert, too.
Was there lots there? An did Parson
Drew say heap o. fine thingsf"
Mrs. Clayton dropped into chair
and pulled listlessly at the black
strings Of her bonnet.
Twas a beautiful fun'ral. Thad-
deus-a beautiful funral. IL most
wished 1t was mine"
Harriet"
She gave shamed-faced laugh.
well, did-then Jehiel and Han
nah Jane would "a come, an l could
"a seen en-"
The Mortified look on the old mans
face gave way TO a broad smile.
"Oh, Harriet-Harriet he chuck
led. "how could ye seen 'em If you
was dead?"
Huh? Well, I-Thaddeus"-her
voice rose sharply in the silent room
every single one of them Perkins boys
was there, ard Annabel, too. Only
think what po,~ Mis- Perkins would "a
given ter seef EN- fore she went!
But they waised-waited, Thaddeus,
jest as everybody does, till their folks
Is dead"
Bat, Harriet" demurred the old
man, 'snrely you'd "a bad them boys
come ter their own mothers fun'ral :"
HIfptnaF raf Lo,.
'em. Thaddeus''-Mrs. Clayton rose to
her feet and stretched out two gaunt
hands ongingly-"Thaddeus. l get so
hungry sometimes for Jehiel and Han.
nah Jane. seems as though l Jest
couldn't stand it.'
Il know-I know, dearie," quavered
the old man, vigorously polishing his
glasses.
Fifty years ago my first baby came"
resumed the woman in tremuluus
tones; then another came, and an
other, till I'd six. I loved 'em an
tended 'em, an cared for 'em, an didn't
have a thought but was fer them
babies. Four dIed"-her voice broke.
then went on with renewed strength
but I've got Jehiel and Hannah Jane
left; at least, I've got two bits of paper
that comes mebbe once a month. an
one of ems signed 'your dutiful son.
Jehiel. an the other, from your loving
daughter, Hannah Jane"
well, Harriet, they-they're pretty
good ter write letters ventured Mr..
Clayton.
"Letters." walled his wife, 81 can't
hug kiss lnttnrC oh 7 t,.,-
sometimes.
We'll well, wife, mebbe they'll come
-mebbe they'll come this summer;
who knows?"
She shook her head dismally.
You've said that ev'ry year for the
last fifteen summers, an they haln't
come yet. Jehiel went West more than
twenty years ago, an he's never been
home since. Why. Thaddeus, we've got
grandson most eighteen, that we
hain't even seen. Hannah James bsen
home jest once since she was married,
but that was nigh on ter sixteen years
ago. She's always wrltin' of her Tom
my and Nellie, butt want ter see
'em. Thaddeus; I want ter see 'em!"
Yes, yes WELL We'll ask 'em, Har-
riet, again-we'll ask 'em real urgent
like, an mebbe that'H fetch EN-" com
forted the old man. Wen ask em
ter be here the Fourth; that's eight
weeks off yet, an shall be real smart
by then"
Two letters that were certainly "ur-
gent-like" left the New England farm
house the next morning. One was ad-
= ~,
other to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In course of time the answers came
Hannah James appeared first, and was
opened with shaking fingers.
Dear Mother Cread Mrs. Clayton aloud:
Your letter came two or three days ago,
and I have hurried round to answer IL
for you seemed to be SO anxious to hear
I'm real sorry, but I don't see how we
can get away this summer. Nathan is
real busy at the store; and some way. l
can't seem to get up energy enough to
even think of fixing UP the children to
take them SO far. Thank you for the in
vitation. though. and we should enjoy
the visit very much; but l guess we can't
go Just yet OF course. II anything serious
should come up that made 1t necessary
why. that would be different; but know
you are sensible, and will understand how
1t is with us.
Nathan is well. but business has been
pretty brisk, and he Is in the store early
ana late AS long as he's making money
he don't mind; but tell him I think he
might rest a little sometimes. and let
some one else do the things he does
Tom ia big boy now. smart In his
studies and with good head for figures
Nellie loves her books. too; and. for a
little girl of elevS., does pretty well, we
think
must close now We all send love
md hope you are getting along all right
Was glad to hear father was gaining SO
fast
Your loving daughter,
HANNAH JANE
The letter dropped from Mrs. Clay.
tons fingers and lay unheeded on the
floor. The woman covered her face