The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
The Daily Short Story

anxious eyes, knowing that more
serious changes must come, dread
ing to tell him, wondering how he
could bear it when the time came
She saw the sorrow creeping into
his face. Though he said little
she knew his heart was sad. His
head bent little lower on his
chest. He did not care to go out
into the yard even, but sat over the
kitchen stove brooding. He hated
crowds, and houses, and noise. Yet
he still had his home, and would
i sit in the evening in the quiet of
the kitchen, the small oil lamp
! burning on the table, his head in
his. hands and dream of the past.
| Then he would look up with
faint smile, trying to be cheerful,
and murmur, Well, we've got the
old house, Mary. That's ours.
They can't take that away from us.
I've got the deed sure, jest's twas
made out 60 years ago. We've got a
homes long We live, an we've got
one cow left. Guess we'll have our
own milkin' a while longer"
He would go back into the past,
as he loved to do, and talk of the
time when he and Mother" first
came there to live.
Your ma, she liked it here on
account of the pictures all about,
the medder an the sky. l wouldn't
have her see it now. She used to
watch you children playin' down
where them houses be now-but
we won't fret. We've got the old
house-1've got the deed, and it
stands"
Then he would go to bed COM |
forted, while Mary sat trembling. !
She knew what her father did not !
know, that even now a company ,
was plotting to take their house |
from them that a boulevard might |
be built through their land. What !
was one place more than another
to them? She kept the dreadful
news from her father. How could |
she ever persuade him to go away?
1t would kill him to leave the old
place.
At last the men, impatient. came
and talked with him. Samuel
laughed in queer sort Of way
when they spoke to him of selling.
No." he answered, Il amt a-think-
IN O. sellin'. Better quit talkin.'
His voice tried to be firm, vet
even then something broke within
lim, for he knew if they wanted j.,
lis place they would take it sooner
Or later. They would turn him
out. Il won't SELL" he repeated. ,
!
All the next day Mr.. Barnes sat .
~ the stove in kind of daze, /
scarcely speaking. When Mary !
ried to comfort him he would muir .
nur, Its mine-I've got the deed :
they can't-have it"
Mary watched him, fearing .,
Don't think about it father" she
legged. They can't take it till
.ou sign the contract, anyway. :
they must wait" !
THE deed-it's-al right" he :
hammered. -
We'll, father, forget it now"
aid Mary. Here's your hot milk.
brink it and go to bed"
He obeyed like a child. Mary i
tucked him in as mother might q
ave done. smoothed his hair back
rom his forehead and kissed him. s
lie seemed easier. sighed softly. b
lrned over and went to sleep.
In the morning Mary went to f
er father's room with a cup of r
offee, as she had done Of late He s
~ quite still and seemed to be
leeping. Il won't wake him" she n
FUSED Sleep1l do him more .
God than coffee. I'll let him lie - n
She closed the door softly and n
# him. Poor father," she sighed +,
n 1t only didn't have to GOMEZ h
lis heart is broken n