Evening star., 1934-07-22

slowed the car in front of the log house. "I
love old folks" She suddenly kissed Oliver.
YAH" Sammy sneered "Whatd Josh Brock
say if he seen that?"
Barbara kissed Sammy triumphantly.
"What'd Josh say about that?"
Sammy grinned and touched the place where
Barbara's lips had been. Darn if I keer!"
he stated.
Who is Josh Brooke" Oliver inquired.
That's her sweetie" Sammy explained.
"Shoot you at the drop of a hat"
Don't you believe it. Uncle Ohver!" Barbara
laughed. you come to see me, hear? Well
talk of yours and Grannys romance in the old
days. Tomorrow afternoon at 8? Fine!' The
moved away. She waved and called Good
by" And she was gone.
Sammy and Oliver went up and sat in the
rockers on the sunny porch. Sammy sniggered,
lighting a cigar Oliver gave him. "Bub, let
that young man of hers catch an old gander
like you hanging around his honeybunch ana
he'll snatch you by the scruff of the neck and
slack of the pants and throw you in Stones
Rivert Getting back to the business OF the
mortgage, and Billy being right smart dirt
farmer"
sammy, please!" oliver begged. Let US
have a rest about that mortgage"
Sammy rose and shook wrathful hnger
under divers nose. Who are you, you burned
homemade Yank, to be always saying give us
a rest? Dadburn your rusty tintype-
Oliver laid contrite hand on his brothers
arm. Forgive me- Sammy. was dreaming
of old times "Well talk about the farm later;
but now I want nothing except to remember"
CHRISTMAS hung sharply in the air, and
~ Oliver stole often away to be alone with
the fragrances of old memories
After the great battle Sammy had followed
the armies till the surrender of Lee: he re-
Collx AN, ta arrxy
him. She laughed in his face. So Sammy
had married Maggie Sellers from Halls Mill.
who gave him 10 children; the tribe numbered
now something like a hundred. Oliver would
see them all at the Christmas tribal reunion.
Oliver musingly told his own years. He was
with Grant at Chattanooga and with Grant
into the Virginia campaigns. At Cold Harbor
he had saved the life of young officer named
Baylor. Baylor had dropped his university
course to enter the war. After the surrender
Oliver went North with Baylor, entering the
university with him and later marrying Bay
lor's sister.
Oliver became a professor of mathematics,
lived a sheltered life, wrote textbooks, had two
inches in Who's Who. Now he was back
at his boyhood home in Tennessee, planning
to finish his days in the sunny spot where he
had begun them. Because the great battle had
been fought in the holidays, it seemed fitting
to return at Christmas time.
The battle of Billy and the mortgage was a
gnawng fight that could not be disposed OF
in the glory of heroics To escape, Oliver
Hartford tramped the BATTLEFIELD. hunting mimic
balls brass harness fragments, maybe a buried
broken bayonet.
He knew the wistful loneliness Of an old
man. stumbling amongst his memories.
He went daily to see Barbara Johns, sitting
by the fire in the old house on the ManSen
pike watching her graceful goings and comings.
His heart followed old emotional grooves. old
joys old scenes He loved Barbara with an
old mans fragrance of affection.
He met Josh Brooks and liked the thrifty
muscled, blue-eyed, honest young man. Josh
was planning to buy the old Overall farm, on
Overalls Greek, when he got the money for
down payment.
%An I do right now, though, Uncle
Oliver. is plan." he said.
Young men dream dreams" oliver Hart
ford nodded
Barbara and viii marry sometime, and
want to get somewhere in life"