The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1937-05-27
THE
AT THE GATE
e>sA AuIso-SA~ WNU Service

''Where u my Stranger" piped
Bess. II wal going to let him Light
the tallest candles and now its III
and he isn't here at All" Then
they all realized that there was IN
empty place at table.
Let Tommy 60 and call him."
said grandmother. he has over.
slept NO doubt. being up late last
night and the morning 20 dark. W.
must have him ask the Christmas
blessing. Hepsy. did you knock al
the doctors door?" she asked.
There. I nearly forgot to tell you,
Mis'is vance-the doctor came
down early. just as Eli was starting
to the village in the sleigh, and he
said that az he had urgent business
there he would 60 along. It's most
time for them to be back, and I've
kept out enough batter for their
buckwheat cakes Il they r late"
Come to the Workshop with
me. Emery. I've something to show
you" grandfather said when Tom.
my could eat no more pancakes
and grandmother and Eleanor had
gone upstairs to look up wraps
and make some immediate plans foy
Mary Hess. II must be confessed
that Emery followed his father, Il
not with his usual impotence, YET
with q sort Of reticence born Of thu
regret that he must again disap'
point the old man.
Throwing more wood into tn
Franklin stove, Ira Vance lifted q
cloth that had covered his draught
ing table and, after folding it very
deliberately. motioned Emery to sit
beside him.
Opening a portfolio holding many
carefully made drawings, he IaiG
them in turn slowly before his SON
Neither one spoke as the numbered
sheets were turned and returned
but a red spot glowed in the middle
Of each cheek as the old man saw
the eagerness that was now coupled
with his sons attention and handling
Of the drawings.
While Emery still pored over the
plans. Ira hobbled to a long bench
that ran across the end Of the shop,
arranged a screw here. frightened
nut there, adjusted q loose bit O
betting; then STOPPING set in motion
a motor that was bedded in thu
cement floor. AT the first h U N
Emery jumped to his feet, took
long look and clapping hands upol
his fathers shoulders cried:
dad you have done II at last
This screw thread cutter 10 VIVA
we all have been trying Tor AMI
couldn't get. Do you realize wha
it means? You've created some
thing. You can sell the patent TO
. large sum Il money. Dadi"
II seemed % u The GA xaan ha'
grown foot. ~ with head vel
thrown back he looked his son fairl'
IN the face. Il have no thought .
selling, II = enough for me Il 20
believe that your father n not
failurel A. for the praise, that b
longs to your mother. who has q
ways had faith in me. ~ wen .
Gods own patience coupled wit
understanding"
All! how the words smote Emery
What had he himself done but dom
mate men by force Of circumstance
until they had sold him their int
ligence. but had never won eve
their friendship. while his father
given over as he had thought I
dreams, had become an absolut
creator.
Then before him flashed one
those concentrations that r Gale
visions. In ii Vance saw the clou
that stin shadowed him-ths Anna,
Meeting and its warfare-fade ava
by compromise. He saw his re
, ignation accepted and his intere
hquidated in consideration Of Il
transfer to him Of certain patents
which he believed. He saw ne
foundries following the vale
stream that IN turn supplied the
with electric power. He ga
j Joseph Hess ~ once more h
draughtsman He saw new eottag,
Ireplacing the deserted sacks abe,