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his last years。 I'm feelin' younger to…day； younger than I have
for quite a spell。 Yes； for quite a spell。〃
His grandson put a hand on his knee。 〃Good for you； Grandfather；〃
he said。 〃Now tell me more about Labe。 Do you know I think the
old chap's sticking by his pledge is the bulliest thing I've heard
since I've been home。〃
So they talked of Laban and of Rachel and of South Harniss
happenings until the train drew up at the platform of that station。
And upon that platform stepped Albert to feel his grandmother's
arms about him and her voice； tremulous with happiness； at his ear。
And behind her loomed Mrs。 Ellis； her ample face a combination of
smiles and tears； 〃all sunshine and fair weather down below but
rainin' steady up aloft；〃 as Captain Lote described it afterwards。
And behind her； like a foothill in the shadow of a mountain； was
Laban。 And behind Laban No； that is a mistakein front of
Laban and beside Laban and in front of and beside everyone else
when opportunity presented was Issachar。 And Issachar's expression
and bearings were wonderful to see。 A stranger； and there were
several strangers amid the group at the station； might have gained
the impression that Mr。 Price； with of course a very little help
from the Almighty； was responsible for everything。
〃Why； Issy！〃 exclaimed Albert； when they shook hands。 〃You're
here； too； eh？〃
Mr。 Price's already protuberant chest swelled still further。 His
reply had the calmness of finality。
〃Yes； sir；〃 said Issy； 〃I'm here。 'Who's goin' to look out for Z。
Snow and Co。 if all hands walks out and leaves 'em？' Labe says。 'I
don't know；' says I； 'and I don't care。 I'm goin' to that depot to
meet Al Speranzy and if Z。 Snow and Co。 goes to pot while I'm gone
I can't help it。 I have sacrificed；' I says； 'and I stand ready to
sacrifice pretty nigh everything for my business； but there's
limits and this is one of 'em。 I'm goin' acrost to that depot to
meet him；' says I； 'and don't you try to stop me； Labe Keeler。'〃
〃Great stuff； Is！〃 said Albert； with a laugh。 〃What did Labe say
to that？〃
〃What was there for him to say？ He could see I meant it。 Course
he hove out some of his cheap talk； but it didn't amount to
nothin'。 Asked if I wan't goin' to put up a sign sayin' when I'd
be back； so's to ease the customers' minds。 'I don't know when
I'll be back；' I says。 'All right；' says he； 'put that on the
sign。 That'll ease 'em still more。' Just cheap talk 'twas。 He
thinks he's funny； but I don't pay no attention to him。〃
Others came to shake hands and voice a welcome。 The formal
reception； that with the band； had been called off at Captain
Zelotes's request； but the informal one was； in spite of the rain；
which was now much less heavy； quite a sizable gathering。
The Reverend Mr。 Kendall held his hand for a long time and talked
much； it seemed to Albert that he had aged greatly since they last
met。 He wandered a bit in his remarks and repeated himself several
times。
〃The poor old gentleman's failin' a good deal； Albert；〃 said Mrs。
Snow； as they drove home together； he and his grandparents； three
on the seat of the buggy behind Jessamine。 〃His sermons are pretty
tiresome nowadays； but we put up with 'em because he's been with us
so long。 。 。 。 Ain't you squeezed 'most to death； Albert？ You two
big men and me all mashed together on this narrow seat。 It's lucky
I'm small。 Zelotes ought to get a two…seated carriage； but he
won't。〃
〃Next thing I get； Mother；〃 observed the captain； 〃will be an
automobile。 I'll stick to the old mare here as long as she's able
to navigate； but when she has to be hauled out of commission I'm
goin' to buy a car。 I believe I'm pretty nigh the last man in this
county to drive a horse； as 'tis。 Makes me feel like what Sol
Dadgett calls a cracked teapota 'genuine antique。' One of these
city women will be collectin' me some of these days。 Better look
out； mother。〃
Olive sighed happily。 〃It does me good to hear you joke again；
Zelotes；〃 she said。 〃He didn't joke much； Albert； whilewhen we
thought youyou〃
Albert interrupted in time to prevent the threatened shower。
〃So Mr。 Kendall is not well；〃 he said。 〃I'm very sorry to hear
it。〃
〃Of course you would be。 You and he used to be so friendly when
Helen was home。 Oh； speakin' of Helen； she IS comin' home in a
fortni't or three weeks； so I hear。 She's goin' to give up her
teachin' and come back to be company for her father。 I suppose she
realizes he needs her； but it must be a big sacrifice for her；
givin' up the good position she's got now。 She's such a smart girl
and such a nice one。 Why； she came to see us after the news came
the bad newsand she was so kind and so good。 I don't know what
we should have done without her。 Zelotes says so too； don't you；
Zelotes？〃
Her husband did not answer。 Instead he said： 〃Well； there's home；
Al。 Rachel's there ahead of us and dinner's on the way； judgin' by
the smoke from the kitchen chimney。 How does the old place look to
you； boy？〃
Albert merely shook his head and drew a long breath； but his
grandparents seemed to be quite satisfied。
There were letters and telegrams awaiting him on the table in the
sitting…room。 Two of the letters were postmarked from a town on
the Florida coast。 The telegram also was from that same town。
〃_I_ had one of those things；〃 observed Captain Zelotes； alluding
to the telegram。 〃Fosdick sent me one of those long ones； night…
letters I believe they call 'em。 He wants me to tell you that Mrs。
Fosdick is better and that they cal'late to be in New York before
very long and shall expect you there。 Of course you knew that； Al；
but I presume likely the main idea of the telegram was to help say；
'Welcome home' to you； that's all。〃
Albert nodded。 Madeline and her mother had been in Florida all
winter。 Mrs。 Fosdick's health was not good。 She declared that her
nerves had given way under her frightful responsibilities during
the war。 There was； although it seems almost sacrilege to make
such a statement； a certain similarity between Mrs。 Fletcher
Fosdick and Issachar Price。 The telegram was； as his grandfather
surmised； an expression of welcome and of regret that the senders
could not be there to share in the reception。 The two letters
which accompanied it he put in his pocket to read later on； when
alone。 Somehow he felt that the first hours in the old house
belonged exclusively to his grandparents。 Everything else； even
Madeline's letters； must take second place for that period。
Dinner was； to say the least； an ample meal。 Rachel and Olive had；
as Captain Lote said； 〃laid themselves out〃 on that dinner。 It
began well and continued well and ended best of all； for the
dessert was one of which Albert was especially fond。 They kept
pressing him to eat until Laban； who was an invited guest； was
moved to comment。
〃Humph！〃 observed Mr。 Keeler。 〃I knew 'twas the reg'lar program to
kill the fatted calf when the prodigal got home； but I see now it's
the proper caper to fat up the prodigal to take the critter's place。
No； no； Rachel； I'd like fust…rate to eat another