"Then stay there, for you've made it for yourself," she answered, and
turned away from him. As his voice called her again, she broke into a
run, flying before him over the green meadow until she reached the lawn
of Jordan's Journey, and his pursuit ended. Then, hurrying through the
orchard and up the flagged walk, she ascended the steps, and bent over
Reuben in his chair.
"Grandfather, I am back. Are you asleep?"
The robin that had flown from the railing at her approach swung on the
bough of an apple-tree and regarded her with attention.
"Grandfather," she said again, touching him, "oh, grandfather, wake up!"
CHAPTER XX
LIFE'S IRONIES
When he came down to breakfast next morning, Abel heard of Reuben's
death from his mother.
"Well, you can't tell who's goin' to be the next," she concluded grimly,
as she poured the coffee.
In spite of her austere manner and her philosophical platitude, Sarah
was more moved in her heart than she had dared to confess. From the
moment that she had heard of Reuben's death--when she had gone over with
some of her mourning to offer Molly--she had ceased to think of him
as an old man, and her mind had dwelt upon him as one who had been
ruthlessly cut off in his prime--as he might have been had the end come
some thirty or forty years before.
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