“Hello, Gran’pap!”
“Hello, Dan! Out rather late, ain’t you?”
“Waitin’ for you, Gran’pap.”
“Well, I’m here, an’ glad to get here. How’d things go to-day? Gabriel get the potatoes all out? Have a good time at school, Dan?”
It was evident that he had not heard about the railroad, or he certainly would not have been in this cheerful frame of mind. After mature deliberation Dannie decided that it would not be advisable to break the news to him until after he had eaten his supper.
Gabriel came out to help carry the parcels into the house and put away the team.
“I got the suspenders for you, Dan—red in the middle, with sky-blue edges an’ pink posies on the end. How does that strike you, eh?”
“Thank you, Gran’pap. They’re very nice, I’m sure.”
They all went out to the barn with the team. Abner Pickett liked to see, for himself, that his horses were well taken care of. He seldom came from town in a more cheerful mood than that which possessed him to-night. Everything had gone his way during the day, and that fact was clearly reflected in his manner and conversation. When he went into the feed-room after the oats, taking the lantern with him, Gabriel took the opportunity to pull Dannie’s sleeve, and ask in a ghostly whisper:—