rtoyd Dell Petey hadn’t really believed that Dad would be doing it gendingGranddad away．“Away”was what they were calling it．Not until nowcould he believe it of his father．
But here was the blanket that Dad had that day bought for him，andin the morning he’d be going away．And this was the last evening they’d be having together．Dad was off seeing that girl he was to marry．He’dnot be back till late，and they could sit up and talk．
It was a fine September night，with a silver moon riding hioverthe gully．When they’d washed up the supper dishes and then went outon the shanty porch，the old man the bit of a boy，taking their chairs．“I’11 get my fiddle，”said the old man，“and play you some of the oldtunes．”But instead of the fiddle he brought out the blanket．It was a big double blanket，red with black stripes．
“Now，isn’t that a fine blanket！”said the old man，smoothing it 0一vet his knees．“And isn’t your father a kind man fo be giving the old fel·low a blanket like that to go away with？It COSt something，it did—look at the wool of it！There’11 be few blankets there the equal of this one！”
It was like Granddad to be saying that．He was trying to make it eas—ier．He’d pretended all along that he wanted to go away to the great brick buildi-the government place，where he’d be with SO many other oldfellows having the best of everything…But Petey hadn’t believed Dad would really do it，not until this night when he brought home the blanket．
“Oh，it’S a fine blanket，”said Petey，and got up and went into thehouse．He wasn’t the kind to cry，and，besides he was too old for that．Being eleven，he’d just gone in to fetch Granddad’S fiddle．
The blanket slid to the floor as the old man took the fiddle and stoodup．It kvas the last night they’d be having together．There wasn’t anyneed to say，“Paly all the old tunes．”Granddad tuned up for a minute．and then said，“This is one you’11 like to remember．”
The silver moon was high overhead，and there was a gentile breezeplaying down the gully．He’d never be hearing Granddad play like this a—gain．It was as well Dad was moving into that new house，away fromhere．He’d not want Petey wouldn’t，to sit here on the old porch of fineevenings，with Granddad gone．
The tune changed．“Here’S something gayer．”Petey said and staredout over the gully．Dad would malty that girl．Yes，that girl who’d kissedhim and slobbered over him，saying she’d try to be a good mother tohim，and all…His chair creaked as he involuntarily gave his body a pain—ful twist．
The tune stopped suddenly．Granddad said：“It’S a poor tune excepttO be dancing to．”And then：“It’S a fine girl your father’S going tOmalty．He’11 be feeling young again with a pretty wife like that．Andwhat would an old fellow like me be doing around their house，getting inthe way，an old nuisance，what with my talks of aches and pains！Andthen there’11 be babies coming，and I’d not want to be there to hear themcrying all hours．It is best that I take myself off，like I am doing．Onemore tune or two，and then we’11 be going to bed to get some sleep a—gainst the morning，when I’U pack up my fine blanket and take myleave．Listen to this，will you？It’S a bit sad，but a fine tune for a nightlike this。”
They didn’t hear the tWO people coming down the path，Dad and thepretty girl with the hard，bright face like a china doll’S．But they heardher laugh，right by the porch，and the tune stopped on a wrong，high，star-tled note．Dad didn’t say anything，but the girl came forward and spoketo Granddad prettily：“I’11 not be seeing you leave in the morning，SO Icame over to say good—bye．”
“It’S kind of you，”said Granddad，with his eyes cast down；andthen，seeing the blanket at his feet，he stooped to pick it up．“And willyou look at this，”he said in embarrassment，“the fine blanket my sonhas given me to go away with．”
“Yes，”she said．“It’S a fine blanket．”She felt the wool，and re—peated in surprise，“A fine blanket--1 will say it is！”She turned to Dad，and said to him coldly，“It cost something，that．”