The Washington herald., 1908-08-09

Billy Sugden read the pamphlet through
from cover TO cover. from the first giar-
ins line. "Old Home Week" to the Inn,
print Of the '.BiairsviIle Mercury JOB
Printg on the last page Of the cover
Somehow the little booklet seemed 10
have almost the value Of a message from
home. He could even tell which part Of
the text Car. the editor OF the Mercury,
had written and which portions were me
product Of the Rev John Dudley. the
Presbyterian minister. who has literary
aspirations.
one paragraph in particular appealed
to him. Il ran. We have set a date
later than most Of the old home weeks,
50 that as We. the home stsyers. bring
to a happy and prosperous conclusion
the harvest Of The year. so may the home
comers bring with them the first fruits
Of their prosperity and their talent
Whoever had sent him the pamphlet
had understood this paragraph, and SUs-
den felt with a glow OF pride that his
Hew-found fame had reached even 10 the
old home II was only in the last few
months that he had gained the position
as an illustrator for which be mad fought.
and fame was stiU very sweet % him
I He could see visions Of the old home.
the quiet. shady streets. the trees nov
/ gorgeous in their autumnaI tints. as he
I sat down AID wrote a note OF regret 70
I the famous hon hunter who had sought
10 add him 10 her collection at Newport
for that week.
As the train drew near the old town
/ some weeks later. he peered from the
windows as eagerly as a boy
I On both sides Of che car excited faces
I were pressed against the glass locating
{ familiar spots. ard when al last the long
I line OF cars swung aro,---1 the point and
I the gray old bre4 kwaJer came into sight.
/ the car rang with cheers in which Sag-
I ceu's voice wss by no means the least
I vociferous-
L was pleasant 10 meet the reception
/ committee, with the pompous foruality
I ~ welcoming speeches. which were foi-
I lowed by the more genuine nandclasps-
7 II was stu more pleasant % make his
way Up the street and get G welcome
I on every hand. bur through it all Sugdeu
was conscious OF one lack-Jhe absence
I of one person who alone could make
I Old Home Week a success 20 him For
I the first time he realized that the week
/ meant 10 him Elizabeth Grant.ey. and
I il was 20 see her that he had come
Z As he crossed the foaming little river
I that cut the town in two he remembered
/ TIE last time that be stood on the span
RE and Elizabeth had leaned against
/ the ran. watching The swirling waters in
Z the uncertain moonlight. while gently
she had put from le- The hopes that had
risen in he- breast and had sent him on
Z his way untetrered by matrimonial prom
isss. II you really want me. you VIII
I come back for me without a promise. %
she had whispered I could not bear
10 think that I was holding you back in
YOUR career. Billy He had protested
and argued. but the girl had steadfastIy
Z held 20 her point She would not marry
him. she would not even consider an
enga cement II he was 70 fight his way
in the world he must be free
He had failed then 10 perceive her
point Of view. He had wanted her 70
marry him and 90 with him in search OF
"a career. When she rad refused he had
flung himself away. and he had not
. written. Now he knew that she had been
right and he Ionged o tell her So
There was a bureau Of Information
F. through which visitors might locate their
old friends. but the sweet-faced SRI in
charge Of the registry list shook her
head reEretfully. We tried 70 locate the
Grantleys 70 reach them with an an
{ noUnceme1t." she explained. but they
appear % have dropped from sight com
pletely- / VII make a note Of your ad-
dress in case we do locate them Sugden
thanked her and went out. feeling as
though. after all. his coming had been
. "a mistake He slipped into the opera
house 20 listen for a while 20 the formal
exercises Of the opening day. but he found
the prcsy oratOry riTesome. and soou
sought the open air Bridge and Court
streets were brought out brilliantly by
arches Of iucandesceut lights. and. IN the
Indian summer warmth. a pushing. per
I spring crowd made its way up and
down the streets and jostled each other
into the gutter. while the confetti was
scattered about and the feather tickIers
were everywhere in evidence
With a gesture OF disgust. Sug6el
turned from the crowd His mood was not
attuned 10 merry-uaking. and he sought
the more quiet parts of the town Al
most unConsci0Csly. he took the familiar
paths that led 70 the little cottage where
the Grantleys had made their home. and
presently he found himself leaning agsinsf
The fence that inciosed the well-kep;
garden Here he lighted a cigar. and
with the soft gloom o. the tree-shaded
yard for his screen he projected from his
fancy scenes wherein he and Eliza beth
had figured He could see the gay ham
mock swung between the apple tree and
the horse chestnut He could picture the
dainty figure in flmy white. and could