The Washington herald., 1908-07-22
WHEN PAUL CAME HOME.
By LULU JOHNSON.

through her interest IN the benefit society
maintained IN the factory, and eventually
be had won her love
Then had come his declaration 70 her
father. his dismissal, and his search for
work elsewhere He had rapidly risen in
his new employment, and the trust de-
cided 70 give him charge OF the Masters
mill. when Guy Masters. weary OF the
struggle. sought the rest that lies beyond
the grave
The little floral Offering brought this
all back more strongly than ever. Per
haps he would see her. PERHAPS she
would explain why II was that size had
not answered his passionate letters he
had thought then she had determined 70
put him out OF her mind, but the flowers
told another story; she had always loved
pansies best OF all the flowers
he whistled her favorite air as he moved
about the Office. settling things 70 his
liking He was still wals-llng when he
brought Up in front OC the door of the
big safe Il was filed with q mass oF
papers most OF which Paul knew could
be Of Ettle value
Lr. Masters had had an almost suuer-
stitious dread OF destroying any paper.
Rapidly he drew from the pizeOnhoIes
the accumulation Of years and threw
them on his desk for examination. Far
back IN the safe he cane across z pack
age that caused his eyes 70 open wide.
Neatly banded with tape were the let
tiers which he had sent LE!ta eight years
ago.
He had sent them 70 LI.th's old nurse
20 be given % her. Only the outer en-
velOpe had been opened. and the inner
covers were sciu sealed Masters would
bribe 70 gain possession Of the letters
bit apparently his sense OF honor pre-
vented his reading them
Paul turned them over curiously. The
cheap paper was yeuowed and stained ~
best they had been poC- things; ths best
that he could AFFORD at the time he
smiled as he drew toward him his own
personal paper with its embossed head
ing upon the heavily laid surface. Many
things had changed in those eight years
he wondered = LiIith had changed with
the rest She had been seventeen then.
now she must be twenty-five. II she had
been married. as he had been told, she
must begin 70 look ma-Olly by now
Perhaps there were childrea-tt seemed
funny 70 think Of children n connection
with Lilith- She was still e child her
self IN his minds eye
Il she had never received his letters
he did Tot blame her for marrying
Doubtless she had thought that he had
fOrgotten-foTgo1ten As r he ever could
forget
So sunk was he n his reverie that Re
did not notice that some one had en-
tered. until a voice broke the stiffness.
and he sp-ang 20 his feet For an instant
II seemed as though the concentration
of his thoughts had naterlalLzed a vis-
ion. for before him stood the girI who
had been IN his mind al day
Don't let ne disturb you" she said
but I came 10 ask for some Of fathers
personal papers I thought It would he
best 10 wait until a representative OF ire
purchasers came before asking for them
rs It really you2'' he asked Tor 4
moment It seemed q vision, you look 50
Ike your old self I though marriage
would change you"
Don't tell he that you heard that ab-
surd report OF ny marriage Sir Henry
was three years older than father ani
he came over TO investigate the NIL:
that vas all Was that why you did uut
writer
Paul handed her the package OF let
ters.
4 found them IN the safe" he ex-
planned simply. Evidently our trust n
Mrs Willis was not well founded
CuTiously she turned the packet over
IN her hands The tears came into her
eyes as she realized that her father had
withheld the letters
This explains much she said a.
length = thought you ceased 10 care
I have never stopped loving you" he
said passionately. not even when read
that you were married"
Nor Z" she admitted. Not even
when thought you had forgotten.
Silently they regarded each other as
their hands met in a clasp more eloquent
than words Paul looked out through thu
glass screen az the busy works beyond.
This IS indeed g homecoming" he said
at last. and Lilith smiled response
(CoPgHsht, lsls, b :. c. Ree1)