The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-11-02

II may seem strange that they
hadn't heard any word from Joy for
ten years, but they lived in little
town that was tucked away in far
corner of New England, twenty miles
from the nearest railroads. little
town where there was no local news
and no thirst for news from the far
away outside world.
The tidinss that Joy was coming
home reached her mother in the form
Of a telegram, for BIfarville had lit
tie used wire that dropped into the
office of the Kiota house. and then
madam wilderness.
Joys mother stared at the yellow
envelope as it shook in her trembling
hands.
Joys dead" she hoarsely whis-
pered
And Patience turned white and
clutched at the nearest chair.
"Nobody's dead" said Tommy Lar
kin, who had brought the message
from the hotel.
He was lingering in the doorway,
anxious TO near the comments the
telegram would draw out.
The trembling fingers released the
message.
Joys coming home!" the mother
gasped. with a glance of stunned be-
wilderment at Patience.
ANY answer" Tommy Larkin
asked.
NO" replied Joys mother sharply
and Tommy withdrew.
Joy has been gone ten years. In
all that time they had heard from
her but twice. She had written to
them from Boston, and then from New
York. Neither letter had been an.
Swered
There were two girls in the Thorley
household. Joy and Patience. Joy
was the elder by eight years. Their
father bad died when they were
young. He had left a little property
just sufficient to provide for their
wants. But their wants were few un.
til JOY grew into womanhood.
The girl did not take kindly to the
narrowness and dullness of Briar.
Vile They chilled her vivacity, they
bred in her a desire to go away-to
see the world to meet live men and
women.
And then her voice was another
lure. 1t was the choir of the old brick
church that developed the fact that
she possessed this pleasing gift The
old organist, out of his limited knowl
edge, had done his best to train the
bird-like soprano, and a wonderful
woman-wonderful in the minds OF
Briarville, who was making book
about out-of-tne-way New England
hamlets, had heard JOY sing and told
her what mistake she made in hid
ing her talent in that musty little
town, and she gave JOY her Boston ad
dress and told her to come to her
which you are very certain to do
my dear" she smilingly added.
There were several unpleasant
scenes after this. joys mother was
unbending in her prejudices. JOY had
, will OF her own. There was Pilgrim
Is well as Puritan blood i'm her veins
II ended when Joy, then IN heI
twentieth year. left home with hei
little stock of wealth. drawn from the
savings bank that day, and sought hei
'Ortune i'm faraway Boston.
There had been no leave taking. II
would have meant a scene of unpleas
ant recriminauons. SO JOY ran away
and was quickly swallowed up in the
Ieething and wicked world beyond the
briarviue borders.
They heard from her when she
5ached Boston. She had founC
friends who were interested in he
poioe She was well and happy. She
gave her address. but the letter re
NAMED unanswered.
The second letter came from New
York II was dated eight month,
later Joy had found employment
with an opera company. She was do
ing we'll, although It was hard and ex
aotinS work. She wanted to heal
from home.
But her mother had torn this lette
into fragments and flung It on tn,
bed of Goals in the big fireplace
Joy has gone on the stage" sh,
said to Patience, and did not mention
her hayward child again. Going OF
tho stage was the final unpardonabl,
evidence Of profiigacy.
The telegram huttered from tn,
trembling hands
Coming home" the mother muir
INJURED. 81 knew she would-somD
time"
I'm glad, mother said Patience
timidly, IL want to see my sister s.,
much"
But the mother turned away will
a quick frown, and Patience could no
see that she was crying.
So JOY came back Early the mex
afternoon she alighted from the BIZ
numbering stage and ran through th