The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-07-01
A RISE IN
VALUES

CaStletOn neld ner INVITATION
crushed in his hand. 1t brought back
wildly to his mind a picture of long
ago-the lonely country lane, the rus
tic figure of that sweetheart OF old,
the girl to whom he had scarcely given
a thought for years. Now a guilty
feeling came over him as he thought
of the promises made, of the good-by
kiss, Of the correspondence that FOL
lowed and then died a Pickering
death
Poor little thing! And she must
have been waiting for him all these
years. And he-he had come to the
city, and in the mad rush to make
his own way had buried her memory.
Now, out of the past, came this IN
vitation asking him to come up and
renew the friendship CT tie past.
Poor little girl! She had been
mourning for him all these years, and
guilty wretch that he was, he had
been the means of making miserable
a life all too restricted, anyway, on
account of it's environment.
Dea, dear! 1t was all too bad! But
make some amends, even IL they Eeces-
sarily had to be fleeing. He would
run up on the first train. 1t would
give him a chance to see his native
place once more Not that he relished
that. The cheerful graveyard, the aw-
full hotel, the familiarities OF old
schoolmates did not appeal to his mu-
nicipal sensibilities.
But the girl. Certainly after all
these years she was entitled to have
her heart soothed.
He looked up the time table, found
the train left in two hours, and then
sent telegram.
After it had been sent it suddenly
| occurred to him that it was foolish
thing to do. People in remote country
districts were not used to such things.
1t would doubtless brighten her, but it
was too late to remedy that.
He gathered in box Of candy on
his way uptown and a bunch of violets
| Certainly no two things were calcu-
lated to go any straighter to the
! heart of the demure little country lass
whom he could now see in his minds
eye standing wistfully in the gateway
as he waved to her down the road.
AS the train moved into the sta
ton and slowed down he jumped off,
fairly bewildered. The old station had
been torn down. The smart looking
affair in its place seemed almost an
anomaly on the landscape. But he
had no time to think.
Hello, Jack! Awfully good Of you
to come. Jump right in. You're =
dear thing"
The girl who squeezed his hand so
frankly, and, indeed, so athletically-
could it be she? 1t did not seem pos
sible!
Before he knew it she had tossed
belongings, and they were off down
the road at 80 miles an hour.
Nellie, is it yours?' he ex-
claimed.
Sure! But say, Jack, why didn't
you telephone instead OF wiring? You
know l have long distance right in
my room. Dear me, it would have
saved nearly two hours, and l can tell
you I've had to scurry around to get
some decent people in to dinner. But,
they are foming, although some have
, 40 miles 10 come. Here we are! Old
homestead rather decent place since it
was made over, eh? BY the way, did
you bring Wall street edition with
you? I've been SO busy-all due tc
you-that / haven't even had time tt
ask about the market. Candy! AnG
flowers! Oh, thanks" tossing then
ON the table. Lovely of you, but why
: didn't you get Maillard's? Never mind
Sit down and have a smoke. If yo,
don't like these cigarettes 1 have an
other assortment in the other room.
Before he knew it she had dragge,
him into the modern looking countr,
house and deposited him in chair.
will you excuse me few min
utes?" she called, halfway out Of tn
room. Il want to wigwag neigh
bor."
But he ran after her and held he
back
Good heavens, Nellie" he gaspe(
what is the meaning of all this? VIII
didn't you let me know? I've bee
thinking of you all these years as
demure little country girl with
broken heart. Am l in a dream
: Everything has changed Can this b
e. really you? What has happened" .
Nothing but a real estate boon
my dear. I've been so busy givin
week-ends and going to Europe an
playing bridge and motoring tn;
really Twill you forgive mel ac
ually haven't had time to call you I'D
He gave one fleeting, bewilderiu
gaze at the smart establishment, ;
the charming CLINT of landscar
through the window, flanked by IL
box hedge, and then came swiftly bac
to the girl.
" But, Nellie" he protested, "yc
: might have taken the time We
might have sent for me long befo1
this, even for old times sake"
= And she smiled back
Perhaps I should, Jack, old no
! but you know 1 was afraid that son
Of the old-time love might come bat
to me, and if it did-weH, l wanted
have a bit of a fling first, for v,
h know, old chap, that you people fro
ii the city are sometimes - awful
slow!"