The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-09-10
The Native Charm

the letter his mind reeled dizzily in
rush Of conflicting emotions and then
overmastering all else came the
mighty sense of power.
Lying dormant and unexpressed
within himself had long been the de-
sire to become a potent factor in the
great world beyond the limited scope
Of Merritown. and now, by the will
of David Thare, the opportunity lay
within his hands. Great vistas were
opened up to him and he gasped their
possibilities eagerly.
1t was with only slight pain that
he faced the parting with his mother
and the faint regret at the thought
of Ruth was tinged with remuneration.
The stirring vital things lay beyond,
out in the mighty, pulsing cities in
the great uneXplored. He felt the
first definite pain when Ruth raised
her eyes to his in a mute protest and
battled bravely with her tears. But
his sorrow was for her rather than
himself.
At first his letters were long and
frequent They breathed of tender
ness and teemed with the exhiara.
ton of his new life. He told OF the
great whirl and glitter of the social
world into which he was allowed an
occasional glimpse and marveled ut
the brilliant wit Of women and the
splcndor of their costumes.
But at length his letters grew short.
er, less frequent, and finally ceased.
It was not until year had passed
word of his homecoming.
After the first glad, welcoming
thought, the mother glanced with a
sudden fear about the dingy old home.
How insufficient and intolerable 1t
would seem to him now. Her gaze
fingered wistfully about the dearly
beloved things. Each one had it's own
little niche and use, but with a tight.
ening of her trembling lip, she had
everything taken to the attic. She
felt a sense of strangeness at the
clement of modern art which she had
IL fused into the place, but tried to
oyermastcr it by the thought of the
relief which the change would bring
to her son.
Ruth glanced wistfully at the white
muslin dress. 1t was the prettiest
ore she had, and yet it seemed so in.
adequate. The memory of those first
e.)quent letters flashed upon her of
t . marvellous gowns which he had
{ scrbed. Then she remembered
MI, r,f al
her had brought her years ago.
{ had put it carefully away, a lit
t. frightened at it's lustre; but sud
{ My, with flushing cheek and beat
liz heart, she took it from it's place
AID with momentary sense of shrink
ing held its shining folds about her
figure. Then, also, there was the dia-
mond pin which she had never worm
There were but few diamonds in Mer-
ritown, and something within her re-
coiled little at its brilliance. But
she sent the silk away, and at the end
of week it was returned glisten-
ing marvel Of art. She put it on with
a reluctant timidity, but uttered
trembling incredulous cry as she
gazed upon her reflection.
When Westcott jumped from the
train at Merritown his step was eag-
er and impatient. He drew great
breaths Of the keen, fresh air and his
eyes fingered about the familiar
streets. He ran up the steps of his
old home with an impetuous, boyish
gladness and clasped his mother in his
,r,ifh
His eyes flashed about the rooms,
at first incredulously and then with an
agonized comprehension. He drew
a long breath, and closed his eyes.
"Mother!" he protested sharply.
Don't you like it?" she questioned
anxiously.
He was silent for long while, then
raised his eyes to her face; they were
tear dimmed and wisUful. When he
spoke, his voice was husky and the
words came brokenly.
Il have been longing for the sight
of the old rooms, just the feel of the
home and the touch of the dear old
things. 1t was that and--somethng
else-which brought me back.
WdHL IL al just DIS ii was, LRe ora,
stiff pictures, the wax flowers in the
little glass case ana eveIytA ng
mother"
She uttered glad little cry ard
ran breathlessly to the atlic. He .ol-
lowed with eager strides, and !ogother
they worked and runmagcd until it
was all just as it had been.
At length with quickly beating
heart he went to Ruth. She would be
waiting for him, he knew. He meas
ured her limitless love by all else in
this pure, wholesome old town of his.
He would find her perhaps on the
bench in the orchard, with the broad
garden hat just revealing a tantaliZing
glimpse of the soft brown hair. Per-
haps she would wear the dear old blue
gingham dress, the one which he had
watched her make. Yes. surely she
would wear that, as it would seem so
infused with pleasant recollections.
Ilut II was a now and hpWillarinp