The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-11-02
26&Nse26 aL0&SEsaL0&NsdL3&N
She Went on the Stage
And That's How Mother Thorley Came to Visit
the Antipodes.
CIV. R. Rose in Cleveland Plain Dealer

gate and up the walk and caught her
mother in her arms and held her close
and then grasped Patience and held
her at arms length and smilingly
stared at her.
why, Patience" she cried, you're
a dear!"
Joy was looking well-wonderfully
well. She had been a pretty girl; she
was a beautiful woman. Her travelling
costume was becoming and artistic,
and her hat and boots and gloves were
quite perfect.
This wasn't the guise in which the
mother expected to meet her way
ward child, and her face was troubled
as they passed into the house, Joys
arm clasped around the waist of the
pretty Patience.
How well you both look and how
nice it is to be homeI" cried Joy.
And here is the very chair 1 loved
so well! And I'm a little tired and
a little hungry. I'd like a glass of
milk, and. mother, are there any of
those seed cookies in the stone jar?"
There was an air of constraint in
the little room, in spite of Joys gay.
ETY.. The mother looked at the new
conner doubtingly. She was a fine
lady-a little too fine for plain folk.
Daughter" said the mother with
little effort, ARE you still on the
stage?"
Joy laughed, a tuneful girlish laugh.
mo, mother, | left the stage near
ly nine years ago."
The mothers look grew hard as she
stared at her daughters fine raiment.
Are you married?"
Yes, mother"
Where is your husband?"
No Puritan pastor could have asked
the question in a more judicial tone.
But JOY only smiled
Hes in New York with our SON."
she answered. He had business
there, and would only let me come
here when | agreed to leave Donald
with him. Our boy is nearly eight
and you must be very good to me,
dears. or I'll get so homestick for him
that I'll run away" Her voice trem-
bled little. It's the first time I've
been away from either of them, you
see. but they are coming after me
in ten days-if you'll let me stay that
long.
The mother studied her daughters
face. Was this all play acting? II
so, 1T was wonderful art There Ger.
tainly were tears in joys laughing
eyes.
But the judge had not finished the
examination.
And where is your homer"
Joy laughed again.
I'm Australia. All, | can see that
you think it's just place of kanga-
roos and black men. Wait till you
see my Donald and his father" Her
tone suddenly changed. She arose
and came forward and took her moth
er's hands. Mother, dear, you must
believe that all is well with me. I'm
happy wife, proud mother. My on
ly regret is that we have stayed so
far apart all these years. But 1 have
been thousands of miles away, and
but let us forget all that"
There was one dart left in the
ihOlhtl QulNsI.
Il have asked Pastor Robbins to
call here this evening" she said. and
her tone carried on ominous flavor.
Dear old Pastor Robbinsl" cried
JOY. / will be so glad to see him,
know he always thought / was a
great mischief, but I'm sure he must
have forgotten me long ago"
doorway.
Il do not even know your name. "
she said.
1T is Porthman. mother" JOY re.
sponded. IL am" she hesitated the
fraction of a second, Mrs. Robert
Portnman. Our home Is in Sydney. +"
The white haired pastor made his
call that evening and joys mother
and Patience left him alone with her
in the little parlor
lie came back into the sitting room
TO say good night
Joy and I have been recalling old
times In a most delightful way" he
laughed She's very sorry for all
The mischief she did. and I'm going
to forgive her on one condition-she
is to sing for us next Sunday morn.
ing
And the mother half resentfully
murmured to herself "she charms
everybody. She makes people believe
whatever she tells them"
But that night she knelt by her bed
side and prayed that an her daughter
had said might prove to be true.
The next day was busy one in the
cottage. The presence of JOY seemed
TO bring new life and sunshine into
the quiet home And then joys
trunk arriyed-it had been delayed
because the stage was overcrowdeo
and Patlence-such delightful
Pstienoe--heiped her unpsok t. And