Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-07-07
On the Lonesome
Road
By BELLE MANDATES

/ His mother watched him from the
window, her face full of pride and
love, her heart full of tenderness and
perfect understanding of what had
brought the tinge of sadness to his
brown eyes.
The horses, iubilant and frisky, as
farm horses are apt to be when not
hauling a load, required all Sydney's
skill. He stood up in the old bob
sleigh, the whirling snowflakes beat
ing his face, his strong, sturdy young
shoulders squared for action. His
mother threw a shawl over her head
| and came out on the stoop.
Sydney"
He refined up the horses. "Any-
thing more you want in town, moth
err"
Eyes. Sydney. want our little
Rhody. Fetch her back with you, for
the day. feel sure that she will
come if you go after her"
Mother, she isn't our little Rhody
| any longer. She is weaned away
naturally-and | would no more drive
up to Whit Ormsby's gilt-edged door
in this old bob-sleigh than I'd cut my
hand off"
The impatient horses would wait for
no further remarks, but sped on.
When Sydney had quoted them down
and they were Swimming smoothly
along the country road he found him
self wishing that his mother had not
awakened old memories-memories he
was trying so hard to efface. The mem
cries were all of Little Rhody," to
whom he had been big brother and
faithful attendant in the old days
when Ormsby's farm had joined
theirs. When Rhody was 16 years old
her fortunes had suddenly changed.
Whit Ormsby had patented manu-
featuring implement that had been a
big success. He had bought an enor-
nous house and moved into town.
Rhody was sent to the city to fash
ionable school for two years and that
had been followed by year of for
eign travel.
She had recently returned home and
it was reported that she was engaged
to Ellis Mordaunt, man about town.
whom Sydney felt justified in de-
nouncing as snob
Sydney performed the innumerable
little errands of his mother and sew
eral of the neighbors and then started
homeward. Out at the forks he halt
ed. THEME never knew why--he
took the lonesome road, although it
was out of his way and he was in
haste to get home. Rhody in the old
! days had liked this road and had Civ
en- it the fitting appellation. 1t was
a bleak, long stretch, with no protect
ing rises of land, and the cutting win
ter blast made him urge his horses
to still greater speed.
Within half mile of the turn to
his home he saw a stationary black
object in the road Closer inspection
proved it to be runabout. AS he
slowed up his shying horses he saw
that the single occupant was a girl.
Near range revealed the girl as Rhody.
i ooh, Sgd" she said, family, "the
f machine won't move and l am so
cold!"
In a trice he wrapped her in warm
robes and slowed her away in the
bottom of the sleigh. The horses were
off at canter, requiring all Sydney's
attention for some little time. As
soon as he could he turned to her
9 with reassuring words, but he received
& no response.
: She was colder than knew" he
: thought, as he shook her arm.
She murmured drowsily and relapsed
into a semi-slumber. Sydney stopped
the team and lifted her out into the
road A neighbor came along on foot
Here, Jed, Rhody's almost frozen
and l will have to walk her to the
house Drive my team home and tel
mother to have things ready"
:. Then he shook the girl roughly
Come" he urged, I'VE must run"
He fastened her tagging steps
down the lane and up to the door al
e which his mother stood waiting.
I. Two hours later he came into the
sitting-room, where Rhody, rested ant
revived, was contentedly ensconced il
a big easy chair.
f "Will you tell me-" he demanded
what you were doing in midwinter OF
the lonesome road in an automobile?'
Il don't know whether ] will OF
not" she answered. with the old de
fiant Tilt in her eyes. will you tel
me why you drove past our house to
day and never gave a glance TOWARD
u the window and you never came t.
r. see us?"
& Yes" he replied, quietly, looking
g into the depths of her eyes. Every
thing | do is for one reason. 1t il
because love you"
Then, to his amazement, with lit
tie low cry, she came rapturously int,
his arms.
Sydney, Sydney" she said, softly
after a little while. That is why
was on the lonesome road-becaus
love you! ! didn't kaow quite how
loved you until this morning whel
you drove past. | stood at the librar