The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-10
LIGHTS OF HOME
BY PHILIP KEAN.


Stephen did mind the dark. The night was
tempestuous and back of him the moaned He
see the lights Of home; that had always been the
JOY of his return. His mother had kept candle
flame Stephens welcome. juttng rock hid
the cottage until one was almost upon IT, but he knew
like CLEAN. 1t with feeling of intense disap.
he faced blackness Following the disappointment
came fear Why had the ligh. gone out, -.
door and closed shutters. the forlornness of
inhabited building.
Stephen down weakly the front steps. He
was sure that something bad happened to his mother.
In his VOYAGE of two Years it had not been possible
Many things might have happened In That time
illness. death.
with feeling of deep foreboding he rose uncer-
tain where to go hut with the remembrance OF
former schooma,>. little Anne Martin. who had
comforted his in her loneliness.
He went down the path with heavy steps. then
light illumined the darkness with the light life
came back into the empty house the shutters in the
sitting room We're opened. and the candle could ba
seen straight and tall the table.
1t not the candle which Stephen looked.
however, but at girl who stood behind the table.
with blue ribbon banded around her shinng cnrIs.
The room behind her had the dreary look of place
not lived in. There fire the hearth.
work basket the window ledge. purrng cat
OF hdiness which chilled him.
From outside the window he called the girl Lit.
60 She came and looked into the darkness 4.
He caught her hand in his
Where Is my mother" 10 demanded
oh" she walled, has nobody told your"
NO, but the room tells me he said heavily.
She i'll" the girl said SOFTLY and al
light always In the window FOR Tonight
was late because stopped the wharf watch
the ship come in. never dreaming that were
it"
She opened the door in. 1T is a sad
homecoming she said, but you must let me get
your supper bought mine in town and Will
cook 1t here and then won't have to eat alone
Alone" he questioned.
Father is out fishing. There just the two OF
us left.
In the basket which she brought the steps
We're a loaf of bread. bacon and
There is tea left In Your mothers canister" said
little Anne; and If You VIII build the fire VIII
With the fire burning steadily In he stove
watched watch her mt from room To room Her presence
he had felt little need for domestic joys The ntns
New England village had not provided enough ex-
oi'ement to satisfy him. and he had travelled TO thu
end OF the world seeking adventure.
He had found It, and what after al il WORTH
lie had sense suddenly utter forlornness. With
his mother dead. there who cared. No
Que but little Anne lie had vision OF what itfs
some quiet place with this girl wife, Surely
there would be much that was pleasant In an es-
lstehce with such woman by his side. While hs
not conceited. he had little fear that he could
win her They had heen friends. always. and he did
not doubt that he. could rouse deeper feeling
He voiced something Of his feeling when as they
sat down at the table he said. y wish face
might be always opposite me- Anne
She was pouring his tea and she smiled at HIM
Perhaps l shall not away" he said.
stay In one place long she said
Perhaps II there was some one TO Keep me-
But she refused his meaning "you could
never settle down she insisted.
1t not the time the place press his
but when he home a week he asked
her to marry him. and she refused.
The spirit of the wanderer VIII upon you.'
she said Your shin sails next week you VIII want
your mother lived. waiting with the candle in tho
4 would stay with you" said ardently You
wenld hold man" But she persisted in her re-
You will want to with ship" she re-
peated you will restless and shall feel
am second In your thoughts
4 shall want go" he declared but when
the time for sailing came. he found himself drawn
ready for her voyage, fresh with paint. and there
was about her the atmosphere of mystery which
other end OF her would find her where dark
skinned people stood on white sands TO weeoms
bright -hued birds made their nests-a land OF ndo-
'ends a nna,zad that s.. Iowa ~ ts Ann.
thing Of recen, growth while all his NE his passion
about this fair haired girl which would keep him
eontented IN future Of inae'ion?
Even as he thought OF her, she came aud stood
Z want to go away stephen" she said and
for me. viii believe that you know yourself better
1t was not easy for him to he realized
when he Mas once his journey that it would
have been easy for him to stay. The spell OF the
sea was on him and he was before everything else.
a sailor
bat ne reailzed as time went on. there another
spell upon him-the tropic country the lazy life did
not satisfy He found himself buying, he had
bought before. useless trinkets but things which
would beAutify home. a carved chest. embroderies
and linens-things that woman would like And
when he bought ring OF curious work manshp. OF
beaten gold with dull blue stone, he that
he had made his mind. He knew. too, that he
had made his last voyage.
on the return trip his heart failed him. What
If Little Anne had not been true? What II her love
We're not waiting for him Other knew her
charm and other men had not sailed away and
left her.
She the dock when tho boat came in
and fearing to face the things he dreaded he took
his way to his mothers cottage. As he rounded
jutting rock ne looked for the light And II was
there, Anne waiting
Il shall never away again. he said a. she
welcomed him.
But won't you long for the / am jealous Of
it
has for me the charm OF the lights OF home There
is beauty to be found elsewhere and wonder and adj