The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-12-21

blue sweater. with corduroy trousers
tucked into rubber boots He stared
@xpectantly at the petrifed group
around the Ere Mt the end Of The store.
but before he reached the stove they
had vanished upon one excuse or an
other Even Darrell hurried to the 9th.
er room to walt upon an imaginary
customer.
Walter Hoops stopped short. stared
after them and then shot a glance at
the embarrassed clerk.
Hello, Peter" he grinned. You
wanted outside or in the next room"
II guess not. How are you? You're
quite a stranger here" said the clerk
uneasily.
I'm going to be more of a stranger
after this" said Walter mysteriously.
and he left the store to call In at one
place of business after another to
meet with more or less embarrassed
welcome from old friends or acquaint-
ances.
II Walter Hoops had kept his word
things might have been different The
day he had left Compton he had an
nounced that he would never return
to his native village until he came
back a rich man. That he had broken
his word and returned poor and needy,
without stage fare from the station
and overcoatless. was a serious INSIDE
meanor II not an actual crime in the
eyes Of his neighbors.
Now he strobe down the snowy street
quite unmindful of the flying fakes.
He walked as though he had some spe
cial destination In mind. Before the
gate of his old home be paused and
leaned against the post. The big square
house set In Its wide lawns doomed
dark and gloomy In front of him. He
closed his eyes and dreamed of how
the place would look In the spring
when all the dropping elms were in
leaf and the grass was close shaven
and the barn newly painted and there
/ were horses inside and perhaps a bright
red automobile.
While Walter leaned against the
gatepost homeward bound Christmas
shoppers passed him, peering around
to look into his face. which he kept
steadily turned toward his old home.
Sleghbells jingled merrily. and lighted
windows lined the street on either side
From some place came the delicious
fragrance OF newly baked mince pies.
After awhile Walter walked on
through the snowstorm to a small,
many gabled cottage. where light
shone softly through drawn shades.
He pushed open the gate and walked
around through untrodden snow to
side door lie did not follow double
line of narrow footprints that led to the
front door Compton people were still
passing to and fro, and what Walter
Hoops had to say to Emily Wayland
was not for all Compton TO know-yet.
Emily came to the side door. her
slender form showing through the
ground glass before she unlocked 1t.
Come in. Walter" she said gently.
I've been expecting you heard you
were here"
Thank you, Emily he said. stamp
ing the snow from his feet and barring
ais iNth " NhlGl lAt W al III loOllls
expect you've heard that I'm down and
out and that I've come home dead
broke"
Never mind that Walter" said EN-
fly Wayland, with break in her
voice. I'm glad you did come to us.
| told mother what I'd heard. and we
are real glad that Cousin Rebecca
didn't come to spend Christmas with
us after all. because now you can have
the spare room we expected to be
lonely, and now we won't be
Walter Hoops steadicd himself
against the tall bookcase and gently
took one of Emily's hands in his own.
His face looked very keen and strong
in the lamplight It seemed to have
lost that look of careless good nature
that had marked him ms easy prey for
swindlers. Walter Hoops had evident
ly found himself" during that eight
years absence from Compton.
Emily" he said hoarsely. you re
leased me from our engagement eight
years ago because | insisted. ! was
poor and had been swindled out OF ev-
erything. | was a great fool in those
days. / told you I'd come back rich
some day. Look at me now. walked
down from the station. The clothes !
have on are poor. and
stop" cried Emily softly. II can't
bear it. Walter. | know 1t all; know
you have returned poor. but | am suro
you can show them yet what you can
do. | know you can! Let them
talkw
They will talk" said Walter In
curious tone. I'm not poor. Emily
Wayland! I'm rieh-richer than ever
dreamed of being. I'm the rich New
Yorker who bought our old place, can
put horses and carriages and automo-
biles In It. and we need never work
another day as long as we live If you
. like me poor can you endure rich
husband. Emily"
After Emily had said that she would
try to endure his riches and they had
broken the news to her invalid mother
Walter stood with her in the little par.
Tor decked with wreaths of ground pine
and bittersweet berries.
II pat on these Old garments pur
I,osely." he said looking down into her
great dark eyes. In starting my new
IL. al Il,