Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-28

I'm going to be more OF u 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.
If Walter Hoops had kept his word
things might have been different The
Gay he had left Compton he had an
nounced that he would never return
to his native village until he came
hack 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 misde-
meanor If not an actual crime In the
eyes of his neighbors.
Now he strobe down the snowy street
quite unmindful of the flying flakes.
He walked as though he had some spe-
cial destination in mind. Before the
gate of his old home he paused and
leaned against the post. The big square
house set in it's 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 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
SleighbeIls 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 q
side door. He did not follow a 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 it.
Come in, Walter" she said gently.
1--WE been expecting you. 1 heard you
were here"
Thank you, Emily" he said, stamp
| ing the snow from his feet and barring
his head to enter the warm room. 81
expect you've heard that I'm down and
out and that I've come home dead
broke"
Never mind that, Walter" said EN-
lily Wayland. with a 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-"
Waiter Hoops steadied 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 1t seemed to have
lost that look of careless good nature
that had marked him as easy prey for
swindlers. Walter Hoops had evident
~ found himself during that eight
years absence from Compton.
Emily" he said hoarsely, you re-
leased me from our engagement eight
years ago because l insisted. l was
poor and had been swindled out of ev-
erything. l was a great fool In those
days. 1 told you I'd come back rich
some day. Look at me now! I walked
down from the station. The clothes !
have on are poor, and
Stop cried Emily sofsIy. "I can't
bear it. Walter! I know it all; know
) you have returned poor, but am sure
you can show them yet what you can
do. 1 know you cant Let them
talkw
"They viii talk" said Walter IN a
curious tone. I'm not poor, Emily
Wayland! I'm rich-richer than ever
dreamed of being. I'm the rich New
Yorker who bought our old place. car
put horses and carriages and sutomo
; biles in II, and we need never work
another day as long as we live. If you
like me poor can you endure a rich
husband, Emily?"
After Emily had said that she would
try to endure his riches and they hat
broken the news to her invalid mother
Walter stood with her in the little par
lor decked with wreaths of ground PIN
and bittersweet berries.
81 put on these old garments pur
posely," he said, looking down into he
great dark eyes. "In starting my new
> life I must distinguish friends from
T foes. l wore these old clothes and wen
l from place to place wondering If an,
, one would offer me nights lodging o.
! invite me TO partake of Christmas
cheer for old times sake, perhaps, o.
T maybe charity, or maybe love"
! "And they didn't? she murmuret
l. pityingly.
t mo, they didn't. Those are simpl,
t gifts, dear, but they were all withheld
until came here to you. You offeret
me all these simple gifts Of Christmas
tide-pity, charity and love. I shal
l never DO worthy Of them"