The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-10-11
PATRIOTISM THAT
WINS IN THE END


her for her prolonged absence.
II vas two years now since she
had coms to this land of sunny skies
to study music and Italian for six
months. At the end of that time.
the people with whom she had come
returned home, but May had formed
the acquaintance OF an English fam
lily who had taken up residence in
Florence, and they offered to take
her in charge. Her parents reluctant
ly consented to a continuance of her
sojourn, and she was now more loath
than ever to return. The charm Of
sunny Italy had worked it's spell, and
then, too. her voice was developing
so marvelously that she began to
have visions Of grand opera. Mem
cries of home ties we're becoming
had broken her engagement with Tom
Rowden. She could never have done
this except by letter. for there had
been fascination about Tom, and her
resolutions generally weakened in his
presence.
The letter twitting her OF being ex-
patriated was from her father, who SO
rarely wrote to her. He had launched
into eulogX over the United States.
and her duty to her family.
With sigh Kate laid down the let
ter and began 10 dress for dinner.
Her friends, the Gordons. were hav-
ing some repairs made to their house.
and in the meantime they were all
staying at boarding place.
She was reused from her refec-
lions of the stars and stripes by the
entrance of Gwendolen Gordon.
There Is countryman Of yours
below. May, who has just arrived
straight from the states.'
Really" asked May interestedly.
TITS so long since l have seen any
one Just over"
you will doubtless meet him at
dinner. He is tall, well-formed good
color, bright eyes, well-tubbed. Really
be might almost pass for an English
man."
And May was not yet so "expatri-
ated" as not to experience a tinge OF
resentment at Gwendolen's inference
that his passing for an Englishman
was the highest compliment she could
pay an American. The description
reminded her of Tom, and memories
If Tom always brought vague dis
comfort. He had merely acknowl-
edged the receipt Of the ring she had
returned, and had formally regretted
her change of heart" After the
long, friendly letter she had writ
ten him explaining her career
she had certainly looked for
more notice than that. She had
anticipated opposition. remonstrance
or a beseeching letter from him. pos
sibly visit from him. Maybe he, too
had changed" And there had beer
an unaccountable silence on the par
of her family, who adored Tom. HeI
| father, whose views on honor" ant
| the keeping of promise were so I'm
| placable, had never mentioned Of
limited at her action-simply inditet
an grafton on her country.
She went down to dinner with 1
thrill of anticipation at the thought o
meeting a live man" again, for sh'
| had secretly disdained the Italiani
and the men she had met at the Cor
dons. She was doomed to disap
pointment. No stranger appeared
| though she prolonged the meal al
much as possible.
! Later in the evening she was sittinl
on the balcony of her sitting room
when she heard the piano below
| There were a few random chords, ant
then there fell grandly on the air ;
deep baritone voice rendering tn
Star Spaagled Banner"
"Oh," she cried with indrawl
breath. BY the thrill of ecstacy sh
/ knew she was not an alien from he
native shores.
which was crowded with American
tourists drawn thence by the magic O
the home song. At the end of tn
second verse, May was suffering al
the pangs of nostalgia There wa
! something familiar in the voice, an
she worked her way nearer the plan
FOR a glimpse of the musician. Sh
was little faint when she recot
nized George Amsden. Toms particl
lar friend. The sight of him brough
vivid recollections of home, HON
friends and Tom.
She slipped into an adjoining littl
room to compose and adjust he
thoughts before meeting him.
vain she tried to stihe her emotion
She crossed the room which wa
unoccupied, and stepped out to tn
balcony.
A man turned, and in the colder
rayed moonlight she saw Tom, cage
and flushed.
May" he cried.
Toni" she said with little so
II am homesick."
Your father sent me to--brin
you home, May. Will you. go bac
with me9"