The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-10-03
PATRIOTISM That
WINS IN THE END
BY BELLE X. MANDATES.

her for her prolonged absence.
1t was two years now since she
had come 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 q continuance of her
sojourn, and she was now more loath
than ever to return The charm Of
sunny Italy had worked Its spell, and
then. too, her voice vas developing
so marvelously that she began to
have visions of grand opera. Mem
cries OF home ties were becoming
dimmed, and three months ago she
had broken her engagement with Tom
Rowden. She could never have done
this except by letter, for there had
been a fascination about Tom. and her
resolutions generally weakened in his
presence.
The letter INVITING her of being ex-
patriated was from her father. who 80
rarely wrote to her. He had launched
into eulogy over the United States,
and her duty to her family.
With a sigh Kate laid down the let
ter and began to 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 rehec-
lions of the stars and stripes by the
entrance of Gwendolen Gordon.
There is a countryman Of yours
below, May, who has just arrived
straight from the states"
"Really?' asked May interestedly.
Its SO long since I 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
he might almost pass for an English
man"
And May was not yet SO "expatri-
ated" as not to experience tinge or
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
of Tom always brought vague dis
comfort. He had merely ackpowl-
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, Temonstrance
or a beseeching letter from him, pos
sibly a visit from him. Maybe he. too,
had changed" And there had been
an unaccountable silence on the part
Of her family, who adored Tom. Her
father whose views on honor" and
the keeping of promise were 80 i'm
placable, had never mentioned or
limited at her action-simply indited
an Grafton on her country
She went down to dinner with a
thrill of anticipation at the thought of
meeting a Five man" again, for she
had secretly disdained the Italians
and the men she had met at the Cor
dons She was doomed to dlsap-
pointment No stranger appeared,
though she prolonged the meal as
much as possible.
Later in the evening she was sitting
] - Ill
when she heard the piano below.
There were few random chords, and
then there fell grandly on the air a
deep baritone voice rendering the
Star Spangled Banner"
"Oh" she cried with indrawn
breath. BY the thrill of ecstacy she
knew she was not an alien from her
native shores.
She hastened down to the salon
which was crowded with American
tourists drawn thence by the magic of
the home song At the end Of the
second verse, May was suffering ali
the pangs of nostalgia. There was
something familiar in the voice, and
she worked her way nearer the piano
for a glimpse of the musician. She
was a little faint when she recog-
nlzed George Amsden, Toms particu-
lar friend. The sight OF him brought
vivid recollections of honSe, hoMe
friends and Tom.
She slipped into an adjoining little
room to compose and adjust her
thoughts before meeting him. In
vain she tried to stife her emotions.
She crossed the room which was
unoccupled, and stepped out to the
balcony.
A man turned, and In the golden.
rayed moonlight she saw Tom, eager
and flushed.
May" he cried.
Toni" she said with little sob,
II am homesick!"
Your father sent me to--bring
you home, May. VIII you go back
with me?"
At the underlying tenderness In
his tone, all her footlight aspirations
dropped from her.
Yes, Tom" she said meekly.
Three months later when Gwen.
dolen Gordon read the account OF
Mays wedding. she commented:
How very American it was to
come down the aisle to martial
music!"