The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-13

OLD HOME AND NEW.

And 50 they went Elsa kept back
TO- OF Der tears tli the steamer sailed
bean - fret N. ~a- lone-oms: -.
S~nted % "a. them Ane II ~as cult.
" thsy could lsays her she ought 20 be
able 10 let them.
Ihsy'r- not your parents al. rerin-
90 hin once. aotly. Tot don't know
y. vas silent. His parents had dice
before he ~as :. he had made his on
wing ever since He wondered sadly
reason And then he FELT that Elsa va
seitssh- His heart hardened.
AFTER aShls Elsa ceased to talk about
more somber Norden isft the house one
INNS Nlth n muttered excuse that ne
nae an appointment with a man. she
lldnt object Two evenings later he
vent without an excuse. and then his
conscience smote him. Since ufe Na-
- enplsssAnt AZ couldn't be much worse
hlnsr and secretly began to look about
Tor a customer for his grocery store.
one The store was nourishinx. and he
90, an excellent oner. IL put hard lines
n MS face TO 20 over the shelves and
himself TO endure the Inventory. and
tried 10 work up an enthusiasm rur the
store that he could start in the old coun-
w. Ana inNoluntarily he picture a
Sluggish. shabby chop where only a
peasant or two a day came IN 10 dawdle
s SinI Ssrs1ta- lt vas purely imasira-
indistineuy. the shops OF the villages
across the water. But he could not
drive the sickening vision away. lie re-
membersd all his exciting planning when
pc had been able TO buy this store. n
naa been during the hrst months OF his
had helped him. But with a determined
VII Norden quit remembering and put
all his mind upon The inventory, for ar
important thing In the world 70. him.
III he hadn't married her she would have
gone back with the old folks and been
there.
lie did not tell Elsa. Their. was. OF
S~ourse, the chance that the sale would
IA through, and he did not want her to
get excited and then suffer more weeks
OF a~lsappointnent while he looked for
inventory. even going back TO an. store
after supper one evening. Elsa'r face had
gloomed over when he announced that no
va going ont. but she said nothing. lie
decided 20 tell her when he came hack.
Then when he came at u o'clock she
was asleep and he did not waken her. In
would. be dslighted-the sparkle would
come back TO her eyes. the laugh 10 he
nps. And he lay awake all hat night
wondering how ~ would seem TO wake up
every morning In a staid old Europoan
,luage. where street cars and hustle, bis
and throb Of Chicago were unknown. 1t
Nould be re groaned; then started
ia panic. Had Elsa heard
At daybreak he got VI. Tire small flat
was lonely In tho gray dawn. He ric-
turcd IL when they had gone 1t would
he dtsmautlcds other people would move
IN ION. well" he sighed miserahiv.
II was then the doorbeli changed
l"uuly-a most unusual sound a. that
time of day. when only milkmen ana
loming night workers were abrond. IL
reused Elsa from her sleep. she hurried
out - Norden hung open the door.
Mother iather'' she cried. "Why
w."
Two sheepish. tired old people came IN
and deposited all the baFge that their
Irail Old arms had been able TO lug.
There was . furtive shamed gladnass
20 the smile that they flung Norden and
Elsa .stnndirg opel mouthed and wide
eye before them.
"We've-we've come home" said FL
ais father finally.
Home echoed his daughter and SON
Yes" said Elsa's mother. untvin4 her
bonnet strings with eager hands. We've
come home. lit wasn't home over
Most every one We used 10 know had
died, her husband explained. and il
Tell the whole truth" his old wife
broke In sharply. 1t was so quiet ana
dull we juFt couldn't stand II. lit
wasn't America
I'm glad." said Norton, thankfully. to
himself that didn't sign the papers