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

EAS0 TINE 70 Ime during the even
Ing Norden looked furtiyely over ne
Newspaper a. Elsa. Who was mendinr
and dArnlug On the other side OF TIE
center table. Her face was cain. bur
back OF the calmness lay depressed
Every q and then her
mouth went down n seemed 20
trenble. until she pressed II quickly
into trmness again. The nexspapar
oiumns danced untn he could not
see them Anger held him. IL was
NOT TAR OF her 10 be SO unhappy. Was
~ hls fauIt that her old parents. after
thlrty years OF America. had decided
that they wanted TO spend their last
years In the tiny village across the
ocean where they had spent their
youth And II they had been able 10
90 ard leave her. their only child.
he could bear TO let them 60.
But can't Lisa said. suddenly.
laying down the black sock that she
was heeling. She had looked up in
time 10 catch the reproach OF one fur
i've look Just think, II they get
SICK ID never get there in time. And
mother was ailing when she left. She
looked so old when she boarded the
steamer. can see her in NV dreams.
her white hair n little mussed when
she feu against you crossing the ganE
plank. And" Elsa stopped from in
ability TO keep on Her voice was too
tremulous.
NCAIFh HhiAtLlg sLdTt0 ~ me pa
per. He. too. was from the old coun-
Try. But he had come over when
he was :, and IL was the vaguest OF
vague dreams. America was his
homex-hts land. He couldn't Imagine
leaving II. II was preposterous OF
Elsa to expect him to sell his grow
ING business and go back TO that
~stagnant Ian 10 open a small shop
there. 10 raise their children, II any
came FhaFa ~ mFaunaNa "a 49,
die Il couldn't DO IT," he declared.
hstly. as he had declared once before
when they had discussed the matter
No" Elsa agreed. Il know how
you feel. Norden. Ind I never would
feel there 90 | feel here. But | wor-
~ so about them"
She sighed and slowly resumed her
Work on n sock. Norden's eyes
went back TO the newspaper. For
three months now the evenings had
been spent as sorrCwfully. Elsa
could not forget her old parents 70
Inc back lonesomely 10 the old home.
Norden could not overlook Elsa's
ombe face. She never laughed any
more. or II she did II was so obvious
" forced that he felt irritated. He
could not help thinking that she was
not fair. And vet in his gentler
moments he was Just enough 10 real
ize that she could not help her grief
and he pitied her.
They had tried 10 combat the old
folks resolution. For two or three
years they had comhated II and had
argued them into staying. but final
~ homesickness had worsted all ar
gumcnt.
Il want 10 30 back" said Flsa's
old father, dehantly. "Oh. lint
saying nothing against America. It's
a good enough place. \ little too
noisy. but it's treated me fair enough
L~eastways," with q chuckle. I've
saved up plenty OF money. got
sense enough to know couldn't
have done so well I'm the old
try: But ! want 10 go back. Before
die | want 10 see the house my
father n mother died in. want TO
roe their raves down by the oil
stone church. I've got TO GO" lie
looked al his wife. at Elsa. at Nor
den and his faded old blue eyes were
misty.
I've hate 20 leave You. Elsa" his old
h%urying YOU. But you can come over
IN a year or 80 for "A visit. And I. too.
want 20 see the old churchvard and the
house ] used 70 live in" her old eye
looked wistfullv out the window as
though she could see the youth spent in
that old house.