Evening star., 1914-04-11
THE EVENING STORY.
HOME
Copyright, 1911. by W. werner.l

The storm that had begun with rain
had turned to SNOW. Great white clots
passed the car window, where Joan Hall
sat watching for the first lights of home.
She had left the main road for the
branch an hour before. There were not
a dozen passengers in the dim, swayins
car, which paused at every wayside sta
tion. She had looked about on entering.
but had seen no familiar face. In the
year that she had been absent in the city
the people seemed to have changed
Even the conductor different,
but the trainman was a young fellow
with whom she had gone to school. and
when he came through with his lantern
ne recognized her and stopped and spoke
to her Shortly after he left the train
slackened up before the kerosene lights
Of a small station.
Joan. suit case in hand. made her way
TO the steps The trainman helped her
down. Six PAGES away from the train
she ran into a big man In fur coat
Uncle Phin!' she exclaimed
Hello. Joanie," His voice was Very
quiet, but it held something that Joan
had not heard in long time-the gentle
kindliness of an old man speaking TO the
child he loves. He bent q little and she
kissed him. Then he took her suit case
a
her to where sleigh and black horse
stood.
"oh. Ebony Joan cried She broke
away and ran to the horse She patted
him. laid her cheek to his nose, and he
muzzled about. smelling for something
she had not brought. He's looking for
an apple. He hasn't forgotten, has he?"
Joan said, a little shakily, as she went
back to the sleigh and let Uncle Phin
help her in. He covered her up closely.
Don't seem TO me you're dressed very
va:.n," he said. But, then, it amt far
and it amt cold
Ebony dashed onward, the bells Jingled
and the snow flew, and Joan sat peering
for gimpses of the houses as they pass
ed Another sleigh with a lantern fas-
tened to the dashboard swerved out of
their way at the corner and greetings
were called back and forth
Then Ebony turned toward a low. dark
house that stood with a great expanse OF
ya.d about it
STEADY, boy, steady. warned Uncle
Phin as the runners held back on the
sidewalk
Ebony paused and began to shake his
head up and down to ease the bride
''Kun right in" Uncle Phin said.
Here's your satchel."
As he BANDED it out the door opening
upcn baei, porch was flung wide and
wo:tan stood there framed in iampllgnt.
we. : declare. Joanie." she said. And
Joan ie.t herself scooped up into big
".
siSsed stuaseiy on the moeth- Come
risl4. in. Joanie. There, let me set that
big, heavy valse down. Why. you're all
over Snow, cfi.d. Let me help you off
with your things. And you better shake
your hat. 1t $ loaded. Ny. my. amt
this fearful storm? When did you
start Joanie?"
Before noon. Martha"
And it's took you all that time to
come, It's a long ways, amt it?
bet you're just tuckered out. There's
your a-ntie calling. dear"
From an inner room came voice faint
Iy, JOAN
II guess you're all right to go in now."
Martha Hobbs said. Docs kinda par
ticular about dampness.'
She led the way through the dining
room decked as for company. through
the sitting room. with its red-hot stove,
to the door of bedroom. There she
paused and Joan went in alone.
She had not parted from her aunt COM
fortably. Ann Hall was an old-fashioned
woman who believed in her home next to
her God. She had at first protested and
at last openly fought against Joan's go
ing away to work. Her idea for Joan
was that she stay at home and when the
time came marry. Home. husband chill
She had no patience with the new free
dom, which was sending women out OF
their homes into the ranks Of man work
ers for a days wage.
The one drawback to Joan's home
coming was her meeting with Aunt Ann
after what had passed between them.
But she was coming back altogether
gone away. She had gone a girl; she re-
turned a woman. She had her experience
In the city, and had learned the real
value Of home, the safety of generous