The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-04-17
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
CALLED ON A man
BY II. M. EoeERT.

sewing upon the stoop. Fancy, after
all these years."
Lillian looked up gravely. IL
heard It too" she said.
1T must be IA years since he was
In Port Smith," continued Miss Simp.
son. "And he hasn't showed his face
among the neighbors yet. Weren't
you and he sort Of"
''Engaged?" asked Lillian, conscious
OF her heightened color. "Yes-once.
Dear me, who would ever think of
you as having been engaged. my
dear!" soliloquized the visitor. THAT
isl mean. of course. you and seem
to be such settled creatures"
That was a bitter word, but 1t was
true one. The women who stayed at
home In the little New England town
had just half the opportunity Of being
married that those had who went
away. That was matter Of statistics.
There were twice as many women as
men in Port Smith. And Lillian had
stayed at home.
Her sister Anna had gone to the
city to be a stenographer, and had
married rich lumber merchant. She
wrote from time to time, but never
came back. Her other sister, Marian,
had become a hospital nurse and mar
ried a rising young doctor. Lillian
was thirty-three. She had stayed at
home because she was the eldest, and
somebody had to care for her mother.
Caleb Trevethan had been the only
son of old Hiram Trevethan, who own
ed the homestead at the top of Maple
avenue, nearly half mile distant. He
had left Port Smith, as all the young
men did, and, like all, had left his
sweetheart behind, promising to re-
turn.
Lillian could remember that last
night as wildly as II 1t had been yes
terday.
Il shall come back for you, dear"
he had said. And I shall write to
you every week, or oftener. Promise
me that you will wait for me till then"
IT'LL when?v asked the girl, feeling
utterly lonely and desolate.
Three years." said Caleb, clenching
his fists to emphasize his words. In
three years time / shall come back
and take you away with me. Promise
me, dear"
Lillian promised. Then she did some
thing that she had never done before;
she raised her lips to his. And the
night air became suddenly fragrant.
and her heart swelled with happiness.
So Caleb went away, and for two
whole months his letters came. He
was doing we'll, he said; he had po-
sition with big mill. 1t might be
less than three years.
Then the letters came less often and
grew more formal. And at last they
ceased.
Lillian lived on with her sick moth
er, until her death, year before. Her
sisters left, one after the other, and
married. Lillian heard of Caleb at
times. He had become a partner at
the age of thirty. Then the big con-
solidation had come and he was a
power in Wall street before he was
before, she had read the news of his
engagement. She was amazed to find
herself so little moved.
The past had become obscure, and
half forgotten. The girl who had
loved so passionately was not she but
somebody Of whom she thought with
wistful, kindly smile.
And Caleb had been three days in
the old homestead. He was alone, save
for the old housekeeper. He had not
brought his car, but had walked up
from the station at night, like any
traveller. He must have passed her
house.
Lillian! What do you think, ex-
claimed Miss Simpson on the following
day. Have you seen todays papers ?
No? Well, Caleb Trevethan is a
bankrupt. He had to run away from
New York. They're talking of prose
cutting him. And he's hiding in his
house because he doesn't dare face
the people who used to know him"
"And-and his wife," asked Lillian,
timidly.
Il guess she's not the kind that
would stand by him when he's in trou-
ble," answered Miss Simpson. Though
now / come to think Of 1t, whom did
he marryw
Lillian did not know what she an
swered. Caleb returning, to revisit
his home, was one thing, but Caleb In
trouble! That was quite different To
her amazement she found that all the
old feelings had come rushing back as
If the thirteen years had never
elapsed.
She put on her hat and started up
the street. On every porch women
were rocking in the cool Of the after
noon. watching the passers-by. One
hailed her.
Come ip, Miss Darrell" she said.
You look as II you we're on an err
rand, though"
Eyes," answered Lillian. I'm going
to call on Mr.. Trevethan."
An electric shock would have
stunned the other less. Lillian going
shamelessly to call on her old beau