The Lamar register., 1916-06-07
NEWS FROM HOME
BY LESLIE GRANGER.


life The postman had just left two
letters.
The one from home she laid aside
for more leisurely reading. but the
thick white paper OF the other iden-
titled It with a wedding, and Laura
opened 1t eagerly.
To her dismay. the names of Alex
McCune and Harriet Turner stared at
her from the paper. Below was the
date OF the recent wedding. That was
enough! Laura dropped the invitation
and reached for her handkerchief.
Alex. her old-time sweetheart. had
deserted her,
The office. save for Laura, was emp
ty Mr. Jennings had put on his hat
and overcoat and gone home. While
Laura was in the middle Of another
good cry. he recalled something he
had neglected and returned
why. Miss Sheridan! What in
the world is the matter?"
"N-nothingi I'm not crying"
Then beg your pardon. Since you
are perfectly happy, presume there is
no need OF sympathy have an extra
Ilthtl lOulEllA lbl inc lsNllN AAub Rch
cert and thought you might make use
of it. II you care for music"
Laura sprang up. Thank you" she
exclaimed. dabbing at her swollen
eyes. II guess | was crying-wasn't
II"
1T looked a bit like it Won't you
tell me why?"
Mr.. Jennings sudden interest and
kindness startled her into answering:
"Nellie's gone and Alex is married and
I'm all alone and nobody cares for me
the least bit"
SO Alex is married."
She looked up surprised. What do
you know about Alex"
Well. got to know about him some
way Regular letters and all that. l
suppose Besides. l couldn't be deaf
TO an allusion you made over the tele-
phone one day Did-did you-like
him so very much?"
Laura bridled. Well. guess
won't die! II I'd really wanted him
I'D have taken him long ago"
Mr.. Jennings nodded Rpproyingly.
Laura went OMIT was comforting
to have some one so sympathetic: Il
don't know what to do now that Mel
lies gone. l really ought to go home
to the farm. guess"
DO you mean to say you came from
a wholesome place in the country to
this sin-ridden city Just for adven-
ture?"
Yes" wonderingly.
And father and mother and sister
and brothers and cats and chickens
and cows and everything on earth
worth while!"
Yes"
Why did you do it,"
Il never got any clothes. and
wanted"
Then you were a very silly little
girl and you'd better go back" lie
put on his hat and went out
For the first time in her life she
had seen Mr.. Jennings iolted out OF his
well-poised. gentlemanly self And he
had called her silly" and banged the
door He was very rudel Her cheeks
famed red.
He needn't think | want to go to
his old concert" She picked up the
ticket, meaning to tear 1t across and
It upon his desk where he could see 1t
In the morning. Then the words silly
little girl rang in her ears. He'll
only think me a baby"
So she tucked It into her bag. put on
her wraps and went home.
She also got ready that night and
went alone to the concert
The Lyric club proved to be glee
club, and Mr.. Jennings a member He
sang rich barytone which thrilled
Laura despite her effort to find 1t or
binary.
Toward the end OF the second half
she began to feel a delicious drowsi-
ness. Slowly Lauras eyeIids dropped
and at last she was asleep, her head
resting ever so lightly on the back OF
her plush seat.
Soon the concert was over, the cur
tain rang down and people started to
file slowly up the aisles to the door.
At last the hall was empty. or so the
usher thought whose duty 1t was to
turn on the lights and close the doors
Laura slept on peacefully in the black
loneliness OF the great place.
Then some one laid a hand gently
on her shoulder. She stirred.
Time to get up. is it. Nell?"
"Yes!" said a mans voice-very
s,n,grg.r .g-,a Mia