The Detroit times., 1917-07-07
TheEpenin9 Story
Spirit of Youth.
Ccopyrirht. lsis, ~ W Werner

school was out for the long yaca.
ton and the teachers were goins
home The were gathered az tir
station. where they had a choice OF
three trains leaving AZ about the
same time. II had been hard wear.
and they were tired. bu, release had
/ come az last Moreover theJ eA-
pccted 10 meet again in The fan for
| hey had an been rc-eng3 gcd Win
/ the exception or little Mss Mort
right. Who was going homo lo ot
married Miss Koriright had no
glove on her left hand and her soil
taire flashed. Lcona Johnson
watched her as she talked 60 Mt
Boyd. the principal Mr. Boyd al
WAYS took pains TO be nice 90 Miss
kortright. ne liked her and he
would miss her. l,eopa wished 'hai
he felt the same about her
Ieona Johnson was one ~ The OLD
er teachers she taught history anc
mathematics For I years she had
had the same classroom IN he high
school and for four years she had
been under Roscoe Boyd's super
Nl%ANAs AAf ~ NN tNtt.+ +-tt 80 -
unimpress ionable superior who did
his duty and earned his salary me-
thodically In his leisure hours he
wrote poetry thai Nas frequently
published and sometimes paid for.
buf he did not like amy mention
made OF the fact leona had read
some OF his poetry. and II presented
10 her an entirely different person
from the big. dark. cool-headed man
who presided over the high school
when at last q train was called
and the time came 10 part he shook
hands all the way round Good
bye. Miss Johnson hope You'll
enjoy your well-earned rest" he
said.
Thank you. I hope the same fo-
you." she answered quietly Then
she hurried aboard her train, and ia
a few moments haywood began 20
be only 4 memor.
I.eona had 70 take q seat in the
end OF the train. where She had an
view ~ herself in The
mirror. She sat for few moments
gazing seriously al the woman 81
81 in black. who was herself Her
small hat was in IFS second season.
and al its best was not very becon
ing 10 her gentle face She han
reached the po'n: where she fell
there really was not much use IN
buying new clothes unless her old
ores were worn out.
Leons reached home al o'clock
that evening Her father, gentle,
old and shabby. met her AT The sra-
ton and took her home 20 her moth
er. also gentle. old and shabby
There was no excitement for them
in this coming home OF their daugh-
Ter; she had been coming home 70
so many years that this had become
a habit with them and herself.
II was al the supper table m;
Mrs. Johnson remarked Your Aunt
sylvia phoned over from Penield
'oday She wants YOU TO come and
see her just as soon's YOU can. She
feels real poorly. and ! guess shes
awful lonesome without Allie.
told her ia tell you and lef hrr
know when you were ready 10
come"
why. there's 10 reason why
shouldn't 20 a. once l4eona said.
You might say next week. mother.
Vacation az home was such dreary
business that Leona was quite glad
al the end OF week 70 20 o her
sunt's She always felt that she in
truded upon her parents lives. They
had lived SO long without her that
they we're more comfortable withou,
her than with her She was as bad
a. stranger. or AZ best a guest in
the house.
When Leona arrived ~ the Pen
field station she carried her own
bag up 10 her aunt's house II was
a large white house with pillars.
About il sharply trimmed ever
greens stood like sentinels. The red
fan light and the side lights OF the
old-fashioned portal hal cut glass
centres One OF them was broken
and Leona as she rang the bell re-
membered how il had happened She
had cracked II with a SNOWFALL and
her aunt had sent her home in dis
grace. But since that they had be
come better friends In fact. now
that the only child Alice was mar.
ried and gone Aunt Sylvia depended
20 certain extent upon her niece
Mrs Roberts answered the bell
She was exactly like Leona's moth.
OF. but with a little more spirit oh.
it's you. Leona." she said. Il was
just beginning 70 look for you I'm
very glad 70 have YOU come
don't feel very well. and the house
gets pretty lonesome sometimes"
After supper Mrs Roberts said
Il went thru Allies chest and draw
ers today, Leona- You know when
she married she had an entire new
outfit suppose II was foolish
extravaganza. but she wanted H. and
so-some OF her things are just az
good as new ! wished as ! looked
them over that you'd help Yourself
70 whatever YOU like and wear
them Such things "a you don't
want I shall send 20 mission
school. There's no sense In keeping
iher In the house. you know
No" I.eona flushed little But
YOU >anow. aUnl dear, that | am A
middle-aged woman, and Allie was a