The Detroit times., 1917-07-07

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three trains leaving az about the
same time. II had been a hard year
and they were tired. but release had
come AZ last Moreover, they ex-
pected 20 meet again IN the fall. for
they had all been re-engagcd with
the exception OF little Miss Kort-
right. who was going home TO be
married. Miss Kortright had no
glove on her left hand and her soil.
taire dashed. Leona Johnson
watched her as she talked 10 Mr.
Boyd. the principal. Mr.. Boyd al
ways took pains 10 be nice 10 Miss
Kortright. he liked her. and he
would miss her. Leona wished that
be felt the same about her
Ieona Johnson was one OF the old
or teachers. She taught history and
mathematics. For IL years she had
had the same classroom IN the high
school. and for four years she had
been under Roscoe Boyd's super
vision. lie was a arm. impartial
unimpressionable superior. who did
his duty and earned his salary me-
thOdically. In his leisure hours he
wrote poetry that was frequently
published and sometimes paid for
but he did not like any mention
made OF the fact IeOna had read
some OF his poetry and II presented
10 her an entirely different person
from the big. dark. coolheaded man
who presided over the high school
When az last 4 train was called
and the time came 10 part he shook
hands all the Way round. Good
bye. Miss Johnson hope You II
enjoy your well-earned rest he
said
Thank you | hope the same fo~
you" she answered quietly Then
she hurried aboard her train. and in
few moments May wood began 10
be only a memor,
Leoua had 70 take n seats in the
end OF the train. where she had an
unobstrcted view OF herself In the
mirror She sat for a few moments
gazing seriously a. the woman OF
81 in black. who was herself. Her
small hat vas IN its second season.
and al rs best vas not very becom
ing 70 her gentle face. She had
reached the poin: where she felt
there really VAS not much use IN
buying new clothes unless her old
ones were worn out
t,eona reached home az o'clock
that evening Her father, gentle.
old and shabby. met her AT The sta
ton and took her home 10 her moth
er. also gentle. old and shabby
There was no excitement for them
ia this coming home OF their daugh-
ter. she had been coming home for
so many years that this had become
a habir with them and herself
II was ~ the supper table that
Mrs. Johnson remarked Your Aunt
sylvia phoned over from Penteld
today She wants you % come and
see her Just az soon's YOU can She
feels real poorly. and guess She 8
awful lonesome without Allie
told her ia tell YOU and lei her
know when you were ready 70
come"
why. there's no reason why :
shouldn't 90 a. once l.eona said.
"You might say next week, mother
Vacation az home was such dreary
business that l.eona was quite glad
AZ the end % q week 10 go 10 her
aunts. She always felt that she IN.
trudod upon her parents lives They
/ had lived so long without her that
they were more comfortable without
I her than with her. She was "a bad
as stranger. or AZ best guest in
I the house.
When Leona arrived A. tho Pen
| field station she carried her own
/ bag up 20 her auut's house. II was
large white house with pillars.
About II sharply trimmed ever.
/ greens stood Ike sentinels The red
K fan light and the side lights % the
/ old fashioned portal had cut glass
/ centres One OF them vas broken
/ and Leona as she rang the bell re.
uembered how il had happened. She
1 had cracked II with snowfall and
| her aunt had sent her home in dis
I grace. But since that they had be.
come better friends In fact. now
that the oniy child alice was mar.
ried and gone. Aunt Sylvia depended
10 a certain extent upon her niece
Mrs. Roberts answered the bell
She was exactly like Lcona's moth
CT. but with "A little more spirit. oh
! it's you. I.eona'" she said II was
Just beginning TO look for you. I'm
very glad 10 have YOU come.
don't feel very well. and the house
gets pretty lonesome sometimes"
After supper Mrs Roberts said
II went thru Allies chest and draw
ers today. Leona. You know when
she married she had an entire new
OUTFIT suppose II was foolish
extravagance, but she wanted II, and
| so-some OF her things are Just AZ
good AZ new. wished "a ! looked
them over that you'd help yourself
TO whatever you Ike and wear
them. Such thugs "A you dom
want shall send 20 a mission
school There's no sense In keeping
them in the house. you know"
mo" I,eona flushed a little. Blu
you know, aunt dear. that ! am
middle-aged woman, and Allie was ?
young girl. I'd look like fool n
che OF her pink rufied lawns"
Nothing Of the kind You'd loot
very much better than you do II
those black and gray things yot
wear Besides. you would be oblig
mr. me very much"
We'll, OF course" Leona laughed
little I'D do anything 70 oblig'
yous Aunt Sylvia"
SO the next day she chose n pale
blue bingham with white embroid
cred cuffs and collars and put IL on
The effect was not 30 ridiculous a.
the had expected. yet che was
shamefaced - she showed herself
to her aunt.