Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-27
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
nv Mary D0u0laas
BY Mary Douglass.
HONEl
Chapter XL.

Chapter XLI.
The day was cold and chilly--thc
sort of March say that has q threat of
winter in it's voice. But my heart was
singing with a new hope-I was on my
way homel "IIome;" how beautiful that
! word sounded in my ears. Since Mothers
death | had understood what it really
mcans--that atmosphere that wraps one
in, with loving thought and tenderness
/ bought my ticket at the Grant
Central for Tyre with the feeling that
was going home. Past the flying gray hil s
and bleak trees that watched from tho
train window, ] pictured Tyre rs a rosy
country that would take me In rs ] have
longed to be mothercd these last, long,
busy months had said good-by to IL all, f,
TO Mrs Newton with her new hope al
most FULFILLED For knew it was not the
need of war that took her TO London, but
the desire to be near MIR. Trcmalne. How
far away that all seemed! Almost like
dream | had dreamed, than the real ex-
perience that it was.
Too. had said good-by to Mrs.
kimball; and heard of JamIe-that
he was fighting IN the great advance
that was sweeping our army ON. Dear
jamie | should always be glad that
] knew him, not worry that | had had
to realize love. unloved.
And Peggy | had said good-by to, until
the cottage was in order and her engage
rncnt finished in May, she thought.
Through the morning | thought over
all the things that had been and lald
them back in the pigeon holes of my mind;
so much experience finished and put aside.
Tyre ] had scarcely time to lean
from the window and give 1t n fleetlng
look picked up IN Y bag and hurried
down the train TO the door On the plat
form. | saw my trunk standing on end in
lonely state, and the rcce ing train leaving
me equally lonely,
Not a solitary loungcr decorated the
tiny platform looked around help
leSsly at the bare gray country at the
store opposite that showed no sign OF life.
Not a very warm welcome home'
turned the handle of the dIngy little
waiting room door and walked into its
musty cloScncss An old man with a
mustache stained brown, peered at me
with watcry eyes
Gould anyone take my trunk up
for me-
Wall" began he feebly. Z don't
sec as how-N here's it going to-
To Mr. Theodore Willis answered |
Theodore Willis he mumbled |
scratching his head, YOU don't mean |
that there shack on the Parks farm
Yes. vouchsafed desperately. |
there's only one Theodore Willis, isn't |
there
That there place amt been used,
now let nc SEQ
But how can | get thcrc2'' ] asked |
anNiouSly
Il might sec if JEFF could hitch up !
and get you there
H., lift ms ii the clcseaess Of the dark /
waiting room Through stained and dirt,
window. viewed the surroundir
country Bare fiat and bleak emo 81 Il
looked even 70 my hopeful cyCS
Outside, q wagon drew up and . man
long and lean and straw colorcd. loopcd
Tie rcinS anout the whip and came into |
the waiting room BE YOU the young
woman hc began cycling me with |
mc,litativc interest, seems 10 me like |
you better stay AZ Ma liigCs and not
IL getting 10 the shack while
~. shall 20 night UP, ! SAID with
decision VIII YOU take my trunk.
too please"
III, drove dowr the main street that
sh,ncd >raggling house nr 50 and the
dEi ir,,s general store. How has Tyr
fallen ! laughed q m. self, u keep my
waning smnts up
On pl. ia vc radc through country
that cam. Is de-olatc IS a deserted
r, 1or Tie >'raght White road turned
81 l..>f irFoa wide avenue. trees ma4e j
barred arch through which wc circled
tn s. last -.4w q house tig and white and
zones f.clug inc from the distance Tm~
ING place could IT be mine
The Parks place grunted the driver,
V.ylhg - j with his wip ! might have
know. i was not mine.
Past ii We made an abrupt turn till |
the white house was hidden from view
4 country schoolhouse loomed up in all |
its pathetic loneliness hy tie roadside,
chill. bare and forpiddlue
Here you bc.
SIT srill Il moment vi,viAg my new |
horne rom The height u my seat. !
- cl lcn't mean that2 ..>ked pointing |