Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1918-01-17
WELCOME HOME

BY miLrsEo WHITE.

7, and the machine wns now. to all ap-
pearances "out OF commission" Swift
: ~ he examined the silent engine. then
: rudged on resIgncdly In the direction
Of lighted house not far away. The
place was evidently an olden-tlme
mansion.
D Tonight II seemed that oldcn-time
hospitality was being renewed. for
from many small-paned windows
; glowed lights within. At the end Of
the hall the man could discern through
the glass door an inviting fire Of logs
upon the hearth. Cheered by the pros
pcct Of comfort and help he raised the
knocker. Its appeal echoed through
the vacant rooms, where guests had
not yet assembled. upon an upper floor.
/ perhaps, they were removing their
wraps. preparatory 20 an evening Of
pleasure In the long room at the right.
where shaded candelabra hung with
evergreen. Greens were framed too,
about the pier glass at the opposite
side Of the room and John Galesworth |
gazing through the long room window. |
In this mirror beheld picture.
For moment he gazed in surprise,
wondering n after all. the picturesque \
mansion, the stately brilliant rooms.
were not part OF fPnclful vision. In
duced by hours of riding through a
frozen atmosphere; then John Gales
worth smiled. The reflected image In
the mirror was Of course in costume
for her masquerade ball. Many curls
Of an old-fashioned style Of hair dress
ing lay upon marble-white shoulders
rising from quaint roSe-colored satin
bodice. The full skirts Of the gown
enveloped the girls small figure like a
rosy cloud, below peepcd slippers laced
with ribbon. The girls wide blue eyes {
looked fearfully toward the door where
his knock had resoundcd. Encour-
aged John Galesworth again raised
the knocker.
"What is It please" called a swccs
voice. Z
As agreeably as he could through
The closed door, the man explained his
arrand, then, as though grudgingly. the
chained bolts were withdrawn AM the
beautiful girl peered out.
81 am afraid there Is no one here 10 a
help you-just now" she said, and 4
hesitated-"but II you care to stop in
and set warm" Gratefully, he ac-
cepted her Invitation; his fingers
were numb as he stood drawing of 3D.
his gloves before the fire.
81 will not detain you long from your
guests" John Galesworth said pleas
antly, and his was also a pleasant re- S
assuring face 10 look upon.
AT first I fancled had ridden down
the lane to u hundred years ago"
"You have" answered the girl Sud-
denly she smiled and seating herself
spread her wide skirts. This" she
waved her arms about, "ls all a part =
,f the long ago and Ia lone spirit re-
urned to hold revelry."
At her motion, he dropped into an
opposite chair. "And your guestsY" he
Questioned
The girl sighed. There are none,-
he replied.
I'm quick interest the man looked
bout. "Of course you are joking" he RI
aid, "you could not be In this great
lace alone"
For a moment she sat. silently re- IL
lrdlng him, then pointed through a
indow 10 tiny house nesting darkly
the shadow Of the great house wing.
Alone, except for my kind nelghbors,"
he answered.
The mans face was still perplexed. r
Pardon me. II do not comprehend"
p said, "All these decorated rooms
on, in your beautiful costume, alone"
In pretty seriousness she leaned to- r
ard him. presently | will try 10 get -
ZIP for you next door, that you may =
art your car-or drive 20 the village. r
he drifts are high. Having come upon
y tablcau you shall have an explana-
IN. Since ! have been left alone on
'phan, I've tried desperately hard to
aep myself alive In the city. Some
ny i didn't seem to III. Last night,
1siuonless, discouraged. / came out
one to my Inheritance, this vast place
II by my grandparents. A great white
lrden II has been. which In its pres
n desolation would neither rent nor
H. / couldn't tell quite what I in
nded to do, but the people next door
und me firewood and l lighted the
'om and made myself a welcome
,me'
I'm an old enchanted chest In the
irret. folded away with my childish
cams OF fairies and a fairy godmoth-
+. was my grandmother's party gown.
lnclfully donned II. when your sum-
ons rang through the house." She
ughed tremulously as she rose 10 her
ct. 1T was foolish TO bring back the
d dreams" she finished, ''for there
e no fairies, no fairy godmother. any Id
ore" IN
And suddenly John Galesworth ris-
& to his feet held the girls trembling
lnds In his
See here" he said. I'm not 80 sure 4
'out that. I've a little old mother 4