The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-02-07
WELCOME HOME
by MILDRED WHITE.
.p,r,sss. isi7. w.:ssrs S.vspsS:f Union.

The man uttered IN imprecation a.
his automobile came TO stop In the
middle Of the country road. Ills dest.
nation was the village two miles away
and the machine was now, ID all ap-
psarances suut Of commission" Swift,
y hs examined the silent engine, thea
trudgsd on resignedly In the direction
Of q hghtsd house not far away. The
place me- evidently IN olden-timt
mansion.
Tonight II SEEMED that o,den-tims
hospitality was being renewed, tor,
from many small-pansd windows
giowed lights within. At the end Of
the hall the man could discern through
the glass door an inviting flre Of logs;
upon the hearth. Cheered BY the pros
pect 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 to 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 q picture.
For moment ne gaxed In surprise,
wondering II after all, the picturesque
mansion, the stately brilliant rooms,
were not part of fPnciful vision, in.
duced by hours Of riding through Q
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 a quaint rose-cOlored satin
bodice. The full skirts of the gown
enveloped the girls small figure like
rosy cloud, below peeped slippers laced
with ribbon. The girls wide blue eyes
looked fearfully toward the door where
his knock had resOunded. EncOur-
nged, John Galesworth again raised
the knocker.
"what is 1t please" called a sweet
feminine voice.
As ngrccnbly as he could through
the closed door, the man explained his
errand, then, ns though grudgingly, the
chained bolts were Withdrawn and the
beautiful girl pcered out.
II am afraid there Is no one here to
help you-Just now" she said, and
II you care to stop In
and get warm" Gratefully, he &c
cepted her invitation; his fingers
were numb AZ he stood drawing of
his gloves before the fire.
II will not detain You long from your
guests" John Galesworth said pleas.
antly, and his was also pleasant 70,
assuring face to look upon.
AT first fancied had ridden down
the. lane to 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 ill q part
Of the long ago and Ia lone spirit re-
turned to hold revelry.r 2 - =
At her motion. he dropped into an
opposite chair. "And your guestsf' be
questioned.
The girl sighed. "There are none."
she replied. .as-
In quick interest the man looked
about. "Of course you are joking" he
said, "you could not be In this great
place alone"
For q moment she nat, silently re.
garding him, then pointed through q
window TO tiny house nesting darkly
In the shadow q to great house wing.
"Alone. except for my kind neighbour"
she answered.
The mans face was still perplexed.
Pardon me, II ! do not comprehend"
be said, "All these decorated rooms
you. In your beautiful costume, alone"
In pretty seriousness she leaned TO-
ward him. presently I win try to net
help TOR you next door. that you may
start your car--or drive to the village.
The DRIFTS are high. Having come upon
my tableau you shall have an explara.
ton. Since ! have been left alone nm
orphan. I've tried desperately hard TO
keep myself alive in the city. Some
way didn't seem to Mt. Last night,
positionless, discouraged, came out
alone to my inheritance, this vast place
left by my grandparents. A great white
burden II has been, which In Its pres.
emit desolation would neither rent nor
sell. I couldn't tell quite what I In.
tended to do, but the people next door
found me frewood and lighted the
room and made myself q welcome
home
I'm an old enchanted chest In the
garrett, folded away with my childish
dreams Of fairies and fairy godmoth.
er. was my grandmother's party gown.
Fancifully l donned It. when your sum-
mons rang through the house." She
laughed tremulously az she rose to her
feet. 1T was foolish to bring buck the
old Dreams" she finished. 'for there
are no fdsfies, no fairy godmother, any
more" n
And suddenly John Galesworth ris-
49, L.. 4. n