Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-07-10
WELCOME HOME

BY MILDRED WHITE.

nation was the village two miles away
and the machine was now, to all ap-
pearances tout Of commission Swift
ly he examined the silent engine, then
trudged on resignedly in the direction
of q lighted house not far away. The
place was evidently an olden-time
mansion.
Tonight it seemed that olden-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 fAviting fire 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 or
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 a picture.
! For a moment he gazed in surprise,
wondering if after all, the picturesque
mansion, the stately brilliant rooms,
were not part of q fanciful 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 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-
aged, John Galesworth again raised
the knOcker.
"What is it please" called a sweet
feminine voice.
AS agreeably as he could through
the closed door, the man explained his
GRAND, then, as though grudgingly, the
chained bolts were withdrawn and the
beautiful girl peered out.
81 am afraid there is no one here to
hesitated-'but If you care to stop in
and get warm" Gratefully, he &C
copied her invitation; his fingers
were numb as he stood drawing off
his gloves before the fire.
II will not detain you long from your
guests" John Galesworth said pleas
antly, and his was also pleasant re-
assuring face to look upon.
"At first I fancied had ridden down
the lane to a 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, 'is all q part
of the long ago and Ia lone spirit re-
turned to hold revelry."
At her motion, he dropped into an
opposite chair. ''And your guests?' he
questioned.
The girl sighed. "rhere are none,"
she replied.
In quick interest the man looked
about. "Of course you are Joking" he
said, "you could not be in this great
place alone
For a moment she sat, silently re-
garding him, then pointed through a
window to a tiny house nesting darkly
in the shadow Of the great house wing.
"AlOne, except for my kind neighbours"
she answered.
The mans face was still perplexed.
"Pardon me, If do not comprehend"
he said, Gall these decorated rooms
you, in your beautiful costume, alone"
In pretty seriousness she leaned to-
ward him. "Presently will try to get
help for 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 explana-
ton. Since have been left alone an
orphan, I've tried desperately hard to
keep myself alive in the city. Some
way I didn't seem to fit. Last night,
pOsitiOnless, discouraged, I came out
alone to my Inheritance, this vast place
left by my grandparents. A great white
burden it has been, which in it's pres
ent desolatiOn would neither rent nor
sell. I couldn't tell quite what in
tended to do, but the people next door
found me f1rewood and I lighted the
room and made myself a welcome
home.'
I'm an old enchanted chest in the
garnet, folded away with my childish
dreams Of fairies and a fairy godmoth-
er, was my grandmother's party gown.
Fancifully dOnned it, when your sum-
mons rang through the house." She
laughed TREMENDOUSLY as she rose to her
feet. ut was foolish to bring back the
old Dreams" she finished, ''for there
are no fairies, no fairy godmother, any
more"
And suddenly John Galesworth ris-
Ing to his feet held the girls trembling
hands in his.
''See here" he said, 'I'm not so sure
about that. I've a little old mother
who is the next best thing to fairy