Smyrna times., 1919-12-24
WELCOME HOME
BY LIZZIE M. PEABODY.


glorious sunshine the day it welcomed
home its returned sons from the va
riOuS branches of war service: bells
rang, bands played and banners na> Cd
everywhere.
The beautifully staged floats each
representing its bit OF history each
bearing loyal men and women who had
in their appointed way fought hard to
help win the war, were also generously
applauded as they passed on their way.
After the parade came the banquet
and speeches, and then dancing in the
town hall Certainly each returned man
and boy should have felt his heart
warm with appreciation of the hearty
welcome given him, and Stephen
Glenn honorably discharged that very
day, and who had arrived in town only
short time before the parade start
ed had honestly appreciated every ef-
fort made in his behalf as a returned
soldier, and yet there was a diSsatis,
fed look in his dark eyes as they
roved around the hall, even as he
danced with the prettieSt girl and best
/ dancer there.
He was looking for little Betty
! Plummer and she had not vet an,
| peared.
Seven lab6riously written letters
which should have passed the censor,
he had sent to her
Even while keeping step to the gay
music he sorrOwfully admitted to him
self that as far as he was concerned
he might as well have tied a stone to
each letter and have dropped it into
the deep sea; for he had not heard
from her Members of his company
had received letters from the home
town more or less regularly. but tLr
Sensi,iveness which made him hide
deep his hurt feelings, comeeIcd ST.
lcnce. and he had asked no questions
of thcm
Although he was fond Of dancing ne
suddenly decided early in the evening
to go home; and as result soon
found himself walking rapidly in lie
direction of the Old Plummor home.
stead, whore Betty lived with her
srandmothes, ana which was i'm me
opposite direction from his boarding
place
Supposing that Betty mad stayed
away from the dance in order to avoid
him, lie argued to himself surprising
even that she preferred spending the
evening at home with someone vbo
had taken his place in her heart
There really wasn't any reason why he
shouldn't stroll down by the oId-fash-
ioned gambrel-roofed white COTTAGE
where she lived and he was soon
standing close to the old fdrrowpd
stone which after many years Of serv-
ice as a part of the busy old grist
mill had been chosen by Beuy'S grand
father as a suitable stepping stone 10
his front door. In the sitting room
there was CHEEKY l4sht and outside
the old-fashiOned flowers which grew
about the sides of the old stone
seemed to sleepily nod to him a wei
come as they SWayed toward him in
the pale moonlight Then the unex.
pected happened. From force of habit.
and almost unconscious of the act. he
raised the old brass knocker ana
knocked upon the door
1t was Betty who came. opened the
door quickly, and then stood gazing at
him.
Without being wholly successful She
tried to veil the look of happiness
which sprang into her blue ewes as she
recognized him, and checking an excla-
nation, with hands hanging Imply by
her sides, She silently waited for him
to speak.
Don't stand there looking like that,
Betty :" he burst out You must have
known that l couldn't keep away; that
would have TO learn from your own
lips your reason for not answering nv
letters to you. Maybe they weren't in
teresting, maybe they weren't well
written; but, oh, Betty! couldn't you
have written just once?" Her express
sion changed and she tried to speak
calmly, but her voice trembled and
broke
you told me yOu would send your
address, and ! waited for you to write.
AT first l was very patient, and then
but oh, l didn't get any letters,
Stevie-" and for moment she coy
cred her eyes with both hands.
feeling of perfect comprehension
crept over him. Couldn't he under
stand well enough how hard it had
been to bear the strain of waiting?
Eagerly he caught at her hands and
drew them swiftly away from her face.
Seven letters, Betty!" he cried
Seven letters 1 wrote and sent and
would have written II more, only l
made up my mind at last that you did
not care for my letters, or for me-" In
MS voice was the ring of truth. Truth
shOne in his clear, young eyes, and all
ler doubts and fears vanished; but
with gloomy fOrebOding he asked:
Can't you believe me?"
'Yesl Yes!" she replied hastily.
And no one else in all the wide world
,OuId ha SO OvaIpOmaO Sba Sofd eoftI,,