Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-06-06
HOMES BEST
-
BY ADELAIDE r. KEMP.

Good afternoon, Aunt Mary" The
little white-haired lady thus addressed
turned quickly, and at the sight of
the pretty girl In the open doorway a
quick smile of welcome lighted up her
face.
"Why, how dye do, Phyllis2 How
are you, chlld2 Come right In"
Phyllis black eyes softened at the
warm greeting, but she shook her
head.
II can't stop-not today, auntie. It's
our Wednesday Afternoon club over at
Westport, and I'm secretary"
Aunt Mary's gentle face fell. "You
haven't been over for long time.
thought your club meeting was yes
terday, Phyllis"
IT said Wednesday club, auntle. Yes
terday was the library meeting don't
know when l can get away. You see
our Study club comes Mondays and I
promised to help the Red Cross with
their entertainment, and"
Aunt Mary had turned uneaslly. and
was looking across to the far side of
the valley, where In the upper part
OF the big Crawford meadow she could
see young farmer turning his big
team at the end OF furrow and plow-
ing steadily.
Don't you get tired Of being away
so much, Phyllls2" she asked.
Two bright spots famed suddenly
In the young woman's face and her
black eyes snapped.
II have to get away often, Aunt
Mary. Tom don't care for me as he
used to when we were first married.
All he thinks about In the wide world
Is his cows and his pigs. He cares
more for his big horses than for me,
his wife II must go now" She
turned, yet not so quickly that the
old lady did not see the tears that
twinkled upon the long lashes.
The road to Westport touched the
far upper end of the big Crawford
meadow where the blowing was go
ing forward. Tom Crawford could
hardly fail to see the neatly dressed
young woman who passed quickly by,
But there was no sign, even the slight
est, from either man or woman, that
they saw each other. With a set, hard
look on his face the young farmer
plowed steadily on. The long, straight
burrows fell exact and true. fash
of pride lighted his face occasionally
as he watched the steady, even work
Of his team. The hard look had deep
ened perceptlbly In Toms face the
past year. Just how the gulf had he
gun to widen between himself and the
girl he had married three years before
he hardly understood.
Late in the afternoon n shower came
up unexpectedly and swept down over
Westport-a torrent Of rain accompa.
MED by fierce wind. From the shell
ter of the club house Phyllis Crawford
looked out at the dOwnpour and the
big, wlde-armed naples that bent peril
ously. About her the girls were chat
terIng and busily eating dainty sand
wlches and tOOthsome cakes. She had
planned to go home with one OF them
and stay for supper. But this sudden
storm brought a great wave Of lone
illness to her. She thought of the
meager supper laid out for Tom on
the end Of the kitchen table. How des
Olate and unlnvlting after hard after
Moons work. The rain was about over
when a child with white, scared face
stumbled up the steps Of the club
house.
"Why, what's the matter, J0eT the
girls exclaimed, grasplng him by the
arm and pulling him into the room.
The boy looked at Phyllis with
frightened eyes. There's been an ac'
cident Mother told me TO tell you
Tom Crawford's horses were frlghten
ed and ran away and I guess Toms
hurt"
Phyllis stood quite still, staring out
the window Suddenly with set,
white face, she hnstened out the door
and walked swiftly down the road. A
sharply defined vision unfOlded Itself
before her eyes as she stumbled on,
n vision curlously enough not Of the
last unhappy year, but only the first
beautiful ones when she had placed
her hand in Toms and started with
him to build home. She reached the
fence Of the big home field and clam
bered over and so down across TO the
big barn.
"Toml Oh, Tom ("
There he stood before her in the
doorway covered with mud from his
hard tussle with his frightened
horses. He took her straight into his
strong arms.
"What Is II, Phyllle2 What did they
tell your
A sudden thrill huttered her heart.
He had called her the old pet name.
"rhey tOIi me" she stopped then
went on slowly--"Joe Hill said you
were hurt"
As his arms frightened around her
each knew again there was the old
sweet understanding. They looked
happily down into the quiet home val
ley.
~ must rub the horses down, Phyl'
Ile," Tom said presently. "We'll get
the chores done up early and walk
over to Aunt Mary's tonight"
ayes, dear. And ! must hurry and
get nice supper ready" answered
Phyllis softly.
Copyright. 1919. by the Mcclure Newspa.
per syndlcate.)
E....nn.. AnIs...I.