Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1919-04-23

But there were many weeks bcfol
she did come back to Paris.
: Nib Henderson alighted onto OF
station platform from the four o'cloc
train which had brought her up til
valley. She had made the trip in
day-coach; her only baggage was
small black valisc.
No ono recognized her; few indcc
there are among present day Paris
ans who have lived long enough i
one place in this ono town
to know the prodigals when they re
turn. Uncle Joe Fodder, still drivin
his depot hack, knew Perhaps 70
that reason she avoided him. Sh
did not take carriage up to tn
business section. She walked up slow
ly, as though at last there were n
need for hurry,-no need for hurr.
ever again. She had no place t.
reach. She had just come home
, She was still stylishly dressed. TIL
smart hat concealed the iron-gra.
hair. The modish veil with it's fielt
of black polka-dots hid the tcll-tal'
wrinkles and traces of cosmetics. Sh,
was yet a wcll-built woman and in
deed would pass as far younger thar
the Paris of ycstcr-year knew her tt
be. But Mibb was old; somehow Il!
she walked up Depot street to Mai,
she was broken and burned out ant
bowed. She made a pathetic figure
as she came up Depot street in tho
soft afternoon of a late Spring.
When she got up to Main street
she stopped frequently on the corn
ers as though undecided where to 60
or what to do. Reaching the taxi
stand in front of Joe Farrcll's quick
lunch and finding a driver whose face
was strange, she suffered him to put
her bag in his machine and she
climbed in the back under the auto
top which partly hid her identity
from those who might recognize
her. A few years before there
would have been no such
attempt to keep her visit private. She
would have gone up Main Street as
Uncle Joe Fodder had once express
ed it: with all the pomp and i'm
portancc of a fat wash-lady in the
back seat of a new Ford" But
Mibb's star had set now. And Mibb
knew that it had set. All she wanted
was to flee away to some quiet place
somewhere like a ii ed and perhaps
wounded animal; let nature heal
those wounds. Yes, Nib was very
tired. Pitiful was her souls yearn-
ing for Alsatia.
"Where to-" asked the Chauffeur.
"Takc me. out to the Purse
place on Cobb Hill"
The driver started his engine and
Mibb went through town with no one
to see; no one to care.
The car was but a few moments
covering the ground that in a far-off
happier year had seemed an after
Moons journey to reach. How small
and scrubby the little town was, after
all!
1t turned around the corner by the
bridge; it climbed the long sandy
grade; the raspberry and blackberry
vines brushed it's dusty sides as it
skirtcd the road along the stone wall
banked with birches and dwarf will
lows and sumach and hiding the poor
Purse place from sight. With dcx-
ferrous twist it headed up into tho
yard-thc yard with its short-croppcd
grass, behind the old stone wall
where the sweep had once stood but
banked now by the fragrant lilacs
and shrubbcry of the wild roses, the
Yard where there were. no farm im-
elements lying around and where
'cncc-lail was wcdgcd firmly against
he rusty rcd doors of an empty
)ain.
She alightcd from the car. 1t wait
I'd for her with its engine running.
She went up the two brown flag steps
md knocked on the panels.
The raps of her knucklcs sounded
ike thumps on coffin. She tricI.
he split and shrivcn door. 1t was
0cked.
IL guess there's no one homc,"
he faltcrcd.
No ono home indeed. Poor Mibb!
~ could O. told you that in the
irst place." replied the driver. 81
|idnt know but what you'd bought
he place, or sOmethin'; that's why
didn't say nuthin'."
doesn't Mrs. Purse live here any
ongcr? She isn't dead?"
"Naw; she held an auction last
week and went to live with Aunt Julia
darlington down in the village"
Mibb swayed YEARLY on the door
top.
"Takc my bag and leave it ut the
House. How much do | owe
GU? I'll walk back"
She paid her tariff. The car
acked out and headed for the village.
When the soft chuf- chuf.chuf of its