The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-05-22
Love andHome
Copyright. 1918. Western N.wspap. r union.)
By MILDRED WHITE

r
The cherries drip, drip, Of fall
rain sounded against the window and
the man went gropingly = draw the
curtain. When he had lighted the
gas he looked YEARLY around the dis
ordered kitchen. -.,.
Dishes from his hastily prepared
dinner still Uttered the sink, the
clothless table was uninviting for the
coming meal. Jared sighed as he
went about his accustomed duties.
Many years had passed since Ida had
taken her angry departure, neglect
full, silent years, yet his memories
were filled with the old haunting love.
She had been such brilliant, joyous
creature, the early years of their mar
ried life had passed like too-perfect
dream.
Looking back it seemed too pitiable
to be true. Ida had longed for beau
full things in her home, which
ared's constant toll could not man.
age to procure. She had been patient
with things as they were until Sylvia
came-Sylvia the baby, who was to
be the dominating thought of her
mothers life. Nothing could be fine
enough for Sylvia. Perhaps Ida had
built her ideal of her daughters
future around the life of a novel hero
ine of whom she had been reading.
Little Sylvia must live the broader
more fortunate life of this Sylvia of
. romance. In loneliness, the girl prom
Used to equal her prototype. And as
Sylvia grew happily among the flow
ers of her mothers garden, the sim
plicity of the little home became to
Ida unbearable. When Jared sadly
refused each new request for furni'
ture or romodelling, Ida would re-
lapse into sullen silence. Sylvia was
her fathers comfort then. With self
sacrificing effort he had purchased,
secretly, piano.
Jared could not know that the pol.
ished instrument had merely served
to accentuate its shabby surroundings
a After a discouraging day of tears
Upon Lida's part and angry retort
UGon his own, his wife had carried out
her long threatened purpose and left
him. How she managed to support
herself and the child in the city, Jared
did not know. When he heard from
her again it was but a brief note an
nouncing their daughters marriage.
Sylvia had written to him through
the years, line now and then telling
merely of her work at school. Jared
had not tried to see her; his heart was
too sore. And at eighteen Sylvia mar
ried. Ida, he knew, made her home
with the daughter.
Ten years he had lived alone in the
little despised house and ten lonely
years had made Of Jared an old man
The kettle was singing over the fire
this fall evening. as he went to an
swer a summons at the unused front
door. Into the narrow hall came a
mans tall figure.
81 stopped" said a pleasant voice
ITO see if I might find supper and
fYhefter in your home. The road is
.lmost impossible. shall not try to
run my car any farther in this direc
don."
81 am alone" Jared mumbled, "my
cooking is pretty bad. But" hi
voice shook with eagerness, "if yol
would care to stop over, I'd be mighty
glad of your company"
When the automobile had been rur
into the barn the old disappointed man
and the young successful one, sat op
posite each other at the supper table
The lack of all that was tempting
seemed not to affect the good nature
of tho visitor