The Lamar register., 1920-06-16
A HERO'S WELCOME
BY DAISY M. TwoRT.

U tuIsDu CIlel as she puustu Dtsl'ir tic
counter behind which Frances Keith
stood measuring OF yard OF ribbon
Tor u waiting customer.
I'VE cant tell just what time, but as
soon as his mother knows that he is 10
town, she Is TO phone everyone on the
street. and We all are going to turn
our lights on, and so have a grand H.
Illumination by way OF welcome home.
As you have no phone, you'll have TO
keep watch, and when the lights go on.
you can set a lamp in your window. 1t
win look awfully old-fashloned, but |
suppose 1t is the best you can do. II
your folks didn't belong among the old
families, your poor little house would
have been hustled of the street years
ngo," and with an Irritating laugh, Lou
ise turned away.
Conrad Roberts was the most popu-
lar boy IN the small town of Firsex,
and the girls had We'd with one an
other In showering attentions upon him
while he had been in France.
During high school days he had
shown a decided preference for the so
ciety OF Frances Keith. but now he
was coming home as a hero. 1t was ru-
mored that Louise Pearson would be
the favored one. Not only was she un-
usually attractive, but she was also a
favored child OF fortune, and her pret-
ty clothes and her runabout were the
envy of all the other girls.
Louise herself took It for granted
that Conrad would seek her out first
She was sure he had written to her
more often than to any Of the other
girls; an opinion which Frances did
not share.
Extracts from Louise's letters found
their way into the local papers, and
we're read at the afternoon clubs. Fran
ces felt that hers were too sacred to
show TO anyone excepting her mother.
II seemed to her quite too good to be
true. that Conrad was on his way home
nt last: and II was with difficulty that
she calmed herself sufficiently to pay
attention To the wants OF the people
who found their way into the store
that afternoon.
II was not until she was on her way
home. that the remembrance OF Lou
ise's Irritating laugh came TO trouble
her.
''I don't believe I Will light our lamp
~ ALL" she said to her mother. "It
will only emphasize our poverty. and
seem such a stingy welcome to Conrad
when all the other houses on the. street
are brilliantly lighted"
Don't he foolish" Mrs. Keith ad-
vised. ''If Conrad Is the boy think he
Il. he win realize that old-fashioned
things are sometimes the most depend
able. Set the light in the front win
dow. and run up the shade. so as to
give the house cheerful look. then
busy yourself about something that will
take up your mind. II is more than
likely thnt Conrad will not come to-
night, but walk 10 upon us sometime In
broad daylight, when we least expect
him."
With sigh OF impatience. Frances
arose to follow out her mothers sug-
gestion. Going into the kitchen she
took from the shelf large lamp, care
fully trimmed the wick and polished
the chimney until II shone. As she lit
n, she fervently wished that she had a
fairy wand. by n wave Of which she
could change the feeble glow Of the
kerosene lamp into p bright light that
would send welcoming ray far down
the street
Conrad never win notice IT." she
reflected dlsmally as she placed the
lamp In one of the front windows
Having done this. she returned TO the
living room. where she settled herself
to work upon the sweater that WAS TO
make her little sister happy on Christ
mas morning.
So busy was she that the minutes
slipped by unnoticed. and II was with
surprise that she heard the clock strike
eleven
"Oh do you suppose that Conrad has
conner" she cried, springing up and
running to the door to see II the other
houses were III up. As she looked out.
she was astonIshed TO find that the
street was in darkness. not light to
be seen
"why, mOtherr she called out. 'ft
Is perfectly black out-of-doors. Even
the street lights are out"
As she spoke she caught the sound of
footstep and the next moment a IA
mlliar voice said:
''Is that you, Frances1"
II was Conrad. "Of all dark places
this town Is the blackestr' he cried