The Prescott daily news., 1920-05-31
A HERDS WELCOME
By DAISY M. rwoRT.

stood measuring off yard or rippon for a waiting customer.
 We can't tell just what time, but as soon as his mother knows that he IS in 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. lumination 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 lamp in your window. It will look awfully old-fashioned, but l suppose it Is the best you can do. If your folks didn't belong among the old | families, your poor little house would have been hustled off the street years ago." 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 vied 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 hero, it 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 runahout 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 were read at the afternoon clubs. Fran ces felt that hers were too sacred to show to anyone excepting her mother. It seemed to her quite too good to be true. that Conrad was on his way home at last; and it 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.
 It was not until she was on her way home, that the remembrance of Lou ise's irritating laugh came to trouble her.
 T don't believe will light our lamp at 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 be foolish," Mrs. Keith ad- vised. 'If Conrad is the boy think he is, he will 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. It is more than likely that Conrad will not come to- night, but walk in 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 btchen she took from the shelf large lamp. care fully trimmed the wick and polished the chimney until 1t shone. As she lit 1t, she fervently wished that she had a fairy wand, by wave of which she could change the feeble glow of the kerosene lamp into bright light that would send welcoming ray far down the street.
 Conrad never will notice f." she reflected dismally 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 1t was with surprise that she heard the clock strike eleven.
 "Oh do you suppose that Conrad has comeT she cried, sprinang up and
  running to the door to see if the otbe, houses were lit up. As she looked out she was astonished to find that inc street was in darkness, not light to be seen.
 Why, mother!" she called out. sfi Is perfectly black out-of-doors. Ever the street lights are out"
 
 As she spoke she caught the sound ot footstep and the next moment ia miliar voice said:
 "Is that you, Frances?"
 It was Conrad. "Of all dark place, this town is the blackestl" he cried ss he made his way up the steps anf into the hall.
 There must be some trouble at tb. IA