The Press., 1920-01-29
aeeee oeee42 2s9eese 9e99R99999R ee999R999R99SSg9 t,99Sg
WELCOME HOME
By LIZZIE M. PEABODY.
z Peeess e se e99Re4 e4RsR9e 99eS99RR99 9RR999R9gge 99RS

- | glorious sunshine the day it welcomed home it's returned sons from the va rious branches of war service: bells rang bands played and banners way ed everywhere.
 The beautifully staged floats, each it's bit of history, each bearing loyal men and women who had in their appointed way fought hard to help win the war, were also generously appauded as they passed on their way.
 After the parade came the banquet and speeches, and then dancing in the town hall. Certainly each returned man and boy should have felt his heart warm with appreciation of the hearty welcome given him, and Stephen Glenn, hOnOrably discharged that very day, and who had arrived in town only a short time before the parade start ed had honestly appreciated every eff fort made in his behalf as returned soldier, and yet there was dissatis- fled look in his dark eyes as they roved around the hall, even as he i danced with the prettiest girl and best dancer there.
 He was looking for little Betty Hummer, and she had not yet ap- peared.
 Seven laboriously written letters which should have passed the censor he had sent to her.
 Even while keeping step to the gay music he sorrowfully admitted to him. self that as far as he was concerned he might as well have tied a stone to each letter and have dropped it into the deep sea; for he had not heard from her. Members of his company had received letters from the nome town more or less regularly, but the sensitivenesS which made him hide deep his hurt feelings. counseled Sl- lence, and he had asked no questions of them.
 Although he was fond of dancing he suddenly decided early in the evening to go home; and as result soon found himself walking rapidly in the direction of the old Hummer home stead, where Betty lived with her grandmother, and which was in the OnpOsite direction from his boarding place. Supposing that Betty had stayed away from the dance in order to avoid him. he argued to himself suppoSing even that she preferred spending the evening at home with someone who had taken his place in her heart There really wasn't any reason why ne shouldn't stroll down by the Old-fash toned gambrel-rOOfed white cottage where she lived, and he was soor standing close to the old furrowec stone which after many years Ot serv ice as part of the busy old gris mill had been chosen by Betty's grand father as suitable stepping stone t'
 his front door, In the sitting room there was cheery light and outsld
 the olt-fashioned flowers which grey
 about the sides of the old stOn
 seemed to sleepily nod to him wei
 come as they Swayed toward nm Il
 the paie moonlight. Then the uneA
 pected happened. From force ot habl'
 and almost unconscious of the act h
 raised the old brass knocker an
 knocked upon the door.
 >--
 door quickly, and then stood gazing a
 him.
 Without being wholly successful sh
 tried to veil the look of happlnes
 which sprang into her blue eyes as sh
 recognized him, and checking an excl;
 nation, with hands hanging Imply b
 her sides, she silently waited for hil
 to speak.
 "DOn'r stand there looking like tha
 Retty!" he burst out. You must hay
 known that I couldn't keep away; ths
 I would have to learn from your oW
 lips your reason for not answering IT
 letters to you. Maybe they weren't Il
 teresting, maybe they weren't we written; but, oh, Betty! couldn't yt have written just once?' Her eXpre sion changed and she tried to spes calmly, but her voice trembled al broke.
 "You told me you would send yo1
 address, and I waited for you to writ At first I was very patient and th' : I-but oh, I didn't get any letter :, Stevie-' and for a moment she co cred her eyes with both hands.
 A feeling of perfect comprehensi' V crept over him. Couldn't he undt stand well enough how hard it h' been to bear the strain of Waitln
 Eagerly he caught at her hands al , drew them swiftly away from her fa' Seven letters, Betty!" he erie "Seven letters 1 wrote and sent al > would have written v more, only made up my mind at last that you q " not care for my letters, or for me- Il his voice was the ring of truth. Tru
 shone in his clear, young eyes. and
 her doubts and fears vanished; b , with gloomy foreboding he aske
 Cant you believe me?"
 n "Yes. Yes"' she replied hasti
 "And no one else in all the wide vol
 could be so welcome" she said soft
 As a few moments later she stood n the sitting room doorway, watching x he placed his hat on the hook in y- little front entry, her smiling eyes a ,c lips seemed to him to still be sayin in "NO one else in all the wide Wo1
 could be so welcome.'
 ,e Looking over her shoulder he not e. the big old armchair. the red and gre le woolen carpet, so familiar to him. re even the little sitting room echoed pr softly spoken words, and boyiSh Sni ,e lit LID his face as he remarked: "l V, right sort of welcome from the ri: d. girl Can you heat it?'
 =. Another Use for AirpIanes. ho Men interested in aviation have 2
 yanced the theory that nhOtOgran nl