The Lamar register., 1920-03-31

The old mill town seemed Steeped ia
glorious sunshine the day it welcomed
home its returned sons from the va
rious branches of war service: bells
rang. bands played and banners Nn,'d
everywhere.
The beautifully staged nOats, each
representing its bit of history, each
bearing loyal men and women who had
in their appointed way fought hard to
help win the war. We're also generously
appiaudrd as they passed on their way.
After the parade came the banquet
and speeches, and then dancing in the
town hall. Certainly each returned mun
and hoy should have felt his heart
warm with appreciation Of the hearty
welcome given him. and stephen
Glenn. hunorably discharged that very
day, and who had arrived in town only
short time before the parade start
ed had honestly appreciated every cf-
fort made IN his behalf as returned
soldier. and yet there was "A dlsSatis-
lied louS in his dark eyes NJ they
rOyrd around the hall. even ~ he
danced with the prettiest girl and best
dancer there.
lie WI, looking for little Betty
Plummcr, and She had not yet ap-
peared.
Seven lab0riously written letters
which should have passed the censor.
he had sent tn her.
Even while keeping step to the gay
music he sorrowfully admitted 10 him-
self tint ns far aS he was concerned
he might as well have tied Stone Ia
each lritcr and have dropped it into
the ,ic.i, sea: FOR Ice had moi heard
from her Members of his company
had received letters from the h"i1r
town more or less regularly. but IL
s,lisi,ivcnes~ which mad" him hilc
dci.p his hurt f",-lin.S cuiin~ried -
leucc. and he had asked no qu''~ii"t~
OF them.
Although he WAS fond of danring he
suddenly decided early In the e,"nii :
To 20 home: and ~ "a result ~ocn
found himself vu'sius rapidly .G a."
direction eel tlu. old ilufmer hpn"-
stead. whcre iicBy lived with her
grundm"tlrr and which was iu the
opposiir direction rrum his boarding
place.
Surprising that Betty had stayed
nWay from fh' dauc" In urtlrr to avoid
him. argued tu himself surprising
even fulr -iir prcfcrrl spending the
evening Jt huuur Uiih ~nuiruur who
had taken his place ia her heart.
There really vnsu'i amy reason why he
shoul1u't stroll ';uvu bs thr "Id-faSh-
uhcrr shr Iiyei. and lt' WIS soon
standing clos, tn the old firruwrd
stone which uiicr many y'str- ~ serv-
ice as u lmr1 eel the busy old grist
mill had hcan rllu-ru 10y lictty's grnnd-
father as 90 suitable stepping ~t"ue 10
bis froui d.,nr. Ia tlv >iitin. room
there vaS c'rrry Hight aud outside
the Old Fashioned HuWcr- which grew
about ihr Sides uf the old sini.e
seemed to eltrpily nod tn him wei
come ns thry ~-vnyod toward Him in
The pal. muonligln. 'rhru the uncx.
pectcd Happened. From force Of habit
and almost uuc,7n~ci1lI~ uf the act. he
raised tlr old brass suocl.rr and
knocked upon The door
II was Betty who came. opened The
door quickly. and then stood gazing at
him.
without htin= wholly successful she
tried to veil the look Of happiness
which sprnng intn hoT blue eyes ~ she
recognized him. and checking an cx"la-
mutInu. with hands hanging Imply by
her sides. she silently waited for him
to speak.
Don't stand there looking like that,
Betty" he burst out. You must have
known that / couldn't keep away: that
| would nave to learn from your own
lips yotfr reason for not answering my
letters to YOU. Maybe they weren't in
tcrcsting. maybe they weren't well
written; bur. uli. Betty, couldn't you
have written just oncef" Her expires
sion changed nsd she tried to speak
calmly hut her voice tremhled and
broke.
You told me yon would send your
address. and | waited for You to write.
AT first / was very patient. and then
but OH didn't get any letters.
Stevic-" and for moment shs GOV
cred her eyes with both hands.
feeling Of perfect comprehension
crept over him. Couldn't he under
stand well enough how hard it had