Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-10-15
The Call of Home
By CENEVlEVE ULMAR

II love the old town, my ncighhOrS
are like brothers and si>tcrs..the place
l live in is cheap AZ to rent and very
dear Ia my soul on account of old
memories: | make n living-what mere
docs Il man WANT
THE old placc-ycs, it's the Dab
pCy home. isn't IL? Strange abuI,
that family" spoke the man who WAS
listening To Monkeys statement. The:
were three fine girls. What became
Of them and how is it that you ca;I-
TO inherit the place.
"Oh, ! haven't inherited it," said
Darius. after the family moved il
was put up for sale, but nobody want
ed ii. Then i: was offered for lease.
1t just suited mother AMI myself. so
we've been tenants ever since. The
agent tells Inc he sends the rent TO
the elder of the ladies, Miss Flora. Aft
er they settled in the city Annette
died, Vera got Inarricd-did very well,
too, l hear, and I think Flora has
been living with her"
Darius sighed and a dreamy. far
away look came into his eyes. There
"uS iCtSOll llc ulu hol ulSSloSe
10 his fondness for the old Dabncy
home. At twenty he had settled his
mind down to the fact that the only
girl in WcllStou worth admiring was
Flora Dabncy. lie had never cOurted
her in the real sense of the word, for
she and her sisters were rather eX-
elusive, but they all liked the neigh
borly, unaSsuming ways of Darius, par
ticularly Flora, and only because An
ncttc and Vera her sisters had fired
the ardent soul Of Flora with mighty
ambitions, was the latter deferred from
encouraging this adorer. mute as to
words of love, but betraying n silent
devotion that was Il sincere tribute
from n worthy young man.
Darius suffered secretly when Flora
told Of taking up their lives amid new
scenes, and she realized this and Sor
rOwed for his sake. She could not trust
herself to last meeting alone with
Darius, and after she babe II final
her seat in the train crying softly over
the abandonment Of love so pure,
simple and steadfast that she recog-
nized that she was making cruel sac
rifice.
"TIl be content" lie decided. "She
was n sweet girl, she liked me some
and ! am glad / loved her. I'm too
humble to ever meet her ideals, though,
SO III stick to mother and the old
town."
1t was like going into temple that
n,
rented the old Dabney home. There
was a particular flower bed that had
always had the exclusive care Of Flora.
and this Darius tended and nurtured
with tender memories
Constantly he would close his eyes
and would fancy Flora coming down
the stairs in all her airy grace and
beauty.
Darius was manager Of a large farm
near the village in the ploughing and
harvesting seasons. For the rest of
the time daily he drove an old-fash-
toned carryall down to the trains
morning and evening, to receive and
deliver light express shipments and
passengers. His horse was slow and
old, the vehicle had grown rickety and
sagging, and an enterpriSing innovator
had put into service an automobile for
the same line of service. His charges
were high, however, and the od-fash-
toned element in the village adhered
to their faithful tOwnsman.
One evening just at dusk Darius
drove to the depot to meet the six
o'clock city train. \ yelled lady nlight-
ed. She set her suitcase ut her feet
and shook her head negatively as the
driver of the automobile bus solicited
her as fare. Darius noted that she
glanced all about until her eye rested
on his old carryall. ALMOST eagerly
he fancicd, sh" advanced 10 il. She
seemed nustcrrd pleased, embarrassed
all at once. She placed Il careSsing
hand on HE head Of old Dobbin and
, there seemed to he Il catch in her
voice as She half whispered his name
Darius was surprised and puzzled.
You seem TO know my horse he
submitted.
yes, years agonc.' came the reply
in Il subducd tone. Has WCIlston got
g hotel yct:"
"No. ina am answered Darius
Il wish 10 find board and lodging
for u week. spoke the vcilcd lady.
"My mother accommodates tran
sicnts once in u whilc.' said Darius
ooh. Veg. yes" replied his passenger
eagerly. "TleaSc take mo there. And
first. drive III about the town. will
you? ] want 10 see what II looks like
Uftpr some Nr;rS pf uhSpuIp fJnriuS