The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1920-10-13
The Call of Home
By CENEVIEVE ULMAR

At thirty-fve, Darius Moxley settled
down to comfort and peace 90 far as
the problems of life We're concerned,
content to accept and appreciate the
awards Of destiny.
II love the old town, my neighbors
are like brothers and sisters, the place
l live In Is cheap as to rent and very
dear to my soul on account of old
memories; l make living-what more
does man want?'
1.-THE old place-yes, it's the Dab
ney home, isn't it? Strange about
that family" spoke the man who was
listening to Mo1leys statement. "They
were three fine girls. What became
Of them and how is it that you came
70 inherit the placer"
"Oh, I haven't inherited it," said
Darius. after the family moved it
was put up fer sale, but nobody want
ed it. Then it was offered for lease.
1t just suited mother and myself, so
we've been tenants ever since. The
agent tells me he sends the rent to
the elder of the ladies', Miss Flora. Aft
er they settled in the city Annette
died, Vera got married-did very well,
too, hear, and 1 think Flora has
been living with her."
Darius sighed and a dreamy, far
away look came into his eyes. There
was a reason he did not disclose as
70 his fondness for the old Dabney
home. At twenty he had settled his
mind down to the fact that the only
girl in Wellston worth admiring was
Flora Dabney. He had never courted
her in the real sense of the word, for
she and her sisters were rather ex-
clusivey but they all liked tire neigh
borly, unassuming ways Of Darius, par
ticularly Flora, and only because An
nette and Vera her sisters had fred
the ardent soul of Ffera with mighty
ambitions, was the latter deferred from
encouraging this adsrer, mute as to
words of love, but betraying a silent
devotion that was sincere tribute
from worthy young man.
Darius suffered secretly when Flora
ted Of taking up their lives amid new
scenes, and she realized this and sor-
rowed for his sake She could not trust
herself to a last meeting alone with
Darius. and after she babe a final
goOd-by to Wellsten she sat back in
her seat in the train crying softly over
the abandonment of q love SO pure,
simple end steadfast that she recog-
nized that she was making q cruel sac
rifice.
"rll be content" he decided. "She
was a sweet girl, she liked me some
and l am glad ! loved her. I'm 800
humble to ever meet her ideals, though,
SO I'll stick to mother aud the old
town."
1t was like going into a temple tina.
was Sacred and revered, when Darius
reLted the old Dabney home. There
gas 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 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 innOvatUr
had put into service an automobile fl
the same line of service His charges
were high, however and the oH-fash
Toned element in the village adhered
to heir faithful tOwnsman.
One evening just at dusk Darius
drove to the depot to meet the six
o'clock city train. A yelled lady alight-
ed. She SET her suitcase at 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 fancied, she advanced to it. She
seemed fiustered, pleased, embarrassed,
all at once. She placed a caressng
hand on the head Of old Dobbin and
there seemed to be a catch in her
voice as she half whispered his name.
Darius was surprised and puzzled
"You seem to know my horse" he
submitted.
eyes, years asone.:: came the reply
In a subdued tone. Has Wellsten got
q hotel yetF
mo, ma'am," answered Darius.
II wish to find board and lodging
for a week." spoke the yelled lady.
"My mother accommodates tran.
sients once in q WHILE" said Darius.
"Oh, yes, yes" replied his passenger
eagerly. "Please take me there. And,
first, drive all about the town, will
you? I want to see what it looks like
after some years of absence. Darius,
don't you know meT
Che hod tbroxrv, hooHr ~. Ill -