The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-06-24
TONY'S RETURN
BY KITTY PARSONS.
%, 1921. Western Newspaper Union)

George Ainslee was proposing to
Joan for the fourteenth time when
someone came out on the porch and
introduced her TO a man she had loved
ever since she was n~ineteen-,ten
whole years. He had told her he
loved her at the senior prom, but
they were both so frightfully young
that they had decided to wait a whole
month before becoming definitely en-
gagged. Then, if Tony still felt the
same-which he felt sure he would
he would write at once and tell her
so. Before the month was up jean
had been forced to 60 abroad with
her parents, but had made Aunt
Maria promise to forward all mail.
There had been plenty of letters from
Harrison Davies all that miserable
summer, but 0 one single line from
Tony.
HE just found he didn't care
enough" Joan told herself bravelv,
and she tried very hard to put him out
Of her mind. The following year her
mother and father were killed in an
accident and she had married Harri-
son Davies, who seemed to be the
only possible solution Of her troubles.
But Harrison had not made her hap
py and although she had stuck
stanchly by her guns through all her
married life, when he died five years
later she could not honestly mourn
him. She had never forgotten Tony.
When he had been wounded In France
she had ~shamelessly bought every
paper she could find that might have
some possible news of him, and she
had prayed for him every night.
For three years Joan had worked at
reconstruction work In France, and
now on her arrival home, her old
friend, George Ainslee, had again be-
gun his proposals, which had started
Immediately after her husbands
death. And then Tony had sudden
ly stepped upon the scene Of action.
1t was dark out there on the porch
and the man was sublimely uncon-
scious Of the fact that he had ever
seen her before.
May l have this dance, Mrs.
Davies?" he asked her.
IF you don't mind staying outside !;
I'm SO hot that l don't want to go in
side"
Then, suddenly, when the others
had left them, he turned to her:
uDn rn,, lynnu. 7 hn1;nyn J,x-o mat
you before"
Joan laughed lightly. "Im prob
ably a type" she treasured him,
quickly. "Tell me the story of your
life, please adore romance!"
Tony flushed In the darkness. I'm
afraid l haven't had much Of that
sort of thing-since my college days
at least.
Cant l help you, Joan-Td do any
thing In the world I could"
How did you know me?" she asked
In surprise.
"Well, when a man carries a girls
picture In his pocket for ten years he
can generally recognize her when he
luccLS utI vi Jut SlICSl'
ooh, you haven't done that mean
you mustn't; why have you got 1t
thereT
Because I love you'll always
have"
ooh, Tony, you can't! You never
wrote and l waited and waited and
waited !"
ooh, Joan darling-it's all been a
mistake somewhere. Joan, please
Gracious, Joan! I've been looking
everywhere for you-everyone is leav-
ing" Georges voice broke in upon
any possible explanation and Joan
sprang to her feet.
"Good-by, Mr.. Rossiter," she said
to Tony.
Joan passed a sleepless night and
left on the earliest train the follow
ing day. BY Friday oon she had
about made up her mind to give
George the answer he wanted when
he came that night.
She was cleaning out some old
photographs In her desk when the
doorbell rang earlier than she had ex-
pected. AS she started to escape, she
almost ran into Tony Rossiter.
JOAN" he began, blocking the exit
with both arms, II know you don't
want to see me, but l had to bring
you something. I really did write you,
and 1t was returned to me unopened
I the yht you did 1t, Of course"
Blindly Joan took the battered old
envelope from his hands. 1t was
dated ten years before. She under
stood now-it had been Aunt Maria's
work; she had always wanted her to
marry Harrison, and had discouraged
any possible friendship with Tony.
Slowly, she read the belated words:
"Darling-I care for you more than
anyone else in the world. I've thought
I loved other girls but l know l love
you-especially o that I've beer
away from you for a whole month,
and am nearly dead with loneliness.
Please write me-TH be watching for
your letter every day. I'm going to
love you always-I'm not half good
enough for you, but no n could love
O any more. Always yours,