Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-03-09
The DIFFERENCE
~~~~~~~~~~-~~~~~~~>~~~
BY MILDRED WHITE.

working In city law ONCE, the very
office in which he, himself, found EN-
ployment.
1t had been Cartons boyish ambi-
ton to become the respected lawyer
in his own home town when old Judge
| Lambert should give up practice.
In Hillcrest Lawyer Lambert was a
great, parsonage; Carlton, the youth,
had Looked up to him with reyerential
awe. But here in the big hustllng
city If was different. Lambert did
you say?' quericd his new employer,
"dont believe I've heard the name"
Carlton thought longingly of his old
home SO unlike the city boarding.place.
! The village home had not been given
over to strangers. He wanted to keep
It as long as he could, with things
just as his mother had left them; the
blue-rimmed teacups that she had
placed in the Old cabinet, the very
evening of her sudden call to the
Great Beyond.
Carlton hoped to so back there some
day, when he could get over this dull
/ feeling of loneliness and when he
could save enough money to take the
vacation. Then he came to Know
lizzie. She had formed a habit of
stopping at his desk to say good-morn-
/ ing.
Isabel Ware was her name.
I'VE never had a garden" laughed
f2zie, "lcycr wanted one The little
high-up balcony is good enough for
dad and mother and me How could
yeu endure living in the country?
Seems as If Id Gle there"
Carlton looked at her bright eager
face, her iaunty tulhan aslant over
her dancing eyes, Maybe" he said
slowly, you would"
Kind heartedly lizzie Invited him one
evening to her home 'I've told moth
er about you," she conhded "and
mother says it's lonesome for strange
young man in city, so come and see
us whenever you feel like it,"
The evening in pleasant Mrs Wares
cozy apartment was such comfort to
Carlton that he did go again, and
again. And so-7he became engaged
to lizzie. 1t happened in most nat
! ural manner one evening as they
walked to the theater together.
II WISH" said Carlton earnestly,
that we could be together, just you
and /, lizzie, forever. / wish you
would marry me-"
"All right" cheerfully responded
that young person, as she gave his
arm hug, II will.'
! But even as Carlton sat blissfully
holding her hand in the dafkened the
alter, disappointment came to him. He
had been picturing, half unconscious
~, his Isabel moving about the old
loYed home in Hillcrest, while he, his
diploma attained, sat In Judge Lam
berts place, looked Ap to, depended
upon by his own people-the kindly
people of Hillcrest.
Isabel interrupted his thoughts with
low laugh. "Carlie," she whispered
'l0ok at the contrast Of scenery. The
| effect Is pretty. On this side, tall
l lighted buildings of the city, the
streets gay, thronged. On the other
side the village, long lonely spaces
desolate houses with their intermit
tent lights. Some contrast! Give me
the city every time to that wilder
ness"
:! Carlton stared steadily. He hat
loved the silent pictured street. 1t was
there that his memories wandered
yearningly. Then with start he pu
his dream aside lizzie was to be hi!
wife, lizzie must be happy; he would
sell the house in the country.
I Carlton turned with a sigh. 'Izzie
dearest" he said, 81 am going out t.
the village tomorrow, to see about dis
posing of my house Would you lik'
to go with me?"
"Pd love to-" the girl Responded
eagerly.
He was proud of her, as he walket
down the village street by her side
proud, too, that she should witnes
the welcoming smiles and greeting
bestowed upon him.
Isabel was interested In the houses
some of them quaint, some preten
tious.
When Carlton led the way down tn
deserted path to the white house tina
had been his heme, she was silent
sympathetic. She picked white ros
from the porch vine to fasten at he
breast, and she touched the blue cup
reverently. Her eyes grew misty a
she gazed on the picture of Carlton,
boy leaning against his mothers knee
81 And as the girl sat before the oil
square piano. the light coming throug
the window made picture Of he
there---the picture Of which Garlic
had dreamed.
Out In the garden at twilight the
walked together; then the man spok
abruptly: Lets get away from a
this" he said, "I-car't bear 1t. 70
don't understand"
lizzie sank down on garden bencl
| TIar emilia was fnndor maternal