The Press., 1922-12-07
The RomiIIy Roadhouse
By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS
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Thorold.
 Say, young feller," called he, what sort of a place Is it out there on the turnpike2 Can you get decent meal, hey2 -
 "On the turnpike9" Queried Bob Thorold. ITO tell you the truth, I didn't know there was a decent place to eat anywhere around here. Motor ists usually go on to Burton"
 The driver-owner consulted the guide book that had been thrust at him by
 one of the occupants of the tOnneau.
 White house at first turn to right on Romilly turnpike after leaving BrOmp- ton," he read slowly.
 "Why, that would be the Romilly house. Are you sure that is what the book says"
 '. "Those are the words"
 That's surprising" murmured Thor old. Tt can't be right"
 Drive on," came a voice from the tOnneau. T guess the young feller hasn't woke up yet. Look the place over and If 1t looks O. K. we'll try" And the man at the wheel Obeyed, leaving Bob ThOrold still murmuring that something must be wrong some where.
 Bob ThOrold, who kept up his an- cestral hOmeN in Brompton and spent his vacations there, walked on and presently encountered MT. Jenkins, postmaster of BrOmptOn.
 Funny thing" said Bob; Il met some people who spoke about having meals at a white house at the first turn to the right on Romilly turnpike after leaving Brompton. That's the Romillys, isn't it?"
 "Cartain sure," quoth the postmas- ter. "Cartain sure. You've heard how 'tis, han't you7"
 "They haven't sold the place, have they2" inquired Bob. T thought Miss Susan had vowed never to leave the old place; she isn't dead, Is she2"
 "Dead, nothing. The how and the wherefore is, so folks say, that they've lost their money-every durned cent of 1t, and Miss Jane had to open up the place as a kind of roadhouse for, motorists. Ought to make a good thing out of 1t, seems to me, being as there's no other sich place hereabouts and the autos are as thick as spatter along the turnpike. It's kinder too bad, though, losing all their pile. I expect 1t was fool investment. I'll tell you, MT. Robert ThorOld, what them ladies need and needed long time ago was a good business man In the family, eh?"
 Bob Thorold was annoyed at the postmaster's rather facetious left. handed allusiOn to the affair, now ten years past, between Jane Romilly and himself, but greater than his an- noyance at this was his concern over the loss of the Romilly fortune that had madeit necessary for Jane Romil- ly, proud daughter of the always proud Romillys, to turn her house Into 8 roadhouse and to spend her strength supervising meals for mo- torists- rude, uncouth, parvenues, thought Bob ThOrOld, like the one he had just encountered.
 Bob Thorold spent the afternoon In a long, slow ramble through the oods around BromptOn. He was not much given to solitary ramblingB and when he did indulge in one 1t was when he had much thinking to do. Toward the close of the afternoon he turned his steps toward the RomiIly turn- pike, down the first turn to the right and up the pathway that led to the imposing white house built by the Romillys four generations ago. The 1oor stood open and the screen was unlocked. Within he could see that small tables had been arranged in the ,ront and back drawing. rooms-ten or fifteen in all. Of these i've were cars were parked in the spacious driveway that circled lround the house.
 Bob entered and took his seat at l small table. Presently white clad waitress approached him with a list Df dishes offered for that days din- Ter. Bob took 1t with a queer thrill it was enthusiastically written by Jane aomilly. The solitary meal followed, 'ut Jane Romilly did not appear. After 1t was over Bob offered his ard to the maid, and asked her to ake 1t to Miss Romilly. He wished Q see her.
 The answer was that Miss Romilly would see him in the old dining room IcrOss the hall. She never appeared 'efore the regular diners, said the maid, and her aunt remained in her OOm. This, thought Bob, was quite n keeping with the proud spirit of he ROmillys even in the hour of their 
 Jane was alone in the old dining room, and she rose from her desk at one side of the room and came swiftly :o him with outstretched hand.
 How amazingly well you are look ng," Bob could not refrain from say ng.
 Yes" laughed Jane "The work seems to agree with me, doesn't itP"
 But why didn't you tell me? I l night have helped you. You know I l 'nce got you to promise that if you 'ver needed help you'd forget old prej ! ldices and send for me-"
 "Oh, but 1t was too late hN the time l
 found out" said Jane quite cheer llly. 'The harm was done and the nly thing could do was to face the lusic. Besides, it's been a wonderful xperience. Aunt is very feeble, now. he keeps to her room with her at endant and really doesn't know. And 1e work and the people keep me from 'neliness. really don't know how it i'll all end" ...
 Bob ThOrold shuddered. It was out ageous to think of Jane Romilly pending the years of her life feeding ungry motorists.
 He sat beside her in the dusk and fhile she talked cheerfully of the eather and garden crops, Bob sat tth his head bowed.