The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1922-03-11
The Show Place of
the Town
By LAURA r. MONTGOMERY

the bank is open again. l may look
green, stranger. but that's going too
far. Run along and try the next
town."
why. man. | used TO live here. ANY
OF the old neighbors will tell you
I'm all"
Daisy had lifted her head as the
well-known voice fell upon her ears.
She sat motionless a moment, then
jumped up and pushed the parlor
door open more widely. The innkeep-
er had turned To his register. refusing
to give his attention TO the we'll
dressed young man. who was regard
Ing him with an odd mixture OF anger
and amusement.
George" queried the girl. then
stepped back shyly as she remembered
the years CT silence that lay between
them.
The man crossed the dingy floor In
few rapid strides How are your
be said. L have had a streak of bad
luck, and this hotel man seems 10 think
I'm dead beat. l intended 10 patron
Ire his hotel for q few days"
Come up to our house. urged
Daisy. noting with pitiful eyes that.
despite the zero weather, he wore no
overcoar. His suit was of excellent
material and cut. as were his shoes.
but he looked chilled and hungry.
Stay a fe=.F days with US until you
get rested up. mother will be delighted
TO see you again Have you been
abroad all this timer
The mans face held an odd ex-
preston as he silently accompanied
her up the snow-packed path High
piles of snow on either side intensified
the impression OF bitter cold and the
Now creaked and crunched as they
hurried along You are sure your
mother won't think I'm intruding"
he asked as the cozy brown cottage
with It's steep root, snow-covered.
loomed before him
'-Of course not; it's too cold 10 talk
here returned Daisy, wondering how
tie stood the cold without an oyercoat
or gloves. Come right into the sit
ting room; we have a big fire there.
Mrs. Dorrance welcomed him as
placidly as though she had seen him
Yesterday. "Sit up near the fire." she
smiled, we've got an extra good din
ner today. I'm glad l made deep
apple pies / remember how you used
to like them she turned the hampers
In the big glowing stove so that a
wave of heat streamed out at the be
nuulbed couple. and hustled of TO the
kitchen
Daisy. now that they were alone.
was seized with an agony Of shyness-
What would he think of her for in
ferfering and dragging him OF to her
home? She glanced up from under
her red-brpwn lashes only to meet
fully his gaze which did not waver.
This Is mighty pleasant. Daisy. al
though my homecoming is trifle diff
ferent than had planned it. On the
train fell asleep and the man who
had shared my seat got off at Dixon
and stole my overcoat and nay bill
fold The bank is closed as it's hOi-
iday. and .fomorrow is Sunday. That
Is Why
Don't worry,- interrupted Daisy.
wishing 70 save him humiliation. you
can get work here and we'll love TO
have you make us visit, Perhaps
father viii need someone in the
store
But broke In George hastily.
did ron see much fightingg" inter
rupted Daisy. Evidently George had
failed to make good after he had been
mustered out and she felt the age-oid
urze to comfort the man whom she
had dreamed OF through the years of
her girihood-
Again the queer expression fitted
over his bronzed face. but quick
flashing smile replaced this 50 swiftly
that she fancEed she had imagined ii.
TEL me, Daisy. did you wait for meT
The wave Of crimson was not due
to the ruddy stove. although the for
gotten hampers were sending out
showers Of grateful warmth
George. studying her ingenious
blush felt a sudden warmth In his
heart This homecoming. although
msr-ed at first by his encounter with
the sneak thief. was better than he
had pictured ii when on the long jour
meg. His eyes Travelled from the slim.
ringiess left hand and fell upon the
ogd-fashioned usaHreIshelf with its sea
shells. and a gIass-coyered cross OF
dim black velvet covered with climb
ing wax flowers with fragile white
petals That cross had stood there
since he had been a small chap. and
the sight Of 1t i'm its accustomed place
bro~xhf n storm Of old happy men,
Ories back TO the man who had seen
some OF the finest show places on the
continent. sThese il no place like
home he said at last, bringing his
chair across the Ingram carpet so that
he was near enough 10 pick up the
ringiesx hand. -.Wili you marry me
right awayz
The tall Clock In the corner licked
on busily and the girl radiantly i'm
agfned thar the heavy tones were
laughing. During the years of almost
h<s,czn<x waiting she had fhou1hf thp