Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-05-26
THE new HOME
BY ADA BORDEN STEVENS

Father and Mother Butcman looked
nj each other across the dining table
Set FOR two. Just so they had looked
Tor three weeks. ever since Tom and
Dorothy had ler, on a long trip. Even
with the other children gone. 1t had
not been so lonesome while Tom and
his wife were in the house. There was
young life aud laughter. and four to
exchange experiences at every meal.
Dlnner never had been dull, then.
Even Mother Bateman's broken teacup
seemed important with Dot to sym
pathize.
Since their departure echoes rang
through the large, old-fashioned rooms.
rather and mother took to sitting in
the dining room evenings. Today each
knew that a climax was at hand.
Say, mother" 1t was father who
began 1t. Cant you think Of anything
besides that kltchen7 Seems to me.
after all these years you might have
something else to talk about"
"You aren't particularly Interesting
yourself. pa. going to and fro the way
you do all day. l should think you
might"
"Now. Sally, don't turn down Pine
street Instead Of Chestnut every other
day to make varietyT He brought a
sudden fist to the table. THE trouble
with us is we've got into rut We've
thought Of nothing but those children,
and now they want their own homes
They don't want to sit every day at
our table. listening to our pressing, or
helping with your dishes; no, Dot
wants dishes Of her own. We thought
Tom would always live with US in this
big house. but they went of this way
to sort Of break the shock. Well, as
| far as I'm concerned. It's broken. When
Tom and Dorothy come back, they are
| going to their own homer
Mother Bateman sat down before
the piano after hasty glance over
| her shoulder, then rose to shut the
| hall door, glad no one could see how
foolish she was. Then she sat on the
old stool, and her fingers found the
notes Of Robins Return" She stopped,
little scandalized at these old mem.
cries, and took up a modern piece OF
music left there by Dorothy. She tried
a few bars; 1t wasn't so impossible.
81 believe I'll take 1t up again." she
thought. and went about her work with
new courage.
daring thought struck her. Tom
was the only son within miles, Those
| children Of hers had startled her al
most as much by their wide flights In
search OF fortune, as ducklings Startle
n mother hen.
Fred's room, for instance. Fred was
In China. A revolutionary idea oc-
CURED to her; why keep things as they
had always been? There was pioneer
spirit in Mother Bateman, but she had
been too busy TO give it n herring.
When pa came home to dinner. Moth
er Bateman seemed eager and excited.
"Whats happened. ma? Somebody
left you a fortune?'
She laughed. "No. pa, 1 just had a
sudden idea"
Goodness gracious, Sally. 1t must
be some idea to make your eyes shine
like that"
| ut isn't; we'd ought to have thought
of 1t long ago. TIDw long are those
children going to be gomez Two weeks
more? Well. Jim. I was looking the
house over and 1t seems to me 1t would
take mighty little fixing to make up.
stairs into first rate little apartment.
all by Itself. jim. let's do it, and have
1t ready when they come home.
Jim looked at his wife with new In
terest. sally" he said, you're n won
der ! I'll speak to Brown and Rogers
! on my way down town.
There was plenty TO talk about dur
ing the next ten days and two Animal
ed 'oId folks" met Tom and his wife
at the station. 1t was the young folks
who seemed spiritIess.
"Well." sail pa. Il suppose you chill
dren Will go house huntirS, frs, thing"
"Oh. I don't know" Tom spoke with
resignation. Dot and l were reading
ads all the way down, and there isn't
| thing where we want to live. guess
we'll settle down with you; hey, moth
| err"
WELL" said Mother Bateman. doubt
| fully. EVEN see; there's an apart
ment on our street. separate front door
and electricity. for pretty reason
able sum. ia have more time II YOU
| children were out Of the way"
loHi iooht" III heF III dSlonlSninent.
| He had never heard her talk like that
before. But they were stopping at the
| door. and nothing could be said or
done until they were safely In the
| house.
why. why's this where the apart
ment is1' For where there had been
one front door. two stood In friendly RI
valry, waiting FOR the touch Of the
proper key.
Dad" cried Tom, II wIshed-I-the
old house, Como on Dot xye con nv