The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1922-01-21
The Road
Toward Home
BY CLARISSA MACklE


g. 1921, by Mcclure Newspaper syno'cA'e
The great circular lunch counter
In the railroad station was q Dusy I
spot at all times, but there were ,
breathing spells"-after the heaVy
express trains from the East anu
West had pulled out and the iunen
counter settled down to It's routine
of serving the scattered travellers
and even townspe0ple, who liked TIC
well-cooked food and the swift serS-
ice.
One October day after Priscilla FAR
had been there two months, and was
counted the most rapid Of all the oei'
mattresses, there came suddeh' un
expected rush of customers that nSeo
the stools to the last one. please Jake
| that one for me, Pris," begged rat An
nie Hardy. as she numbered past VIVID
a nlate of clam cho..der IN one manu-
and brimming cup OF coffee In the
other She nodded toward the last
stool at the circular counter, the ohe
next to the cross-cOunter. Priscilla hoo-
ded and slipped around the SHINING
urns and faced the waiting customer
She saw q pale-faced man WITH
logged eyes. who stared nrst d. ne,'
then down at the menu In his manu-.
When he lifted his glance to her again |
his eyes were not dogged nor KIM noi
anything. Just cold and indineren'
as becomes stranger.
Priscilla was chilled. Most men
and many women looked at her deica'e
prettiness with kind eyes. She hao
warm, friendly smile, though acquaiht-
ance never developed beyond passing
} greetings Of the day. THAT giri Is
, reclusey" Annie Hardy had burst OUT
one day-but while we are describing
Priscilla. the strange young man IS
: waiting hungrily for his order 10 10
J taken.
, "Well," prompted Priscilla at last.
"Oh," he started, looked at her ana
! rubbed his eyes. "Bacon and eggs ana
, coffee" he said CURLY. When she was
gone. he read a railroad timetable.
4 He was still reading it when she re-
: .nrned with the food which she placed
> before him. .,
q "You are reading 1t upside down."
/ she said softly.
Il Reading whatT
u "The timetable"
t ooh" glancing at it and thrust
I. ing it into his pocket. thank you.
you're welcome-going away again
soon?" she asked wistfully.
"Tonight," briefly. sugar. please :
.r Priscilla pushed the sugar bowl to
ward him and tore check out OF the
bunch at her waist. Anything eise9
"What have you got-that's goodT
j. apple pie"
u "SureY
ed .Au right-rIl take a chance,
grudgingly.
lis Priscilla went away. The counter
he were growing empty. She looked pal
and tired. Annie caught her arm
e you're all In, honey" said the klndi
soul. fTll take care of your orde
tn. there and keep your tip
le- aNo-no-. cried Priscilla fiercely
nd .I'1l see to him."
! Annie laughed shrewdly. "Ru
'rd along, Pris; first time I've ever see
ne Won notice a man-he's just a plai
en-. farmer; amt he2"
It was a pale smile that Priscill
threw over her shoulder as she Dol
UNI a large piece Of fresh apple pie
III the stern young man at the counte
She was glad that Murphy, the pr
a. prietor, had agreed to try one OF NJ
OK ample pies and since then she he
mo earned extra money by making pi
FLOR the counter. Murphy's Lunch vi
zap famous for its homemade apple pie
s After he had eaten the pie, Pr
ella punched the check and laid
a beside his plate, then she began
~ remove the soiled dishes.
.Wait." he said, abruptly.
Priscilla waited, her eyes dark,
81. pectant.
!, a. .Have you been here longT"
wanted to know.
1.-TWO months"
.Where did you learn to make apl
pies2'
.My aunt showed me how"
aOhi Do you want to know wi
I'm doing here?"
She nodded.
Looking for my wife. She w
away from me because critics
her cooking. Spunky little thing. "A
she went away just for that 7
looked hard at her.
"You must have said mean Till
TO her" said Priscilla, the pink ere
ing into her cheeks.
"Maybe did, and maybe !,
sorry about it. And after I'd
in couple Of loads of hay. perh
/ went to the house to tell her |
mean I was and try to make U
and found she had gone. Only n
RED three months!"
.How are you going to find NJ
asked Priscilla, her white face ca
sYou don'teven know where she we
sThat day when ! got home
found she'd gone, just closed
house, put my crops in charge
neighbor, and set out to find
7 wife. rye been all over the NIL
-. ohocinO cIewS that led me