Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-08-09
The
Homecoming
BY JUSTIN WENTWOOD
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Copyright, 1922. Western NeWspap per Uniol

Copyright, 1922. Western Newspaper Union.
Amy was coming home. Adela
March was standing at the farmhouse
door, waiting for her. 1t was twelve
years since the sisters had met, and
both were elderly women
Amy had married Tom Leecraft, and
he had taken her West. He had done
well. He had died. Amy was coming
home
AS Adea waited for her, her mind
went far back into the past. She was
girl of twenty-four again. Amy was
two years younger. That had been
thirty years ago, when their father,
the old squire, was living. They had
been the principal family of the vii
lage-now town-inhabited by mis-
cellany Of foreigners who worked in
the mills. Everything had changed
and that night had changed the whole
future of each of the sisters.
They had both been in love with
Tom Leecraft, and, as was the way
in those dim times, which we now
call the Victorian Era, each of them
would rather have died than have ad-
mitted the fact of loving before being
asked. Tom had good practice as
lawyer in the village; he was suit
able match for either. At first he
had seemed to prefer Adela; but then
Amy came home, and everything was
different.
Just as Adela had refused to let
Tom know that she cared, when he
was hot on the chase of her. so now
she refused by any least sign to show
how much she suffered She watched
Tom and Amy sitting together at
nights upon the porch. She would
show no bitterness, but she withdrew
into herself.
She tried her hardest not to let
Tom know that she felt the change in
him, but he knew. He acted diffidently
toward her They We're embarrassed
in each others presence. Amy, too.
who had at first confided her love
in Adela, now grew strangely silent.
1t was like lowering thunderstorm in
the house. Thunderstorms break.
Only the old squire knew nothing
of it. absorbed as he was In his farm
and crops, and local politics.
- There came certain night--a hot,
thunderous summer night when the
atmospheric conditions seemed reflect
ed In their souls. The storm would
break soon. 1t was pitch dark, so that
Adela, from the lighted dining room,
could hardly make out Toms and
Amy's forms as they sat on the porch
together.
Adela went out Amy had left Toms
side. Adela strolled in the garden,
thinking bitterly that it was impos-
sible to bear it much longer. Either
Tom must ask Amy 70 be his wife or
she must go away. The scent of the
roses was heartbreakine.
Suddenly she saw Toms dim figure
in the way. He drew her into his
arms. 81 love you, 7 love you'll" he
was whispering, Darling, will you
marry me?"
She gathered all her strength and
fed. She fled to Amy. She told her.
"Tom asked me- she said. Gle
thought I was you. ran away. You
must go to him and tell him yes
But first, swear to me that never. so
long as you liye, shaLTom know he
asked me by mistake in the dark"
Amy sobbed on her sisters Shout
der. She promised readily. Adela
went to bed In the morning Tom
went into the squire's room and asked
for Amy's hand.
And sO-they were married.
They went away West. Two or
three times since then they had been
home. They had prospered. Tom had
died 1t was a simple little story
The fly was crawling up the hill.
Adela waited. 1t drew, up at the door.
Amy stepped out-a middle-aged,
wrinkled woman. The sisters clasped
each other in their arms.
Over the cooking Adela said: you
must stay here for always, Amy. Your
| nicely. And you're all I've got.
want you for the rest of my life.
| We've seen so little of each other"
Amy turned and faced her, light
OF resolution on her face. "Adela,
must tell you something" she said ir
! choked voice "After I've told you
you can decide whether you want
me-"
"Yes?" asked Adela calmly, though
her heart was pulsng furiously. ct
it's about Tom?" she added.
Amy nodded. 81 never knew, and
| was not to blame / learned 1t a.
the last, when he was delirious HI
called for you all the time He never
knew he had told me-
Adela stirred the pot. go on,
she said quietly.
"He--he loved You. You know tina
night in the garden? 1t was not
mistake. 1t was YOU all the time III
wanted, not me AT all.
"When | went to him next morn
ing and made him think he had kisse'
| t,v. 81