The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1923-05-11
Longed for Home,
Sweet Home
By CLARA DELAFIELD
IIIIIlIIIiIIIIIlIIIIIIIIlIIIIIIiIiIIIII


90. 1922. Western Newspaper Union.)
Anne had not been home for four
years. The fact was, the more she had
thought about 1t, the longer she had
procrastinated. She had been a sort
OF misflt at home. Her father, all her
aunts and uncles, the townspeople
themselves had shaken their heads and
prophesied bad end for her.
Why7
Anne had gone away to get job In
the movies" after a temperamental
career In the old home town. And no
body knew that Madge Beauty, the ia
nous film actress, was really Anne.
You see, Anne looked quite different
on the screen.
They had been four bright, hectic
years-and yet there had been times
when Anne would have snapped them
all for home, nice, quiet home In
the quiet country. With whom? Oh,
Ronnie, she supposed.
Ronnie and Anne had been sweet
hearts from the day when Ronnie
Knocked down 81 Pincher for pulling
Anne's curls. Ronnie and she had
kissed each other in Lovers lane. Ron
ME had given her a ring. Then Anne
and he had Quarreled, and she had gone
away.
However, they had written often,
and Ronnie had been to see her twice
In the city. Impossible man that he
was, Ronnie would never take mo"
And he wore such a hurt look when /
she refused him. Poor Ronniei
If Ronnie only knew just when and |
how to take me, he might-perhaps,"
reflected Anne. He had a determined
jaw. /
The car rolled through the street.
The postmaster recognized Anne. He
waved his hand lightly-as to an In
terior thing. Anne flushed. But that
was nothing to the grin on the Ice
mans face, nor the greeting at home
That evening was like a dream-a
iream after Ice cream, jellied con-
Iomme, and frozen fairy. Next morn
ng the inquisltion began.
"Well, you've turned up again."
ighed Anne's father. 81 s'pose you'll
e trying to get back that job in Bill
Iicks' grocery store?"
Aunt Emma, looking extremely viru-
ant, said: -
Il dunno as you can do any good for
ourself here, Anne. You see, folks
now that you've been trapesIng up
nd down the country following the
Inns" o.
Following the filnsl' What did T
lie good lady think the films were
arnstormers7 1t was too ridiculous. d,
Cousin Kate was vicious. 'Td put th
quieter clothes If was you, Anne" r
le said. Folks around these parts OF
mt think too much of dressed-up
,pinjays." tn
Anne laughed so hard that Cousin al
ate was whisked out of the room. as nj
were, by the breath of clean mirth. 10
There were family consultations all n,
y long. What was to be done with
Inc? When Anne went into the vii Fo
&c, eyes followed her curiously from
op to street, and from street to shop.
wal, l reckon you're glad to be FIJI
me again, after seeing life," said ca ca
n Boggs. the grocer. Two men on Pa
. cracker barrel Uttered. Pu
The worst of all, however, was
Gle Eb. Uncle Eb had a seventy-acre r.
m just outside the village. He came nut
ling up the hill, vast with impor- pre-
ice. Ap
My pore gal, my pore GAL" he be- Wa
!, you've tasted the wine Of life '-'
found 1t bittersweet and salty,
I you?. There's loving hearts that Sta
It take no account of lapses Of re- T..
tant sinners" Rat
lie broke off, even wincing under dprt
les gaze. day
What did you want to say to me. all all,
lie Eb?" asked Anne. yea
My gals and me was talking about r rev.
ing domestic help. We'd treat villa
like the family, Anne" In
Il was treated like your family. viils
lie Eb, I'd take an ak to YOU" said
e.
le strobe haughtily down the road,