Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-02-02
THE WELCOME
BY EMILY o. MILLER
"a S.w.n.,.r svsSiSs;s


1t was at gathering of distinguished
men and women-hnanciers, railroad
owners, novelists Of both sexes, scien-
fists, bank presidents and society lead
ers.
Charles Marston, an eminent psy-
chologist, avyQuhg-appearlng man at
sixty, despite his gray goatee and mus
tache, was drinking his tea in the COM
pany Of young woman whom he I'M
derstood to be a rising novelist, but
whose name he had failed to catch. In
this assembly of refined and we'll
dressed women Marston thought his
brown-haired, brown-eyed companion,
In her smart gray-blue suit, her gray
fox fur and gray Velvet turbpn excslled
any Of the others In attractive appear
ance.
Il noticed a queer expression here to-
day." he remarked. THE young gen
tleman who handed noe my tea Replied
to my thank you with suave wei
come as thunder Strange phrase to
hear in this group. don't you thinkf"
The young woman smiled, displaying
her hne teeth. 1T was that tall, hand
some pnan In the gray tweeds, wasn't
III" she asked
yes" replied MprssOn. "Who Is her"
That is Edward ulmer, president of
the big steel corporatiob," she said.
III you'd like 70 hear It I cap tell you
the story Of Why Ned says welcome
as thunder fear, though, that 1t
would bore you. You could not be ex-
psoted to be especially interested"
my dear young lady" protested the
man, with half smile, ~ certainly am
Interested in any story that accounts
for a man going through life saying
Welcome ss thunder. II 1t won't bore
you to tell IT,"
1T won't bore me-" she smiled. 81
am always Interested in the story, but
II you are to listen to. me bring UP
that chair and be comfortable.
~ shall take you back five years"
she said, ito the time when Ned o.
msr was fresh from Harvard, having
graduated with scholarly honors as
well as two major letters and a record
Of leading football team which licked
Yale by one OF the largest scores
known. Ned was an athlete and an ex-
service man, and he was popular at
once.
"TJnFortunate,v Nod wau hasbfuI
and had little nae for the weaker soy
and the work that Ned dld koen,ng ont
Of the wav Of the matrimonial as.
pirants would have exhausted less
rugged man.
"Tha ,ronv of pota ia morLed some-
where in tbS lie Of every person Who
-forgiye me I am telling Won n story.
not taking PHILOSOPHY, ANYWAY. Ned
loved the only girl in the North shore
colony that wasn't chasing him. she
was Peggy Norwood, a little mink 1ust
out of finishing school and with an ex
tremely good opinion Of herself
zone day in the second summer OF
Ned's devotion, the summer after Peg
gy made her debut in society. Ned and
Peggy started across Squaw mountain
In Ned's runabout. When they we're
winding up the trail thunder shower
swooped down on them. Squaw Noun
tain Inn, a rickety country structure
not very well patronized, was the only
place Of refuge. Ned drove his car into
the barn and he and Peggy went into
the inn pnrlor. The whole family Of
the innkeeper was gathered on the
front porch to watch the storm and
Ned and Peggy were alone.
Ned was standing, back TO the win
dow. He stood very straight and hand
some with his leather coat thrown
open and his cap In his hand. Peggy
was leaning against the mantelpiece.
Ned had never told Peggy that he
loved her because, ! suspect, he had
never dared, but this day in the old
parlor Of the Inn he asked her TO marry
him.
Now, Peggy was foolish braggart
and a strangely moved one at that She
put her hands In the pockets Of her
sport skirt and heaven only knows
what foolish quips she was preparing
to fling at Ned when, suddenly, bolt
Of lightning flashed from the dark