Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-02-22
THE WELCOME
BY EMILY b. MILLER

Vs. 4S--f > AoSi ks--e+. =
II was "a Aea
men aE4 as 4aii AL
owners, n8se
lists, BANK presto
ers.
cholosst, inssa 81
sixty, despite his gag tee ana iaus-
tache. was drinking his tea IN the com
pany of Il young woman whom he I'M
derstood. to be 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 turban excelled
any Of the others in attractive appear
ance.
Il noticed queer expression here to-
day." he remarked "'rhe young gen.
tleman who handed me my Tea replied
to my thank you with Il suaye wei
come as thunder Strange phrase TO
hear In this group, don't you think7"
The young woman smiled, displaying
her fine teeth. 1T was that tall, hand-
some mani In the gray tweeds wasn't
it?" she asked.
Eyes" replied AIarston. sNho is hep
THAT is Edward Ulmer, president of
the big steel corporation" she said.
IF you'd like to near it can tell you
the story of why Ned says Welcome
as thunder / fear, though. that 1t
would bore you. You could not be ex-
pected to be especially interested"
my dear young lady, protested the
man, with half smile, II certainly am
interested In any story that accounts
for man going through life saying
Welcome as thunder II 1t won't bore
you to tell It."
1T won't bore me, Z she smiIe1.l Il
an always interested In the stosN but
ffs you are to listenss1nxme bring up
that chair and besc omfortable. fsas
sn'I shall taks,vou alack i've ysasa.-
sshs said. ITO IL t&ne ssrhen aNe6sU-
per ifssa1h f1nas3 aswardnA Gxing
uEaduat e. switAd t6o1a61S honek q
well asstxp mi s1e(eslD and = seGsrd
~ leading = fOe1balB Asanlswhieh al6ked
Tale bySs enswsf 10 slrEest a6prss
hnowns Md No aAAthlAfe ~ ~ sxt.
service man, and he was popular at
oncessseg sS Y'As sssssttssrrss
UNFORTUNATELY. Ned was bashful
and had little use for the weaker 81,
and the work that Ned did keeping out
Of the way Of the matrimonial as
pirants would have exhausted . less
rugged man.
'sThe irony of fate Is marked some
where in the life of every person who
forgive me- / am telling you story.
not talking philosophy. Anyway. Ned
loved the only girl in the North shore
colony that wasn't chasing him. She
was Peggy Norwood, little mink just
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 were
winding up the trail thunder shower
swo0ped 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 parlor. 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
rlor Of the inn he asked her to marry
him.
Now. Peggy was a foolish braggaYt
and 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. q bolt
Of lightning flashed from the dark
cloud, and the most craa is. JarrinG.
terrifying thunder followed. ii "
Peggy crossed the room In Just the
leaps and flung herself into Ned's arma,
which were perfectly willing to receive
her. That thunder robbed Peggy u
every bit Of bravad0 and self-c0nceit
that she possessed and she recognized
the true worth Of Ned Ulrich. SIX
months later they were married and
lived happily ever after. Ned thanks
the thunder for his happiness but
know that Peggy loved him all the
time. That is why Ned says welcome
as thunder"
THAT story never need bore any
body" said Marston, warmly. 1T was
charmingly told. You are a novelist,
understand. and wonder how you
vouch for the truth of this pretty ro-
nance"
FyI--