Smyrna times., 1931-10-21
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
Returning ProdigaI Gets Cold
Shoulder" an Interesting Story
Written by Jack Woodford


Written by Jack WOOdford
DAUL MARTIN found the cement
highway pretty hard going on
the feet; he was sorry that the road
into town wasn't still the old dirt
road he remembered when, at eight
cen, he had run away from home.
Now, at thirty-six, he was coming
home again. His father had died
the ignoble death of a drunkard. His
mother, too, had died; but she had
died in the city with him, for he
had sent for her after his fathers
death. None of his family re-
mained in town; but he had, never
theless, a desire to see the old
place, and the many friends he had
once had there.
When he came into town, carry
ing a small, dilapidated bag con-
tanning the few things he had
brought with him, he made straight
for the place where once had stood
the town pump. Now there was an
ornate cement contraption where
the pump had stood. No longer the
old wooden pump, with its large,
cool dipper; but just a thin jet of
water coming up from a pipe Paul
put his mouth over it and drank
long and deeply. While he was
drinking man walked up and
clapped hand on his shoulder:
"On your way, bum," the stranger
said. I'm the sheriff; we don't al
low you bos to hang around town."
Paul looked up at the man.
You're stranger to me-" he said
pleasantly. My names Paul Mar
tin. | was born and reared here.
know ! look like a bum; but I've
got a few dollars to put me up de-
Gently at cheap hotel for a few
days; SO you can't really pick me
up for vagrancy."
you by any chance Duffy Mar
tins SOM"
Pep. Duffy Martin was my IA
ther," Paul told him.
We'll, cOnsiderin' you had a paw
like that guess it amt your fault
you're on the bum. You can stay.
You can get a room at the Waller
house for dollar a day. and meals
there is pretty cheap Ill look
around and see if q find you a
job.
Don't 40 that-,Aough thanks
just the samen Paul told him. "I'n
only be few days in town.
Despite his very poor looking
clothes, girls on Main street turned
to stare after Paul and giggle, for
he was erect and his strong, mascu-
line figure was symmetrical, just as
be was extremely good looking of
face.
At the drug store Paul decided
to get glass Of something cool
to drink; the water from the town
pump had not drowned his thirst
or stopped the aching ID his parched
throat. In the store a grave, beau
tiful, slim girl waited upon him.
You look familiar" Paul told
her. Il used to live here years
ago; tell me, what's your name?"
Marion Kinsey." she told him.
What" Paul exploded. ''Not
little Marion Kinsey who used to
hang around when | called on
your sister Martha, SO I'd have to
bribe you with a nickel for a soda
to get rid Of you. Why, you were
only a kid then; that's nineteen
years ago. You must be about twen-
ty-five now."
Twenty-six," she corrected him. [
You're not Paul Martin, are your
None other than," Paul grinned.
She looked sadly at his bedraggled
Martha married and went away"
she informed him.
Yes, so | heard Paul answered.
What time are you off, Marion?"
he asked. Couldn't you and 1 take
a walk around town together? You
could show me the old landmarks
I've forgotten" She looked dubi.
Dusly at his clothing and he was
sure that she was going to refuse.
But to his amazeme1t she said: I'D
De glad to-
That afternoons walk was the
beginning. There were other walks.
But Marion was the only one in
own who was even civil to Paul.
The rest of his old acquaintances.
when they were introduced and re-
nembered him, gave him the cold
shoulder. The success" bug was
IN the old town like a plague, and
lnything that sav0red of unsuccess j
vas anathema to them. It was on
| hill back OF town one afternoon
hat Paul proposed to Marion.
You're the loyeliest thing God
,ver made" he told her; "and |
want you to come away from this
lreadful narrow little town with me.
love YOU. I'll always love you
md want to make you happy, If
0u'll trust me-"
Il love you and do trust you"
he fold him CraypIv an holm Won