SHORT STORY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXX, Issue 2, 4 July 1913, Page 7

SHORT STORY.

TH e home-coming.

/.«W. Rett Ridge, Hi 'The Daily (W" Mail.')

' ..Here comes a cab, mother," he anpnoed suddenly. "One just turned the window this ini »» she cried. "I wouldn't have rSiinfe ,ve " as lookm g out for her if*, sas ever so. Father, do you hear i 6 peak to you? And don't you i jo out and help with her tin „k and don't you so much as move rill tell you to. If she thinks she's 8 ■ i ome to lord it over us au<l "Sun about everything we'll let her f'fonce that she's mistaken » hansom stopped and a tail girl jioed out. Loosed around as though Sag a commotion of welcome; her sf»are a slight twitch of disa>ppointShe paid the driver, and he from the top a heavy piece of K e which, she met and conveyed uttle trouble to the pavement, L she dragged it through ihe open ■1 jnd so to the front door. — ilake her knock twice," whispered Smother imperatively. The summons y presently repeated, and the motli- ' ,e n t with a leisurely air and humEm, the while, to answer. "Oh, Lily, [ulat you."'—accepting indifferently [kiss. "^ our traul mus t have been Ly- ire didn't expect you quite so jj D l'our father's in the front room; E, r e jour trunk in the passage and Sjy me into the kitchen, if he's Siing a nap we'd best not disturb U, >Vipe jour boots, and don't maKe L noise than you can help" ;'So glad to get home, mother." -Course you are," she remarked "Ue it ever so hurnbie there s jn price exactly like it - I've always intended that, iou've grown,"' sne lied with reluctance, "the time you've Qt atvay." . -i'hink you'll hud me just about the jue," said the giri. ;-I don't expect io see no alteration |u the better. Living wnh a family months and travelling here, there, Bd everywhere with 'em has made you p a mighty hue opinion of yourself , (doubt, lou'li soon get it taken out. i you during the fortnight you re gojog to be here with your lather and mi me. .None of your putting on side (hh us, miss!" Ilie new arrival unpinned her hat in foot of the small unframed square of king-glass that was supported by lets on the wall; the mother restrain|tn exclamation of approval on obißring the style in which her hair was (raised. The girl looked around the jtekn. interestedly. , "lon'regot a new almanac, mother." :"And why not. pray!"" she snapped. [-"Nobody ever kept their grate quite |i smart- as you." ! "They could do," retorted the mother, fif they liked to use the same amount ielbow grease. Come here and let me #k at your blouse." "I've brought one for you almost, uctly like it." "Almost!" she echoed satirically. Cheaper material, you mean." lie girl found her keys, and going to ke passage brought back on her arm ie or two articles of dress which she isplayed, using the back of a chair as Bnaequin, and giving to the chair the ppearance of a well-to-do lady receiv- % visitors. The mother found several its, expressing an opinion that they wild form suitable apparel for the ifth of .November only, but she so far [Was to rap against the wall, and ie father came in readily, giving his lighter a good hug of welcome. His lis coughed. ilell, my girl," he cried, standing let and admiring iier, "do you see itch change i' Notice much difference? ji old folks have got a bit older, 1 Pose,haven't we?" He bent his head. Whow I'm going on the top." »«»not!<' cried the girl. Ws only saying that to please commented the mother. "As a War of fact, you re getting as grey ■ a badger, i m ashamed to be seen ft with you." Must try to keep it dark somehow. ™ts all tins finery?" suit of flannels came from the tin and lie paid his daughter with wer kiss; his wife said they would 9 it necessary to buy for him a ■ . en He insisted on changing ill waistcoat, and it had »» conceded that the new garments W remarkably well. mtf, o SUP P°rf e you want tea -'" tlle «r, defiantly. j P re Pare it," replied her daugli--IL t u !d rat her think so. Don't £"*> be waited on hand and foot, ntcVsJ 5 p you were a r °y al mtnn'. le I(i ea, that would be.. . ttelik! tea-caddy is, in its tfmimi everyt^ ln g e'se in this house Hi, wj m P u * it. back in the exact 4 (W» not S°' u g to have all upKg l ust because you've come , ne , ( : (lll ' t tlimk it. How k oiJ es a t the family getJ l ' Sl gns of their getting during discussion of s keen ~n . , a " ail s, it was not easy but wi. °f cold austaally of th V3 ther s l K)ke ap ol ' \ c ' ltt€renc « between Bei-i,' , ; •> Newborough ai' i d uud himself arrested after ti? 0 ° 01 a UU(^ge > or a kick, Sierallv r., 5 ? . uct the mother ,filt ot n . °f her daughter's ** da JS of' simIS| 1 S | U r ' opillion tliat 11 ? ce ase franf P i e mg make Honest s t r ,i„H U r nm S "P ller no B6 Pointed nti ii'" orwaj 'd food. The 1 train hj! t^, at s ' l6 lunched 1 ,Cce Pt this ■> mother declined L. at tobute +im S an excuse ) preferring b Qt pride CaUS6 pride) and no " no'reni! 111 ;' 1 ' de^an tly, from her • 63 over ? a +i! 0r P ro^es t came. ?! a hand in „ Wa ' s P 6rmitt ed to w a the luggage Wk !l about?" 5 'id 1 f I ' ) of . CoUl ' se - Been rov «aient 6 I Swin S such great Pose." Expected 'too much, > to q t, u^rs t an d what you I 10 u gwd," ghe declarVvemt 8n don,t un der- ) €y6S ' b m ut the y «^'t , r ma ke any use JtJ'iS® ool, lot." ffUlef j" y ,, mind that after 1 should find her much

the better, the more superior for the experience she's had and the good family she's lived in. I'm sure if I'd had her chances ,at her age I should have been different." "You're all right, old girl, as you are." "We're none of us so good," she decided, '"but what we might be better. And I quite thought that Lily when she came home—Ah well," desolately, "it's no use wishing. We've got to take facts as they are!" She took away the cups and saucers and, in the scuilery, washed them; with here a groan interpolated, and here a sigh; her husband took the ap-. pearance of seriousness that an anxious partner offers as sympathy at a time of vague trouble. Overhead were sounds of movement, and presently a call came. The mother ordered him not to reply; she would undertake this duty thai no blunder might be committed. Brisk conversation on the stairs, a iwift interchange of sentenoes, interruptions, protests. "What's it all about?" he asked. She retdrned, flushed with the encounter. "Says she can't manage with the yellow soap I put in her room," announced the gratified mother. "I'm going out to buy something special. So, you see, in spite of what you say, she has improved in some respects after all I"