Joyce Trevor's Homecoming.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 259, 24 December 1914, Page 4 (Supplement)

Joyce Trevor's Homecoming.

A CHRISTMAS &7CRY.

(I\,pyiight.)

Shivering at the sudden contact with the bitter air. Joy to got out et the lir.st-class carriage in which she iiad jou ni'Ved from Southampton, and with a small suit-case in her daintily-gloved hand walked slowly down the phinm.fi towards the barter through which her eager fellow-passengers were thronging. Mountainous piles of baslcts and hampers, in careless heaps, and crates of holly and mistletoe proclaimed the nearness of Christinas, and a- the girl, hugging her handsome sot et nirs clos:>r to her graceful figure, passed through the exit more than one impress.onablo individual in the jostling crowd gave a second glance at the piquantly pretty face and serious eyes frain >d in a wealth of dark trost-es beneath tho stilish furtrimmed hat.

in a now continent with its prospect ut which her unu.iiial gut ol song siotiml to assure her.

I'.ut u 1 on the <_.ve of sadng (tho entire caste ol "Tin; Society Girl was to leavo .Southampton on Hoxing Day in the Mauretainia) a sudden wistlul desire to cee Gregory omv again crept into the heart ot the young actress. And. despite her ieilow-players chorused disapproval. Joyce tore Jier>el 1 away lroni tho hotel at Southampton, whole several of the company had arranged to spend Cnristmas, and, promising to rejoin them early on Boxing Day. had caught the London express.

Mow Mould Gregory receive tho woman who had deserted In in!' For a few minutes longer Joyce speculated on her future; then, with an effort, roused herrelf from her reverie, wrapped her heavy robes about her, and passed out of tho booking-hall into tho chill darkness of a London over which snow was beginning to cast its seasonable pall. A station portjr rescued her from the confusion of cabs, homeward-bound travellers and their luggage, in which Joyce stood for a few moments bewildered. and found a taxi for lior; and presently she was speeding along the white roads which led to tho home she had left just twelve months ago. as she thin thought, for ever.

In tho va.-t booking-hall Joyce seated

With a crunching of iron-shod tyres on frozen snow the taxi pulled up in tho familiar street close to tile riverside where Jovco used, on bright mornings. to wheel her baliy. A little choked feeling came into her throat as she looked up at the daintily-curtained windows through which she had so often watched the passing vessels on the sunlit river. Controlling the sudden strange emotion which welled into her heart, she gave the chauffeur a liberal tip over h s fare, cordially echoed his hearty wishes tor " A it errv Christmas," and watclicd him drive off with a queer feeling of apprehension. A strange maid, with a sprig of mis. tlotoo in her smart cap, answered Joyce's summons on the blushing to find a lady at the door instead of the " someone else" she had l>een cxpectII)'!.

" .Mr. Trevor is not in. ma'am," slio said, respectfully, in answer to Joyce's inquiry, "but ho .said he would lie back at ten o'clock. Would you like to wait er "

" 1 have travelled from Southampton to see him. so 1 will come in and wait,' said Joyce consulting her watch, to find that Gregory would lie home in about ail hour. She followed the ma d through the familiar hall and ilito the cosy dming-room, where a cheerful fire appeared to welcome her like an. old friend. It seemed to Joyce in it she had walked bark into her home after on ly an hour's absence, as she slipped ofl her heavy travclfmg-coat and removed hat and gloves. She looked up to find the maid's gaze bent upon her with a puzzled air. and followed the girl's glances to the wall above a cabinet in a recess, where hei own portrait still hung. With a little laugh .she seated herself in her favourite old easy-chair and stretched her chilled loot to the blaze. "I'm a very old friend of your ma>

hen-elf on a bather lounge near the blazing fire to compose her thoughts beforo beginning the journey to Chelsea and home. Homo! She gave a littl-* shudder of apprehension ; then, her flower-like faee cupped in one hand and Iter big grey eves fix?d upon the dancing flames, gave herself up to pensive contemplation of the i)ast. Home! Joyce Trevor's thoughts flew hack to a Christmas Eve twelve short monthr, ago. to th > little flat at Chelsea. Her mind's eye conjured uj) again the easily-furnished sunny rooms, with their outlook upon the busy river. Jenny. the trim maid, h.J»ing a spothss tablecloth for dinner, floated into th.> memories, and Joyce vividly recalled the mixed pleasure and surprise with which the girl had received lier parting Christ-mas-box. a sovereign with the instruction: ''Give this note to your master. Jenny, wlurn he conies in.'' Then Gregory, well-looking in his stolid way. slow to ang >r. and affectionate in an unemotional fashion, came info the picture. Til,' girl, looking into the red heart of the fine, winced mentally a i she imagined the -'(feet of her note bidding him farewell for ever. And baby •Jovce

Tint mother's heart throbbed anew with a sudden flood of that hurt.

"If on.Jy my bgtby had livd." slip murmured to herself, quite oblivious ui tho bustling crowd about her. staring iiUo tile past through a film of unaccustomed tears. I'or the death <>f Iki baby had been the rock upon which Joyce Tr 'Vor'b happiness had shattered. Only a woman who has similarly Mifl'ered can fully realize the bitter gr'ef with which a young mother looks upon the t ny eoilin in which her own heart le, burFcr a time the bereaved mother hid her soirow from her gnwod liusband. who did everything in his power to make the past less poimiant. And as time passed Joyce h.'gan t:> ,-eek tie sunshine of life again.

At. 'iregory's persuasion her voice, which in hi.i eyes had always Ikvii one of h r ch'i f charms, wa.s seriondy trai.-ed under a good master, and to 11..• apparently unobservant husband the hard work to which her enthusiastic in>tiMctoi tubjeeied Joyce played an efficient part in drawing a veil over "iti.i n-ist beyond recall.

tor's." s!u» f-aifl. presently, meeting tin maid's admiring eyes with a I rank naze. "How is lioy 1 haven't soon 111111 lor—months.'"

Tlio girl, on lier knees Vfore tho fire, was wanning a cushion to place behind the visitor's slionldors. and she looked up with a subdued expression 011 liei ii\ >li. eountry tare.

Hut tho death of her baby luul Ivft .» li'atiis in Joyce's lno which nothing could really (ill. and presently (luxury s v\ii'o began to I.my; l«>r e*c 'em.'iit and change. to wh i ll she had long been a stranger. As tho months sped (lie Soulier wife b'gau to tire ot the ii'itou.-i round 01 Is r existence. broken only 1 >y nuii-i.- lemons. I'or Gregory. a lui-y man in the City, now that hi.-, wife's sorrow .seemed had pi u afresh into Irs commercial affairs. leaving Joyce lo liil her own lite. Then oilj day Joyiv li-toiied to the earnest porstias'on of a mu< ,- al genius to whom .she had been introduced. Whli I' -, ho'.ji she underwent and irinniphaiit- !\ p;i.-v i<l a voice trial, and a f> w days later, unknown to Gregory. signed a (.mtract to [day a minor part in a new musical comedy and to uudTstudy the pi'inc'p d role. And so Joyce slil>P"d away front the solemn ctmageinet-s to whieh t-he had pi. dged he.sjlf at the altar for a life which oreini.vd ■ ■vorythiug she now

■' i'rftty well, ma' a in. 1 believe; '"it I haven't been lu'i'o ver\ long. I did hear. though that Mr. '1 ivvor s wile ran. away Jrom him —iu>t a year ago this wry night. as I live-ami it .whin to have ciii linn ii|> something au Inl. Hut I expect you know all about, that.' went cm the girl. slipping the warmul cushion U'liind Joyce's .shoulders. l iie visiter nodded, hilt did not trust. hri'M'lt to speak. and the maid went on :

".Mr. Trevor's never sniihd cilice I've 1 een here, that 1 can vouch lot .Not hat \\ liat. miss, he's a good master. hut a I'll queer in lii> ways. .Not a thing will ho have altered in the Hit : everything 11IIIM lie just so. as she loi t it. 1 Mippiw. and it is as much as my place is worth to sliili a single piece ot turniture in this or any oilier room, except ler (hailing, of (iuir.se. lie will li.no everything just as she leit it.

soiiniit - fame cxe'temvllt, and forget

Hie t|Ki'.ker did not see the sudden tears uh'ch welled into tlio beaiitilul eye.s of tlie visitor, who sat in her chai> with drooping head. "lie won't l.e long now. ni'.ss." said the maid, wing that her master's visi tor seemed disinclined for conversation "Can I get you anything!-' Vou look t red out."

firogory never raisvl a tinker to br ng lot hack lo the hearth she h id deserted. and he slowly faded in her niemor-i-'s until sometime it seemed to Joyce ; if lie. tlie homo she ha I hat.. and '.■ veil the baby 1»i ucc undvr ler givon coverlet ill th > little Citid'h aue at I'ii entford, had never In en. llt r ehnnoe had come \\ h n tho " pi incipnl ladv" was sudenly and s erioiislv i'ii'i.in sod. and Joyee mad -an ire-taut hit 'ii tho p-.rt she had l*vn understudying. her Iwautiful voice, backed bv and unusual s"lf-possossion. winning plaudits from the crowded house night after n iyjtt.

And now "The Soc'etv Girl had finished iUs run in this oountry. and was going to play to American audionces early in the Now Joyee had looked forward with keen delight to life

"No. thank \ou," sai.l Joyce, smiling with an effort. "I've had a long journey to-day and heaps of «,xeitement. and a quiet rest will do mo good. Thank you very much for your thought fulness.''

| When the maid had disappeared Joyce looked with a wistful expression I round the rosy dining-room where she I had spent many happy evenings with Gregory in the far-off days. She rose from her chair, and with simple reverence walked about the room, touching

In the- cori,vr beside tho fireplace Mood her little \\ork-l>ji.-K«'t. £>ho raised the lid mid pcvp<»d hi. It. vww full hi the tunililcd «nJtlnu'iits in wool niui sill; .she remembered so well. Hero wore Hk, slippers, covered in a brilfiant green mill gold silk dragon pat1< |V- "h'lli she had destined lor Gregory s I>;1 1Inlay, unfinished, just, as sho had left tiioin, with her needle still Muck into tho matoriiil. Hor 0 a knitted tie still on Lite noodles as she had laxl it duu n. ami here .Trembling fingers drew out a pair of baby shoo.s. rubbed at the toes, and .stained with tho team a boai t-brokon mother had t>hed.

\\ ith the little relics at her lips Joyce Irevorsank hack in her chair, and, tho floodgate, of her heart wrenched asundor, wept Imi}' and silently. A i lock in tiie hall chimed the hour ol ton, and. (dipping one of tho tiny .'hois inside her coat, Joyce wi jx\l her c\ <■*,

I will leave flic otliei for linn," r]io murmured, as she hastily drew on coat and gloves and adjusted her hat. I lie maid apjiearod in the hall as she c.peiiod the dining-room door.

''l in afraid 1 can wait no longer now. said Joyce. "I'm so pressed for time, and 1 think, after all, 1 will write. she added, as the innid opened the front door for her.

| " What name shall I gave tho master;" a-<ked the girl. I ".Mrs. Trevor." replied Joyce, prowj ing a pi oca of silver into tho astonished [ maid's palm, and a few momenta later ] she was walking briskly under a bril- | 1 iaiit moon which, shining on the newfallen snow, turned the drab Chelsea j world into a fairyland, i A hundred yards from the flat JnJycA hail d a crawling taxi. She was about | to order tho man to drive her to tho 1 Woot-end hotlel wliero she had planned to sleep, when an inexplicabb impulse I caused her to change her mind. "Drive to HreniJord Church," sho : said, and as the door of the vehicle • clinked behind her she cave herself over to contemplation of tho queer mood j which had seized her. 1 Poor Gregory! So he still loved her. Why. oh. why was she so fashioned that] I tho amliers of the past at which she ha 1 just peeped gave forth hitter reflections which hurt iier in her very soul. I The vehicle sped along over tho frosty j roads. through gaily-lighted thorouglii fares, lined with brilliant sho|)« and jostling Christmas crowds, and past houses gleaming from basement, to attic with tho Yulctide sp l rll. And so Joyce, wrapp.xl in sad reflections. came to Hreiitlord Church. With the distant sounds of London ringing faintly in her ears she walked slowly through the stinging air into the snowjy churchyard in whose far-corner, where the bim pitched on warm afternoons, slept her darling. A thin mantle of white covered baby Joyce's resting-place, and for a fow moments the mother stood dry-?yed beside the little mound. with restless fingers caroling the carv?d head-stone. Like a dim picture the past came back to her now. She saw her, babe again in the silt, fragrant fltd), heard her first, lisping words, felt the dainty hands clasped in Ircr own. Suddenly she lelt as if the tiny fingers ware plucking at her heartstrings, and then tears cam?. And as Joyce stood with her head bowed over tho little grave the icy barrier which had frozen her h >art against homo and husgand liegan to melt. She was trembling now. leaning ogaiiwt tho w Into head-stone.

A shadow falling upon the snowy surface. almost at her feet, caused nor to look up. Her husband stood bareheaded beside her. the same Gregory sho had once loved so deeply, but an older Gregory, with deep linos of sorrow orvgrav.'d in the serious features, and hair liberally sprinkled with grey, so that it gleamed like s Ivor in the brilliant inoonliglit.

"Joyce." lie said, in ii low voice, "I knew I .should find you here."

11. i lm.-liand -i.hkl baroli'adod Ii< 1 ■ > Iter, the same Gregory she had oneo !u\.-d .so deeply. I.n; .111 older Gregory. with deep linos of sorrow engraved 1:1 ill ' i <>ll i features.

•' Gregory !" Slu> turn -d and held out In r hands to the man. whoso mouth :(| 11 ivoi od (strangely despite his effort at | sell-control, lie approached hos'tating- ; ly. then 100k h >r 111 strong arms and l:eld Irer so that she felt his heart throh- | liing against her own. | Strango emotion lill'd Joyce as she lay i passive. with (losed eyes, against h?r . liusband's breast. For a little while neither tpuko. .Joyce's barriers were rapidly tumbling now. She saw her professional fn--1111 o d -sipat ng into living »nirsLn before her mental sii>ht. \et somehow she did not oai . Kame soetned suddenly vnlu?j less; she no longer desired the plaudit* lot a crowded house. It was sufficient , to I'o 1 Gregory's strong arms about her. ' and she gave a little sigh of eonipl*ctO 1 content.

Slio fell hi>s w arm lips close to her ear. "Von liavp come hark to me. sweetheart:" he whispered. And .lovce could find no words to replv. luit the soft clinging lips wliieh 'lie? li s w -re eloquent. And as the ch'tnes from tliv old eh'ir'h tower proclaimed a new t'litis.ma* morning husband and wife, reunited, knelt together beside their loved t in's resting-place and pledged afresh their i'i. '

T"K I'NIV