Show 0 a lit d S v 1 i 1 gnes r I HE doorbell Amanda 1 I It ItI ItI THE I I may be the man with the horse hobby-horse cried Natalie Parker as she he gathered up a confused confused confused con con- fused heap of Christmas ribbons and gay colored wrappings strewn about the sitting room There was a sound of quick stamping and crunching of boots on the scraper The old servant opened the front door and a man set an enormous package in the hall said something about the blustering snowstorm and was gone As the woman carried the package package package pack pack- age in hi to Natalie a chirpy sound of funny little tinkling music issued from the bulky bundle Her black blackeyes blackeyes blackeyes eyes snapped with delight as she shecut shecut shecut cut the heavy cords Out tumbled a hobbyhorse a handsome fellow with a leather bridle a white woolly lamb Iamb with button eyes and a bell on his neck a long-eared long rabbit with a perky tail and a queer little whimsical top that seemed to laugh with merry music every time it was moved There was a wispy angora cap just big enough for a baby and a tiny white muff oh so little of real fur with a tippet to match Amanda gasped 1 All AU em Chrismas Chrismas Chrismas Chris- Chris mas No one cepin you Mis Natly would ever think of sech things I jes hopes em Harlow predates the the the-the- the but buther buther buther her voice wavered The sleeve of her alpaca frock brushed across tear dimmed eyes as she picked up the crumpled brown wrappings and fled from the room Early next morning Natalie settled settled settled set set- back in a train for a hour five-hour ride lide her heart brimming with hap hap- Many changes had come over the young girls girl's life Edith her older ti Ft y yr r 1 V r Fy Why Natalie Parker Exclaimed the Dumfounded Youth sister married Arnold Harlow and lived in Hillsboro Her house adjoined adjoined adjoined ad ad- joined the lovely old rambling stone homestead where Benjamin Parker a widower lived with his daughter Natalie and the faithful Amanda When Mr l Parker passed away Natalie closed the house and went to teach kindergarten in Boston Amanda went with her The train dashed along through a whirling snowstorm Deep in the tender mood of reminiscent reverie Natalie fell asleep Hillsboro Hillsboro Hillsboro She awakened with a bound Clutching her grip a box of barley candy and almost dragging the cumbersome and unwieldy pack Natalie still half asleep stepped out at the very end of a long frosty platform A tall young man in a big fur coat was waving good-by good to someone someone someone some some- one on the train as s it pulled out In his excitement he took a long free stride backwards on the platform and crashed into Natalie The two went down in the drifted snow in a heap The cord broke on the big bundle Helter the multitude of Christmas gifts scattered scattered scattered scat scat- in every direction They looked at each other in blank astonishment then astonishment then amazed recognition Why Natalie Parker gasped the dumbfounded youth Bruce Draper exclaimed exclaimed the bewildered girl actually spell spell- bound From somewhere in the snow came the sound of queer little rippling rippling rippling rip rip- pling music They looked at each other again with wide open eyes then burst into rollicking laughter They gathered up the wayward toys and Bruce loaded them into his car With the girl beside him a triumphant smile played over his face and they talked excitedly as the motor raced over the hills Mother and Aunt Em just left for grandfathers grandfather's farm and Im I'm going up tomorrow but now tell me about yourself Natalie Bruce surprises are so much fun Edith doesn't know Im I'm coming com com- ing ing Natalie got a real surprise however however however how how- ever in a few moments for no one was home at her sisters sister's house After repeated ringing and pounding pounding pounding pound pound- ing she looked at Bruce in dismay Her eyes wandered toward the Parker home Oh Bruce I have the keys of the stone house Lets Let's go over and build a fire we can at least keep warm until they come With logs from Harlows Harlow's woodpile Bruce soon had a roaring fire romping romping romping romp romp- ing on the hearth They stood ber be be- r 1 it r. r rr I 1 f Bruce S Soon on Had a Roaring Fire Romping on the Hearth Dearth fore the flames the girls girl's blond hair hairlike hairlike hairlike like an aureole of gold framing her face the man tall taU and bronzed alert and capable Lets look through the house suggested Natalie leading the way At the turn on the stairs there was a wonderful beehive window on the landing and a friendly window- window seat They lifted the lid Many things were stored in the seat this box Candles Candles- I Christmas candles called out ant Bruce Lets light up the windows windows windows win win- dows Back down stairs they dashed and soon the rambling stone house was wasa a glitter of lights Bruce went over overto overto overto to Harlow's Harlows to get some more logs and returned with the wood and a package Natalie somebody delivered these holly wreaths at Edith's I found them at the back door Well We'll put them in the windows Ho ho hol- hol What's this Mistletoe too Heres a footstool Bruce tack i ion ion il i on the hall haIl arch With a flutter of ecstacy Natalie looked up smiling but the firm face of Bruce Draper wore an expression expression expression sion of grave appeal With a combination combination combination com com- of strength and tenderness he took her in his arms Dear Natalie this mistletoe is a symbol of the plighting of loves love's troth His voice trembled There was a moment of silence a moment of mutual confidence and understanding which had been al almost almost almost al- al most instantaneous Her blond head rested in the hollow of his shoulder Through the half closed eyes warm tears gathered his gathered his words clung to her senses like a benediction The heavy front door swung open suddenly There stood Edith Arnold Arnold Arnold Ar Ar- nold little Phillip and Peter Peter and and tiny Marjorie looking in wonder as Natalie and Bruce awkwardly stammered stammered stammered stam stam- and blushed in confusion Well Vell well chuckled Arnold we saw the lights lights we we we thought er er and crossing the hall he gripped Bruce firmly with a friendly hand while Edith kissed her happy- happy hearted sister Look here Bruce said Arnold I lets mal make e this the reopening of the old homestead and send for Amanda I 0 Western Newspaper Union I |