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Show ,v"Xk y Katkerine h?- Edel-man TAUEA WOKTIILEY had - : V Passed her thirtieth birth-xfy'.J' birth-xfy'.J' day some years since, and J-Akiyi although she was possessed pos-sessed of more than ordinary ordi-nary good looks, coupled with a good disposition and an inherent ability for home making, she had never had a proposal of marriage. Once, some one had almost spoken the words-Laura words-Laura often thought of that wonderful wonder-ful evening sincia but just as it seemed that the fateful moment had arrived Aupt Mabel had come seeking seek-ing her for something or another. Next day Kobort Barrett had left Lin-denlield Lin-denlield and Laura had never heard from him since. The passing of time had eased the pain In her heart and she had managed man-aged to go about and show a smiling face to the world, but often she felt very, very lo-n-ly. But she told herself her-self that she ha 1 no ri.-ht to think of Te la . ;; he was probably married and settled down hog Ivfere r.ow in that far-off hind where his company had sent him. But, always as Christmas approached ap-proached she found herself thinking of him and pkturing the home that might have been the. rs togeth er. Aunt Mabel had beep, dead two years now, and since her death I aura had feir very much alone In the world, in spite qf many friends. But every year at Christmas time her cousin Vera, a widow of limited means, came to spend the holidays with her, r.nd always at this time she pave a party for the young people. And lest any of them might be thwarted of love and n proposal, as she had been, she saw to it that plenty of mistletoe was In evidence. She looked very beautiful now as she welcomed her guests to her annual an-nual party. She was one whom years give new and added charm In recompense recom-pense for the rosy liiisli of youth that tl.vy steal, and as she walked to Ihe door to answer a new peal of the bell, she would have attracted attention atten-tion anywhere. Opening the heavy door she looked without. A little cry sprang to her lips, for there she saw Kobert Barrett. Bar-rett. A rush of joy, of wonder, of delight, lluodod her whole being, lie had conii ho still loved her else, u by would he K hero? Steadying herself by the doorway she hade him wehance. and as sin recovered from the sudden rush of Joy nt seeing him again, her voice grew cool ami composed as she assured as-sured herself that his coming meant nothing more than a friendly visit-that visit-that even should he be still unwed. It would hi' some one younger, fairer than she that he would now sivk. lie seemed rather 111 at ease, and he blundered and stammered so when he spoke, that his voice was almost drowned In the sounds of gay laughter laugh-ter and music that came from beyond. be-yond. Then, suddenly, without warning, warn-ing, his arms reached out and he clasped Laura close and she felt his kisses upon her lips. He was asking i-cSJ! u the question that, she wauled most to hear, and he wis telling her Hint she meant all the world to him. When they bolh came back to earth he showed her tho spray of nilsllolov above them: "It gave me the courage cour-age I lacked long ago," he whispered. Later he told her why he had never written. Aunt Mabel bud spoken to bin) the evening before he left, and had told him that It would not. be fair (o lie Laura with a promise; also she had hinted of another man who was more favored. The company had Just brought him bacdi to Lliidenlleld, and as soon ns be got In, learning that Laura was still free, he had come. And because It was Christmas lime, and also because the years Ihnt were coining held n wonderful promise for them, and they could afford to be generous, gen-erous, there was no resentment In their hearts for the thing Aunt Mabel had tried to do. CO, 1t"7, Wt'Uloiu Nuivitpn ih'I' Vnl"U ) |
