OCR Text |
Show in::thepass , The Story of the Bizarre Christmas That Was Borne in on the Wings of Storm and Peril. , By Georgia Wood . Pangbrn But how can w b aura wsr keep"O, thank you." said aha. but It's tent up a Joyous roaring. Martha set ,ARTHA CARTER and her brother. It waa a moment before he remembered W wore going to have her for Christmas , turn against her silky back and hear her tha road at all?" And then, perhaps nothing, really. I did a silly about tidying up, while Jean resumed Martha w wouldn't have any- - wheels go 'round. report of the attenuated larder dinner, but Thomas, had atayed late at camp, ing . because She wriggled, perhaps because he thing. Our chickens are Inperfectly a on old of work the paof this snow beleaguered house. Then way, beoauaemaybe colored crazy length e bright I suppose now theyll all dome, Martha to get some studies of was weary, hia shoes caught and they barn, and the door won't Anjy hurt her foot. So roA-bwithsighed chains shut to" be her chief Ilk a blow came memory of an Inventory aeemed per that cel-lac stay eh wouldn't bo down to able get . Jean, "though they're really better off out out being braced by a great beam. It effort at Christmas decoration. late autumn foliage, Thomas for plunged forward, she had hastily and secretly given him. to there. Now it la not safe or wise to go head slipped clover and weed seeds In and fell as I was putting It up "On pound of salt pork, one bushel of There are some old things left over the hunting, but they had meant first Tweedledum broke off wKh a solemn tha hayThere's Into and corn, and for water they a drift have when deep I aa last the and from you back to keep half night, to be in town for Christmas with drew, last stock summer's that a bushel Im of planapples, Cracked look and enow kicked potatoes can the frownlngly. eat on. But Martha was quick and frcm being hit I anow snowshoes the that drifted In. to corn onto a one, married remarked. out. ing shs the lib. ad but br.ng square because Helen, the chicken Plainly one didn't cture to apeak of cerThey family, Even aa ahe spoke, however, they began She dug down to his nose and great air nail in stepped a piece of crating the will help out, but I'm afraid we'U have kind, apparently no coffee, or tea, or sugar, or flour. nag to be there, showing off her hus- sensible. . ' tain things to him arrive. and then loosened 1 hia shoes got children air, never uo and the soft had d tree. been on meant with." babies Squawk, To to this he added band and two perfectly good play.ng get the chickens and O. today, but however, went on to make thump of their featheryflap, that h could right himself. Then shs Martha shuddered. Thomas set hla lips what with my foot and .the snow , yes, eggs, of eoursa At least the little tt Tweedledee; percussion in th before bxhib.ted in the east. So Martha so plain. unscrewed the bottle. till snow, end thermos bent over all dotted! the aa I'll the foot chain with as far voice In the darkened room had mad a professional However, drift and fiftyIn and Thomas would not have missed spread my She does It down cellar after we're had to be brought "Ten minutes, and carried through gasped Thomas, "for air. The bandages were clumsy, but th they will go and make the most of what mention of a certain 'Peepay who had Christmas at home for anything. asleep," said ahe a littie sadly, "then we to th woodshed. skill of the future surgeon was fore- greens w have." the to situation do Still, Th The idea waa that they would leave refreshments." something who! a with egga see don't them until they're all clean Us advantages, for th children hadhad Their wallowing had mad a deep cup shadowed in his big hands. He looked You got "We'll have a tree, , alt right." said situation waa a little funny. to on the ISth and motor down. or in which for the moment they at the small wound with an anxious eye. pinky yellow and ready for the oven. leave off getting under foot of the ChristBut mostly 'twaa something else. Thomas and Thomas, sternly. Jean looked up radisuch ripping scenery . by the way and werenest, W don't mind. At least, not very much. mas from relieved the charwtnd. The a O, It's clean hi th sat said In wound," up furs, th husks beneath him Of eourte, it there wean t enough snow to matter; the girl antly. preparations and set shout th conwas changing. It was calmly. I used" iterll water. "O. If you could! i depend some on who tt la struction of fifty nests. It was easier But It rustling The unsympathetic W aren't very roads were still good. Anyway, Martha acter of the snow crisply. and hard, like eand, ana almost went through, you see. That little fond of Soggy, attll now for Thomaa to Sip out unobserved broke tn Martha, having put moon looked tn upon him the "Jean, moon wanted to see the anow on the moun- becoming fine that "How It about was Has laid like of desert ahe a on dust th bruise that broom and see blowing th so and s Peepay? and shows where returned make work. autumn much away th hla Journeys to tho wreck to her never dustpan ihe Instep trouble and does anytains aa a climax Christmas egg!' It - waa also growing colder. point stopped Inside. I was wearing ten- to th fire, haven't you any relatives at thing about tt. , without being put through th third deThey might even atop for a sketch or Thomas remarked equably aa The occasioned he drank threw all eff nis th there gloom Wasn't pair Th sneakers and were sole the worn on anybody! his return. As Jean remarked. gree two. undulating whiteness lay clear t g that there seemed to be thin. O, why, yea, ah said, momentary contemplation of It wa relatives, of aa daylight, down and then up by th like the Swiss Family But the valley folk thought them hot coffee like winter on the way, and he Thomas did It up In a mors workman- course. They made all sort of offer to th foot sweeping Boggy's possible end, and answered partly Roblnson. exactly of off their going so ths and the way they got things where In mountain, pretty raah to aaput Martha . tn scarefrom the added, deathless like manner. meant In to be swift quoting but somehow unison, They of relays: kind, the Jawe out partly the of car .waa And. their ehip. and they were pretty peas their long. crow; - . Juat going out to th barn to nearly aa alone Yea, I guess youve done about all none of them could take both children. quietly hibernating. as th Swiss Family Robth seaWe're Remembering through the 18th and the ITth Thotnato Cool weather we're Some for wanted neat. when We've And some Marlittle could and made having anyone conher have a July. miles done for bitter he Ranney of darkness which he had you." inson, and aa cut off from outside help. himself began to fret. She wanted s, "Now, aald Martha, with her old ceded, but If w can dig our wav to the ian, And my older sister would have been traversed th nigh. before with Martha, we've dug a path to the ham we'U bring Not but that there were roof finish something. Martha s way! It waa peaks and what we're going to do la this; car tomorrow I can get some Iodine and her In. But first well take th basket In chlmneva, but th windows were they Were Juet the 30th before she woke up, end Marshutt' going to burrow right down put a few more frill on the dressing." for you." did not actually start until the 13rd. th chimneys without smoke, th ered, hiIn like here babes the colthe and woods Hs Martha opened the door upon th! yose and locked with a quizzically dwellers tha waa three years older than Thomas made their southern flitbernate In our furs till morning. Then lifted eyebrow at the log deploying over loquy. Bhe waa wearing a bungalow ting long having and had ruled him from Infancy, even you ago. One feather of amoks there dig out, put on your anowahoea, the floor. Dehind her th room had al- wee, however, sad apron, after he shot up to six feet, leaving her and can and when the sky go find that gift shop." "Mind If I try to Improve on It! ready thrown off It look of trouble, eo had turned daffodil thither, somewhere in the foothills of stature yellow and th smoke as always." said Thomas, but Isnt tt horrible I" said she.. "Poor ba that on eaw what its character Had been agalnat five feet two or three. But almost al- w "Right waa It a of plum wont. Because biee! a amethyst, there's How light." before the girl's mishap. Like the room Thomas steered hi they worked on It and how most he threw off her yoke that day. Not snowahoes, bearing exactly, but a different" In proud they were But all my woodoverhead, K depended largely upon chlnts a tin pall end his purse. She said unconcernedly, looking up at color Ina light chilFor one direction the purplish gray that length. Ive been It to stove for tta expression; and sow that the stove dren, Martha said (but not inth Jean's the ominous blank whlteneaa of tha sky, - But I the storm taking on a subtly warmer length as J needed It.- sawing It hearing), had tt was floor of clean black ashes and the thought that It would be all the nicer to get home of to have whla-tietone toward heir right. Thomas d milk, and there got would burn like this safely toseemed to smile bravely, ae the girt her- wasn't going do Just on Christmas eve, b any mors nonsense. through his teeth aa he hurried on night and I would stay here enough and shove self waa smiling. Thomas said nothing. He merely threw hie snowshoes. It was a Darby and a Joan who, before It tn a It burned until It waa ' on m the aat wooden Bhe In his clutch and leaped forth upon the a rocker, working rightif he could came to th door in a "I wish you' 'et me walk." fretted length. If you dont mind getting your-aesome affair of bright scraps which ahe state of knock, highway with temper and haste. Martha her over his shoula hand lamp from th kitchen and repressed but intense excitement came a children towel aa under hid "Hiram Harwood aald It would be an der. but aaheh s sung the and Thetr delight at the not seem to hear. inquisitiveness. finding the woodshed. It would be glorias wa got through tha In. Th hollow In her cheeks were even tal of right as soon the unhappy car wa thinly veiled No shape et house appeared, but the ous to have a log the right else. the only to a the foot, hut, 'by pass," said Martha. "That's plainer daylight, As th door closed behind by thalr exclamations of sympathy. but glow Increased, haloed and amorphous aa the Insisted that It was almost well, and their place where the drifts are likely to be In a fog, then narrowing down concern over Jean's foot waa genuto the defi- Martha, who hsd been looking Thomas, bad. tn aptt of Thomas's most professional ine. intently " nite from outline of a round the wreathed window, to far of that the bride glrlk Thomas said nothing. more would do manner him let nothing If about with white. If there were step rd been a mlt younger'a I be. I'd Photograph, mad en exclamation. The pair of them wars aa fussy aa and It. It she should for Unless, promised. ever tt to I now were to She But. gone covered leading say up thar, they my woman, eea said, with catching breath, bears In their furs, as cosy as If they feel wore. I. that girl' the road; If there was a but you you're nothin' but a kid hereelf. Marian were about to hibernate, ana the cer was In level withtoo. Applegates the are said "Well," Martha, potatoes was little She'd on looked rest. sister! You're Jean be with the after. But we that, I as large as a small house, glassed In porch about don. I knew, of course, you'd thoughtoughts Thoms walked straight up to the four had a dance with vou at Applegate. likely ahe had folks aommers, and the Bleecker and padded everywhere What space was shining" bring something hack from th wreck. been kind of boylah. We don't atm aha'd panes The glass wa patterned nous when she brought you up for Prom not taken by tha hamper for Martha's A table waa already set In th kitchen, to be like with frost, but the Interior was week. And we sat next each other at city folks, my woman an me. extensive picnicking and by her cord or so lightly and thHher Tweedledee and Tweedledum StilL I'd meant viable. Thomas set Martha down senior dramatics!" to see If ahe had wood and their two rallies was dimly of canvass shovels the their with closely In following And of door. the front you," cried the girl, hfter a atar-tle- d Didn't aeem to me last fall she stuffed with the rda! Christmas greens waa taken, opened, and mad to enough. do Now hamper wa Silence, the he. In said were you the you knocking," getting class genius enough. they were taking back to their niece and "This part of It la up to you. I saw a 1 disgorge heaps of sandwiches, a Jar of And then, aa Thomas was paying for nd little woman In there." ' nephew. They even had a beautiful for hot tha milk, marmalade; and the making old Joan brought In a glorious spruce tree on top, supposed to be suchocolate. In the woodshed Thomas confronted a So "Martha knocked. there pi and asked him if he could perior In some way to a tree bought in was a sound within, it But.'though without blueberry "I couldn't mash th potato was not that of small company of four-focarry it without spilling the milk. It chunk. One the city. and and milk." butter of Martha, them whispered across to undo door. It a steps saw verv tha lay wasnt approaching horse, half cut said Martha good, shs said; she never 'Tm glad we waited, the salt pork waa too pc -- tous to use up wa no hand with more as If somebody had sudsounded but she to be pastry, rip"It's thought perfectly going equably. before I made sure ynsi would bring they might like It for thetr Christmas denly started to move furniture shout. ping. I hope It does snow.", Do you know, ehe'e ahy dinner. He took K reverently, for Thomas glanced In again at the window. r something. Thomas said nothing. by tts to Too A let the about out for Indisface looked an neighbors! Inatant, proud shape, color and aroma he knew he wae "We'll get to the pass about luncheon tinct behind the them know she's up against It, I suppose. In frost; then In a curithe presence of one of the really great time, won't we? she asked ae she curled ously I If on see wteh you'd wav a bolt waa drawn and But later you can't cooks of th world. down, yawning. She had worked late a kev clumsy The door opened Inward get to that house where there a smoke I'll it as far aa I can," he said, with her delayed parking and waa sleepy. and theturned.. see If some find snow and milk for but I carry had tt that drifted cant you In never not was against "Mhm, said Thomas. Ha get vary far with a rushed in' ahead of them, stretching half the ha Wee. I don't believe they've had pl. It doesn'tcould seem to last a Christmas spirit at all with acroas the room In a carpet of white, any for ages. Look at them now.' me. somehow, and I never evenlong And then. s Martha pleasantly drifted way tried to while the wind, coming up behind, threw Tweedledum and Tweedledee had carry on like this before! Into a nap, the snow began to come. more over their They could ranged up eld by aid In front of the taTh old chuckled and filled hla Very softly, the Individual flakes failim: hear It hiss as It shoulders. ble with a glased, hypnotlo look, their Pocket withlady struck the stove at the with feathery slowness. yet the general farther side of the cookies room. eye wholly engaged by the food. They : made "I Chess seed cakes for my grandimpression of the whole was of tremen- -' "Ah! "Now .Thomas. did not recover consciousness even when children, aald she, "hut apologized dous swiftness. Thomas set his Jaw and that's guess mavbe too bad." and he stooped to struggle their wrap were peeled elf. their hands their ma won't let em outI in went full speed ahead.' snow. with the drift and close the door In the and faces washes, and handkerchiefs ap- 'Taln't packed down enough yetthla It waa two hours before Martha woke. storm's to make face, while Martha conferred with plied. At first shs smiled, the thick whiteness the good a la going cutter. if Anyways, they stood who girl "You know," confided Martha, 'smiling rather stiffly, was so lovely. Then she sat up straight do com I can eaay make another-hatch.non too cordial. In spite of their not so fast as youd think. But theytheyre hav with a half guilty frightened smile. Her seeming But A Thomas turned into Jewthe away as to that, she had a plight plight. not exaotly suffered. It' plain they've eled glory of the evening, Juggling the eye was caught by the yellow curve of of own to worry over. For as she stood been getting whatever there waa . . . still pall of creamy milk with on hand and Thomass snowshoes where they showed sheherkept one knee the upon which chair, 1 wonder what ahe'd hav 8 don he had her massed greenery. above th master pie In the other, th pure had pushed In front of her In order w hadn't. . . been openly scornful when he had grimly she cold wa music and perfume; the to reach this the door, the being expla"Don't!" aald Tom, turning away to hollowairof th like placed them there Instead of leaving them nation of the delay and the noise of valley wa a cup filled with look out of th frosted window. Then wonder. at camp aa usual. Now well she looked moving furniture. from them to the storm, bit her Up, and they brought Jean in, In her chair.,'sand-wlohJean was looking out of a northern Her foot was awkwardly bandaged, and blushed. 8U11, they were entering now And when she saw the food Just window when he came In eight bearing she smiled perfunctorilv she caught coco and her hie rich addition between the high, gray' walls of the pass ka and marmalade and to their Bwlsa family lip between her .teeth as if in The road must still be good. And if her lower own potatoes ah acted hypnotized., too. chateau' cheer, and so as he turned hi pain. Ashes were scattered about the Thomas scooted aat back In the rocking chair and face to the southwest and She and was stove stood for a the Itself a atove, haggard Thomas waa scooting, all right. a took and stared grew moment spoonful white; with th last glow of th sunset with bits of bark, and Two Inches of snow In the open may sight, .sprinkled coeoa of Martha had the which poured him saw ahe adupon no door what woman had to front stood its open become something very different when rusty, for her, smiled shout at them weakly, ever before seen In Thomas mit one end of a four-foneither log, the other between two cliffs marching ahoul looked at the caught already In children, Martha silently a nor end hla mother. And then he discouraged way upon the resting der to shoulder for a mile or so with at the engaged upon was sandwiches; Martha, at and beside door the of stove the a babies number floor, were the bebarely room for a road to squeeze and then, in a frightened way, at Thom- clamoring at him, apd drawn Into a .pile, with some and Martha wa reltween. And two Inches on top of two rugs were aa. back from the she Suddenly one ae If at him pushed end, had been of she milk and the pie and the ieving Inches make four Inches. Thomas pillow table and tried to rise. lying there to be near the log and push unloading the cookies from his pockets, eo , stopped. e "Don't let them eee me cry," she mut that hs might wrestle with hla snow-shoA beautiful motionless, curving wavs he mountain aeemed tered, etaggerlng to her feet, but ahe for th dosenth time that of white rose before them. It was already r nd h looked upon wasn't quick enough. Her weeping had But Joan eat very still, and day. let th ten feet high and the wind, pouring bs- -' them the nw' In out Ice like tts way spring. golnrThomas understood. lengths of paper chains drop from her tween those gray walls, waa still busy grew vivid and desirable! MounuJS'Tf cub a to doctor, hands Being coll masa and about tt. her Ilk What It would become by night, with sandwiches out there under the snow Being a woman, Martha understood perof red and blue and yellow flowers. which would begin to close down chicken, ham, roast beef cake and fectly. But It wa terrible, especially when heaps She had been feeling strangely week eince hours who could predict! Even as It Pies the children, after a moment of that hysterical waa tt waa enough, quite enough I way at breakfastAnd Jean Applegate's cheeks were so horror. Joined In at the top of time, and aha giving waa not qutts sure she Thomas looked at it. Martha looked hollow. That girl younger than he! voices. their could bear all Only mean that thla Christmas wa at it Thomas did a and cruel nineteen, then. Why, at nineteen a girl "You see, ahe said, when the storm Into her scared and thing. Hs took hia hands from the wheel, life. should be dancing and fooling around had subsided and the children, smiling bringing Of course, they had carols hungry In the evelit a cigar, and, having pulled a newsto d going were and parties. still but th a back his leaned In babies from ning: Joined in nobly. If paper pocket, He dressed by the simple process of once more busy with their sandwiches, carefree attitude end began to read. picking up hla shoes, and stole with bur- while shs was being fed at Judicious Inter- sketchily. Good King Wenceslaua looked out "Dam you, Tom! cried Martha, twistglarious softness downstairs. Martha did vals with tea and toast which Thomas t On of Stephen ing her small hands In hla coat collar, not wake, and there waa no sound from had suddenly decided was a safer diet When the gnow lay round about, ' Thomas read on undisturbed, folding the room. the other In had who for chocolate apthe than a woodshed he person as ha oontloued different to a paper Deep and crisp and even. angle found hi snowshoes, strapped them on, parently been rationing herself .Just as Tt waa Juet th perusal of the article he had begun. weather precisely fof and, finding shovel that be had nhted near to nothing aa was compatible with King Wenceeiau ms to "Tom. please! Don't stop to aet forth. punish and hla fee the ' now. ShoxdJrr to ohoddor evening before, put It over his shoul- life "you see, It came over me sud- On Beamed to ae them page Ost back while - there's time, aa they sang In der end started out. You people, out of the world I used the dusk before denly. please! th lamps immobility thoy ,Th? mountain rose clear,' yet phantom-IlkStatuesque to know It wee as If somehow you hsd Christmas phantoms moving were lit, "Huh? O, all right Any way you duskily before him. He could even make out com from them. Bhe struggled again across waitmd matS Ae waa jnot olx and the car roared like a giant say wide, white outdoor spaces, a solitary pine leading out from a foot- for and won; Tve been a while ththe pallid wasp In a spider web. But while they of the thorn sunset glow foot still ouddonly hold so slight that but little snow found little lonely here," she said, "and not hung in ths west and a dirtont, had been scooting and during the valuplanet biased oaid in swrea, Good morn lodgment about its trunk. He thought sure I waa doing what they would have above able minute and a half which Thomas the mountain at east. the he remembered euch a tree leering at wanted me to do for the babies" had utilised In teaching his sister a lesPage and monarch, forth they want. him out of the storm Juat at tha moment fag, Mr. Cartor.m son event hsd been shaping behind "Well, you were, said Martha sharply, Forth they went together. he had "Now take this tea, and forget everything fully abandoned th car. them. The great car backed ten. twenty would hav gone on longer, but They But th surface tomorrow." It's but blank found Christmas beneath .that and the that lay the the wasp feet spider that Tweedledee and Tweedledum tree when he had reached It How deep, Ths girt was leaning back now on Mar- was observed toyawned had been silently spinning. There waa lean heavily en Jean' then, did . this burled treasure lie, and tha's shoulder, but Thomas was still at kne with his a great deal of web now. In hi mouth, signs finger where then would one atart digging for H! her side, and it seemed the most natural meaning bedtime after a It took an hour to work up to within busy day, so Then he spied out a mound by a de- thing In the world that after profesa hundred feet of the Jaws of the pssa -thev were hustled off. Marof of wrath hour and pression a wave mark, like th dimple sionally counting her puls, which had patlenoe, gn While waa Martha them In Jean tucking a brook makes over a bowlder or Ilk leapsd to a hundred and forty, then fallen sang. Quito tha's contrite tears, of roaring and wheedsimply aha folded 'her hands the dent of a giant thumb. He tightened beck to a hesitant eighty aa the storm and, looking at ling. Two hour mors of effort that led was sparth atar which his mouth and burrowed Into the calm subsided, h should kssp th hand that nowhere at all. Then night came the kling through th growing froet of th ao unresistingly In his. Bo thin depths deep night of elx o'clock and two flakes lay shall feed "H window, his sang, flock" Tbe snow turned pink and gold about so marked with heavy work! were falling where but one fell before. In a voice had ones been cultivated him as he came to the valises and to Four tncheef Twenty, at least, and twenty Hs thought of all ths things It hsd and eared which for with anxiously other along mean driftthat Christmas tree which would never been doing; of the constant care of the useless lovely Inches may twenty feet when thing. now wear glass balls and tinsel for th children, ed. of th pitiful paper chains, of . Easily. After babies th which, off gon having niece and nephew In New York. From th grisly honor of Its conquest of doomed sound while thev were Even aa Thomas seized a moment for It in as it burned without havingTo get In two, a tough bit of oak. that glad to gtv me a home. She really needed this he worked being undressed, exhausted meditation, the signs of their up for th purpose any more down the "In and smooth chickens wa smartly at hi muscles before hepulled ths cellar along straggling than th three I me. her became had with to almost grownups out her help frnntlo retreat out of the pass were quiet- necessary. enamel and glass of the door. But when we're asleep.' In on corner of the room finished the Job. When It had fallen sul- babies; suppose, Once It must hav terically gay over tha tree, dressinghys-it but I know Marian would feel black the time he had conquered the flying been like the hands of other girls that from ly covered over aa If they had never were a few branches of greenery, a Christ lenly apart and he waa gathering Its so bad to nave them separated, and I by tip to root in Jean's paper chains been. And the car was not only hub deep, mas wreath was hung over one corner of halves into hla arms, Martha came out, knew white and Martha knew. Now It was like and showering powder sufficiently tn get It open hs It all over with gift ahop trusted me more than she did th whole there were no tires visible at all only a a chair back, and soma tiny sweaters her eyes wld and black with excitement, anyone ahe world of him about those had biased woman; I any working chapped, trifles. A discarded doll had been paintelse. I told them all I thought black box, motionless like a waterlogged and red mittens and leggings were drying and shut th door Into the kitchen care- could make Into blinding gold. the nails broken, marked with ed and dressed and fitted with calloused, and let out this way. they wings to boat, wearing a ridiculous mob cap of on another. Th Hamper waa heavier than Martha old and recent burns, chafes, cuts. But fly at the me try. Theyd lost a good deal. too. fully behind her. top for a Christmas fairy, and You must make yourselves as comwhits where their Christmas tree and an "Tom," said she, "It'a Jean Applegate, They were really glad to be rid of th by twenty-fivperhaps fifty, pounds, o, he thought as he looked steadily upon it Mrs. John's blueberry pie wa reared upon extra trunk bad proudly ridden fortable ae you can." said she, when Mar- the since it no had sister of that Marian Applegate who But maybe I was wrong. feeling to be considered, that there was no fault In It at all. a kind of and wreathed about "You take your snowshoes, aatd Mar- tha had explained matters I married Rannev Bakerton that vaa killed responsibility. Hie meditation was Interrupted by an with green pedestal I was wondering tf I ought not to write he hitched a strap to on end of It and to off set its round rich, face, tha. her face aa white as the drifts, "and do wish I could help, but I sketchily. hurt my foot In France. Ranney never saw th boy. and say they could do things for u their dragged It behind him. But the aunltt odd look from Martha. Whereupon his and the cookies also were hung en tho go back to the first farmhouse. It's that yesterday and Marian died when he waa a few week cwn way. Yet It teems a pity, because anow waa now eo bright that h had to face took on a deep damask, and, deof ths twigs. You tips know. Ws got some There came a smalt, sleepy sound from old, and on top of that they loat all their aa children grow older, and we have our keep hla eyes shut to a slit and pull ths gift shop place. fiantly releasing ths hand, which had There were the rag dolls that Jean had postcards there last summer. Pretty girl th next room. She touched her lips with jncney. and there was Jdat this girl to garden and chicken will vleor of hla cap low. d everything and not seemed aware in the least bt his wor. made, gav In dresses that mads up for and two awfully nice babies. I can stay her finger. look after Marians babies. Think of it! ,mg out all right if ws can only hold on. without raising hla head, he retraced his strode to the window, where he any blankness of feature, he ship, while as to th here all night, and you can come back own tracks, and so, before he was aware stood, whistling and drumming on the expectant "Theyre hardly asleep yet," she whis- Shes nothing but a kid herself. Whv. But Jean told Thomas stockings, with men In the morning and dig me out. pered warnlngiy. Thomas and Martha she Isn't even as old as you are. Marian to knee again rose She her how and had far he felt blue he for time. a th adjusted corns, long pane where she had been hiding some butterfroze In attitude of silence. I shall be perfectly waa one of tho richest girls In college; the chair, "Im going to turn in with the shadow of the house cover him, and was a window looking out from the nut and beechnuts agaiiwt It this continThomas strapped on his snowshoes said a little voice. a saddle horse, had lovely gowns, babies and let you two have all tbe rest looked up to see the boy and girl await- aide of th house directly upon the barn, "Anjy! kept and thev put a lead pencil In each without comment, then, opening the door, all the different "Well, dear!" gava-thelped out of the house, which Isn't so hospitable aa ing him upon the wite mound which which, as It ths fashion of the region, gency. soma and off of th more with topped held out hit big arms with a grin. "Do you think Psepsy will lay her egg poor girls bn th sly thatfunds, one up- mvSa4-jtfieort. And then It seems, because there faced th road, shoulder to shoulder with wholesome looking pieces of candy out of poroh atepa. "Get aboard. he said simply. for Christmas? Jean found that this old house uo her stairs room furnished and only no blanIve was half a Th hsad snow taller house. on than Tweedledee level started the a box asIn which Martha settled firmly Martha had planned to abher seat, "Perhaps, tf you go right to sleep and waa every blessed thing they had left. ket for that bed. But If Mr. Carter Tweedledum, and her Hair curled beyond with the window sill, then swept up in a ths on her way to New York. Oh, yes; dont wake sister." Jean had never had any useful- sort of can be comfortable In those furs and Mis suming her customary elderly dignity. knit blue cap beautifully. Tweedle- graceful curve, as the wind hsd molded sorb In the toe of each thev put their pen"But Anjyi "Don't be silly. she murmured. , training. She says ahe' waa stupid, but, Carter can can make out her by th fire, her dum had darker eyes and was squarer of It. to the upper window where the hay knives. Tom's and Martha'. of course, that' a lie. Then she got the it may not be so bad." "Hurry," said Thomas, "before I dreg "Well?" and snubbler of nose. Otherwise, In wa forked through into tha loft. those were stockings that anybody Reallv, Did somebody come!" ' Idea of having a gift shop here. It you out by the scruff of your neck. aaaured her that it would not be Jaw Martha might swathed The woodln shutter of the window had have been pleased expression, and atti' to receive en Christmas Shucks. Kitten! Don't cry. Why, this dear." "Ye, secpied practicable enough, right In the bad. but very, very good much better tude, thevoorpulence, were the same, and each held been flung ajar and twisted askew by ths morning, and as to rout of summer auto.sts. But she ha the tree, they "were Isnt anything but one big lark. Hold "Was tt was it was It -- ??" snowdrift that they were pre- a small Are shovel. than the Shoulder to now shoulder was and Its black oblong storm, on Juat get out the thermo bottle, will A word wa whispered, but th all agreed when, at midnight, they swept girl to look after the chllren, too, you see, paring to Inhabit when they saw her light In statuesque Immobility they waited un- crowded with the sharp, peering faces of up and mads things tidy generally the paints and heard it. She answered gently. and ahe wasn't used to that or to busiIt and went with her to help put the Inyou! Leave the tree and six feet distant, then chickens, their yellow feathers and scar- was most tasteful one they had ever tha trunks. They'll be all right till next "No. dear, not daddy. . ness, It hasnt panned out very well. jured foot to bed, while Thomas took a til he waa Just said In unison, "Good morning, let combs brilliant tn the sunlight. But seen. thsMoat trees I thought . . Chris tm a ao are be I've looked Into th ahop. If full of un- hand lamp and went on a search for the suddenly spring. There you are. But can the overloaded. And Mr. Carter, after whioh they hopped a even as Thomas looked the foremost who cares for boughten things, anyway! tears. They'll freeze In my neck. Gee! might." sold stuff. one furnished room overhead. ' to Indicate relief from tension and hcdibed her head In a sort of salute, unwhat a sell to have It happen this way "Not this Christmas, sweetheart, "Tom! There hardly a week's rations. fhriatmaa morning. He found it to be directly over the room little, well Thomas wa not think- furled her wings, squalled and leaped. dona with nothing but a sieter!" duty Bhe turned to look at a framed photo-p-ap- Theyre positively on the edge of starviIf was etlll dark when the auto horn he had quitted. It was warmed a ing of his owm manners landacross Just sailed the and ensce, hla "Tbs babies end Christmas and Helen, She of a young man In an aviators ng. Th flour bafrel Is so clean tt Isn't little by just veiling then, woke Thomas. At first he eat up with a It. th stovepipe passing through whimpered Martha, "hut for me wsd have islmet, hanging beside a photograph of a even white Inside. She pretends she waa and at first It seemed not greatly unlike answer cam awkwardly, but they cov- ed in th drift Just outside the window hazy Idea that the car had been brought hi ered confusion been there now. hold tactfullv with her woman in and. Howwtngs by outspread bridal keeping and but laving weath around from the garage, then hs rememhappy young ezpectlng supplies tomorrow, theres the other rooms; observed carefully. They would carry it, they afloat upon that white sea, quietly set- bered how they had "They'll all keep,", he said comfortably, veil. Over th aviator's picture wa a a little hand mill with cracked corn In it ever. It was but a clever aham of packing of the hamper. clamped th horn 'on all Bo hv exan themselves. said, off Into a star. he whit with the sort thats used for chicken quite took tled down, cocking expectant yellow a chair exactly half wav the Not this Christswinging chaos, flag gold and I boxes and chinti. Even th bed was between the two swear to you It the nearest thing to nothing but a set of springs set upon It by the middle and they added their eye up at him. But ths children had cribs. For cept Christmas, and thera U be another mas no. nor any Christmas. how can Christmas Juet a good next year." this and Its symbol, flour or bread thats been in the house boxes instead of a bedstead, and the pil- weight to either end and were born recognised her voice and cam shrieking: dawn without tin trumpets? So morning Observing picture If there " VTh car Thomas felt humble and young. His for weeks." along. lows which stood up solidly with a cou"Peepsy. Peepsv. Peepay I" they shrilled. none, 'orve must get on aa one can Ia K Chriatma thing?" asked Twee- "She flew! She's coming hi for Christ- "are "Nobody'll steal It. It'll be right there Srowth had been an affair of such recent aren't the children sick, then? rageous port, when punched proved to be "Why wa loud a with But substitute. it when the snow goes off In the spring. while this fellow had been get- said Thomaa. after a moment' grave con- fuli of beach leaves and corn husk In- dledee, her soft voice broken with happy mas!" not meant for Indoor uee. Its trdmp horn, waa . , These things happen now and then up ting hla gold star he had been a Boy sideration. "With things aa bad as that stead of feathers, while the mattress wa awe. Bo the window waa opened and Thomas followed by small chanting voices: ' was Hiram aald Thomaa reflectively, "that pulled her out of th drift, and she waa here. 'Well. I should think they'd have all aorta of only a sack of husks. Jumpy and ruatly. Bcout merely. telling me yMterdav. Chrism Chrlsmter "Chriemle, la, thev A long silence followed, during which thing th matter with them. be telling. And anyway It tsnt brought to the table and finished break- sang. After this tha Smell of ham "Yop know, and yet you let Nevertheless he wa comfortable and would and mine." "O, well! I thought maybe wed get the girl held her head attentively in the "Chickens! said Martha, in awed tone. s,eepy'and glad to be alive. fast with the family, being held first un- muffins and coffee. all door. It 'Ia Now kill of herselfnoddon't talk direction the ''She Martha'!" them and makes broth would der Tweedledum's arm and then under through right. off he wa drowsily As he Acquaintance Presently she just dropped as hs he Strange, descended, thought, . for th children. keep a lookout for that gift ahop of yours. ded with a little confidential smile. aware that tbe anow waa lessening and seem to have progressed since he left. Tweedledee'a Not that she ws espe- how opulent and swaggering tha house 1 suppose It might be. We dont want to pass It In this muss. "He roe off like a log when he doe he aald Judi- cially hungry, for her 'crop, being felt, had become that the pallor of moonlight waa in the They looked at each other soberly. In the past twentv-fou- r houre, If It's emptv. well break In, Most of go and then an earthquake wouldnt so he 'T guess.-saifor should Thomaa as they turned room. When next he opened his eyes cially, fuller than it proved had eo aeemed that cowering and dse-la- t these bungalow are empty. .But that wake him. Poor mite! He's been aush together toward the kitchen, "if a Just as the moonlight was coming from another "If to eat!" said Tweedledum In a early In the morning. Tt was mostly corn, first Ha that evening. opened on was an old farmhouse ax' I recollect. a man since I hurt my foot He and siswell we're where w are." of for you could feel the kernels plainly, door softly, and tn their noise and hs--tea direction, and the moon itself, a quarter shout triumph. y It might keep open the year round. ter even got In this log between them! "To eat, to eat!" rejoiced TweedleiJea. The oak chunk, confidentially snuggling section, was sparkling tn ths frost of the and as to her gizzard it was grinding hurry they did not t first perceive him. "had siBut after they been going In I'm not a doctor yet." said Thoms, Its cold, dry cheek to the red one of the window. Looking at hla watch, he found "Then w won't have' to eafSoggy Bally!" away like a coffee mill. carried Th babies They were raging jovoualv. They lence for what seemed a long tlm Mar-h- a but I'm going to be. Better let me In now shortened log. y "Who la Soggy Bally? her around and held her up to all th caught Its" it was already ( o'clock, and h waa dee- said in a scared Ions: V htlrtFFV Qn this if you haven't had a real one. "Shes the oldest. Bhas a Brahma. adult ears that they might bo faced In neighbor's enthusasm. ahd together thev Oaetlstud aa Fag TW -- - -- some--thin- .j. dilly-dalli- boa-sine- , - 1 - hXored''"' rred ot ' ... ee 4 es in-ta- open-mouth- ed wet-eve- n, the-feas- -- a, self-contr- ol v -- e, p. Half-blin- now" o ' ' , . , ... . . me" pra-entl- rpt1 I f |