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Show THE RICH COUNTY NEWS. RANDOLPH. UTAH tZSHSE52SH525ZraSZ52S2SZ OUR COMIC SECTION S Mickle 'Must Be Among the Creditors GLORY AND THE SACRIFICE THEODOSIA Dy AGNE8 t Copyright, 1922, BROGAN G. Weatera Newspaper Union. When Theodosia came in, I looked apprehensively toward our stepmother. I knew Dosie well, and the flush of her cheek and the sparkle of her eye spoke excitement and adventure. My sister has ever walked a charmed way; If, when a mere child, Dosie started out upon some prosy errand, it would be sure to turn Into a delightful hour of adventure. When our father unexpectedly and we thought unfortunately married again, it seemed that there were to be no more delightful hours for either ' ' of us. e You have read of the proverbial stepmother? Well, ours was that kind. Dosie, I knew at once, would not be dominated, even If she had to resort to diplomacy to avoid It. So, for me, life became a mediocre affair between my good, but sadly influenced father and my lovely, willful little sister. Theodosia plumped herself Into a chair, and smiled her cherubic smile. Where? demanded our step, mother, have you been? I was walking down Linden avenue, began Dosie, when I met Ora Armour. She asked me to walk with them Douglas Stewart was with old-tim- her. I thought so, our stepmothers tone was acid. That she objected to Douglas Stewart as Dosles suitor most unreasonably, or that she objected to suitors in general for either of us, was well known. You met him by appointment, I suppose? Dosie replied, 'It Just hapNo, pened. . I glanced up apprehensively at my The End of a Perfect Day sister's next remark. "Ora and Douglas were going to a wedding a church wedding, and I consented to go wRh them. Stepmother raised her hands In horror. Dont tell me, Theodosia Warren, that you actually went to a church wedding in a pink cambric dress? I did, Dosie confessed. And Ora Ora went home to put on her white crepe, Dosie admitted, but you see, Ora was to be bridesmaid; she gave me half of her bouquet. It was beautiful, pink roses. The wedding was a very small affair. Douglas and Will Herron wore afternoon attire, because they were going on to the reception at Oras afterward. My little sisters eyes grew softly reminiscent. It was a beautiful marriage. Phyllis, my one regret was that you were not tlitre; but you see, I just happened to be there, myself. Thats all right, dear, I assured her. I, for one, stepmother said severely, am dismayed, Theodosia, that you were there. The light, went on my sister shone through the golden dreamily, glass of the church window, in the lovliest solemn way, and the bridegrooms face looked almost saintly. Ills eyes so dark, his face so white. was Who," stepmother inquired, the groom? Dosie answered slowly, Douglas Diplomacy? Stewart. Stepmother leaned forward with a start. There was relief, and a not pleasing triumph, on her face. So, she said, "It was Douglas Stewart who was married. I dont wonder that you avoided telling us that In the first place. You realise now that I spoke the truth when I hold your father that he was merely amusing himself, In. flirtation with you. I hope you are well cured of your folly, Whom did you say he Theodosia. married? Dosie smoothed the folds of her cambric frock. Me, she answered succinctly. screamed. almost Stepmother What! Theodosia Warren, she cried. He begged me to settle things up, as we walked along, Dosie explained, and Ora added hci' persuasions to lilS. So, while she went to put on her white dress, Douglas, Will and I got the The old minister who marlicense. ried us was a dear hes a friend of fathers. . She turned to me, with a little mute Phil, dearest," plea for forgiveness. she begged, get Into your prettiest dress, and come to the reception that Ora Is giving for me. She looked back at our stepmother. You may come too, if you like, Stepmother she added graciously. arose quickly. I knew that she was glad of the chance to show her new finery in big Armour house. I suppose It would appear better, and help to Julence discussion, she remarked, as she went up the stairs. I bent to kiss my little sister. I was seeing a picture of the small Dosia clad irt her pink cambric frock-t- he roses in her arms, the golden light of the church window glorifying her face. Phil, she whispered, I want only beautiful things to happen for you hereafter. , Valuable Asset' How many in your family?" asked the census taker. Nine dawgs, fourteen chtllun an the old woman," answered the resident of Squirrel Hollow. Dogs dont count. They do In these here parts, stranger. Chlllun come an chlliun go, an a wife Is sorter wished oj a man, but as long as the mountains are full of possums an coons, dawgs IS dawgs. ' In Which the Gift end the Giver TelTEach a Separate ; Tale By ELEANOR PORTER Author of Corrrlsht Pollyanna, Just David Ete. by KlMWOr H. Port TiHE Honorable Peter Wentworth proached. The tree for the Sunday A waa not a man, and school had long since been given up, when he appeared at the prayer meet- but Christmas eve a forlorn group of children gathered in the ing on that memorable Friday eve- wlstful-eyening there wag at once a moet irrelig- church and spoke Christmas pieces church-goin- g d ious Interest manifested by every one present, even to the tired little minister himself. . The object of their amazed glance fortunately did not keep the good people long In suspense. After a timid prayer slightly Incoherent, but abounding in petitions for single mindedness and worshipful reverence from the ministers wife, the Honorable Peter Wentworth rose to his feet and loudly cleared his throat: Ahemf Ladies and gentlemen er ah brethren, he corrected, hastily, faint memories of a godly youth prompting his now unaccustomed lips ; I er I understand that you are desirous of building a new church. A very laudible wish very," with his eyes fixed on a zigzag crack in the wall across the room; and I understand that yo'ir funds are er Insufficient. I am. In fact, informed that you need two thousand dollars. Ahem I Ladles er brethren, I stand here to announce that on the first day of January I will place In your pastors hands the sum of one thousand dollars, provided and he paused and put the tips of hts forefingers together Impressively provided you will raise an equal amount on your own part. The first day of next January, remember. You have nearly a year, you will notice, In which to raise' the money. I er I hope you will be successful. And he sat down heavily. The remainder of that meeting was not conspicuous for deep spirituality, and after the benediction the Honorable Peter Wentworth foun j himself surrounded by an excited crowd of ' grateful church members. The honwas distinctly orable gentleman pleased. He had not given anything away before since well, he had the same curious choking feeling in his throat now that he remembered to have felt when he gave the contents of his dinner pail to the boy across the aisle at the old red school house. After all, It was a rather pleasant sensation; he almost wished it had oftener been his. , It was not until the silent hours of night brought a haunting premonition of evil to the Reverend John Grey that the little minister began to realize what the church had undertaken. The village One thousand dollars! was small and the church society smaller. The Honorable Peter West-wort- h was the only man who by even the politest fiction could be called rich. Where, indeed, was the thousand to be found? , j By the end of the week an urgent appeal for money bad entered the door of every house in Falrville. This was In February, yet by the end of May there was only four hundred dollars in that fund treasury. The pastor sent out a second appeal, e following y up with a visit The sum grew to six hundred dollars. Then the ladies held a mass meeting In tlie damp, vestry. The result was a series of entertainments varying from a strawberry festival to the passion play illustrated. These heroic efforts brought the fund up to eight hundred dollars. Two hundred yet to be found and it was Novem. ber I . With anxious laces and puckered brows,' the ladies held another meeting in that cheerless vestry then hastened home with new courage and a new plan. Bits of silk and tissue paper, worsteds and knots of ribbon appeared as by magic in every cottage. Weary fingers fashioned impossible fancy articles of no earthly use to any one, and tired housewives sat up till midnight dressing dolls in flimsy muslin. The church was going to hold a fair! Everything and everybody succumbed graciously or ungraciously to the Inevitable. The fair and a blizzard began simultaneously the first day of December. The one lasted a week, and the other The people conscientithree days. ously plowed through the snow, attended the fair, and bought recklessly. The children made themselves sick with rich can.dies, and Deacon White lost his temper over a tin trumpet he drew in a grab bag. At the end of the week there were, three cases of nervous prostration, one of pneumonia, two one hundred dollars of - grlppe-an- d and five cents in money. The ladies drew a long breath and looked pleased ; then their faces went Where was ninety-nin- e suddenly white. cents to dollars and ninety-fiv- e coine from In the few days yet remaining? Silently' and dejectedly they went home. It was then that the Reverend John Grey rose to the occasion and shut himself in Ills study all night, struggling with a last appeal to be copied on the faithful mimeograph and delivered by his patient youngest born. That appeal was straight from the heart of an all but despairing man. Was two thousand dollars to be lost and because of a paltry ninety-nin- e dollars and ninety-fiv- e cents? - The .pressure was severe and beas the h oft days ap came house-to-hous- gay-color- - and sang Christmas carols,,' with long, log gaze fixed on the empty corner where was wont to be the shining tree. It waa on Christmas day that the widow Blake fought the good fight In room. On the bed her little lay a black cashmere gown, faded and rusty and carefully darned; on the table lay a little heap of bills and all. ver. The woman gathered the money in Iter two hands and dropped It Into her lap; then she smoothed the bills neatly one upon another, and built little pyramids of dimes and quarters. . Fifteen dollars I It must be five years now that she had been saving that money, and she did so need a new dress! She needed it to be why-e- ven decent! looking sourly at the frayed folds on the bed. It was on Christmas day, too, that the little cripple who lived across the gold piece bridge received a Donalds eyeS by registered mail. shone and his thin fingers clutched the yellow gold greedily. Now he could have those books 1 his eyes rested on an open letter on the floor by his chair; a mimeograph letter signed John W. Grey. Gradually his fingers relaxed : the bit of money slipped the Imprisoning clasp, fell to the floor, and rolled In flashing, gleaming circles round and round the letter, ending in a glistening disk, like a seal, just at the left of the signature. The lad looked at the yellow, whirling thing with frightened eyes, then covered his face with hla hands, and burst Into a storm of sobs. On the 26th of December, the Reverend John Grey entered on his list: Mrs. Blake, $15; Donald Marsh, $5. The little ministers face grew pale and drawn. The money came in bit by bit, but It wanted twenty dollars ' cents yet to complete and ninety-fiv- e the needed thousand. On the 27th the teacher of the' Infant class brought a dollar, the gift of her young pupils. On the 28th, nothing came; on the 29th, five cents from a small boy wha rang the bell with a peal that brought the Reverend John Grey to the door with a startled hope In his eyes. He took the five pennies from the small dirty fingers and opened his mouth to speak his thanks, but his dry lips refused to frame the words. The morning of the 30tli dawned raw and cloudy. The little minister neither ate nor slept now. The doorbell rang at brief intervals throughout the day, and stray quarters, dimes, and nickels, with an occasional dollar, were added to the precious store until It amounted to nine hundred and cents. eighty-fiv- e dollars and eighty-fiv- e It was nearly midnight when there come a gentle tap at the study door. Without waiting for permission tha ministers wife turned the knob and entered the room. Her husband sat with bowed head resting on his outstretched arms on the desk, and her eyes filled with tears at the picture of despair before her. John, I suppose we can take this, said she, In a low voice, reluctantly laying a little pile of silver on the desk; theres just ten dollars there. Then she recoiled In terror, so wildly did her husband clutch the money. Where did you get tills? he gasped. I I saved it from time to time out of the household money. I meant you should take It and go out to Cousin Franks for a rest and vacation after this was over, said she doggedly. Vacation! Mary vacation I he with unutterable scorn. Then he fumbled In his pocket and brought out a little change. With trembling fingers he picked out ten pennies and1 a five-cepiece, putting a lone quar- - , ter back In his empty pocket. Thank God, Mary, weve done it ln and the mans voice broke, New Year's night, there was a Ju. bllee meeting in the town hall. Ilia Reverend John Grey hurried through in some excitement, his He was to preside, and must not bs late. The hall was full to overflowing. On the platform with the minister sat tha deacons of the First Congregational church and the Honorable Peter The well-fewelli Wentworth. groomed honorable gentleman himself looked about with a complacent smile this was indeed a most delightful five-dcll- bread-and-mll- k occasion. The Reverend John Greys addresa was an eloquent tribute to the great generosity of their distinguished fallow townsman. The ministers voica trembled affectlngly, and hla thin cheeks flushed with emotion. Tha First Congregational church was' deeply indebted to the Honorable Peter Wentworth, and would fain express V Its gratitude. The ministers wife listened with a faraway look on her face, and little Donald Marsh gazed with round eyes of awe at the great man who had been so very generous; while over In an obscure corner of the hall a pale little woman, stealthily rearranged tha folds of her gown, that she might hide from Inquisitive eyes the great darn on the front breadth of her wont black cashmere. , |