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Show Q 0 SANTA'S REINDEERS By May Annesley Rigdon ft G j (, lititt. Western Newspaper l nion. t HERE was a past Christmas ) eve that stood out in hold prominence iu the mind of Ross Evans, as he lounged iD a Insurious chair in his I room at the hotel and wove fond, reminiscent, and then r hopeful anticipatory dreams. Evans was a successful eir- cus tnun, but not of the ring type. Within With-in two years he had won the envious distinction of being a leader in his line as advance agent and advertising man. The shows were off of the road for the winter season now, and a few days before Christmas there came a great longing to the wanderer to see the old friends at-home. There was Mrs. Alice Dalrymple, whose husband had been the best friend Evans ever had. There was her house full of little lit-tle children and Ivy Clary's peerless beauty and grace, who had come into his life as a winning spirit of gentleness. gentle-ness. It was because of his remembrance of his last Christmas eve in Weston that he thought of her now. How for- vently he recalled the merry hours with the brood of little Dalrymples. and one incident 'that had tinged his whole career, when he and Ivy were alone trimming the Christmas tree. She wore a rose colored, broad ribbon belt, and he was steadying her. on a stool. As she was adjusting some tinsel tin-sel Its perfumed ends swept his face. With an impulse he could not analyze Evans put out one hand, seized the bit of finery and pressed It to his lips. "Be careful !" he muttered quickly, for Ivy had nearly lost her balance. .She had witnessed the fervent gesture of Evans in the mirror. She stepped to the floor, her face crimson, her eyes showing half fright, and breathless with emotion. In Intense tones he whispered : "I am thinking of leaving Weston, but If you care for me " and then Mrs. Dalrymple abruptly entered the room and Evans had no further opportunity op-portunity of seeing Ivy alone. The next day a position with th'e circus was offered and he gave heed to the call of ambition. His eyes glowed now. and there was a rapt smile on his face as he took up a pencil and filled in a telegraph blank. It was to Mrs. Dalrymple. It read : "Santa Clans will drop in on your dear little ones at eight o'clock Christmas Christ-mas eve. Have them ready for the surprise. of their lives. I hope that pretty cousin of yours is .still with you." "It can't offend her." reflected Evans. "It may remind. Dear girl! the big success I have made shrinks very small when I think of her precious worth," and Evans arose to greet the man who had charge of the show's winter quarters. "I've followed your orders, Mr. Evans," he said. "The reindeers are In excellent shape. I've trimmed them up as you suggested. The wardrobe Ivas a Santa Claus outfit so you're all right." "Good!" nodded Evans hriskiy. "I'll have to start for Weston early, hut people will suppose I am giving thent an advance advertising stunt. Some class to my scheme, eh?" "You are always original," commented comment-ed the old circus man. One of the favorite "stunts" of Ross Evans had been to make his advance route with the hisrh single-seated buggy and n pair of the circus reindeers. rein-deers. He was proud of his team. It was a 20-mile drive to Weston. Late In the afternoon, arrayed In Santa Claus costume. Evans started on his trip. Mrs. Dalrymple had the little lit-tle ones posted at the windows, and the Cbrisfrnas tree was lighted. At the sound of sleigh hells she switched on the outside electric light. Into the yard roadway came the most ravishing ly delightful Krlss Kringle with his j wonderful reindeers bedecked and daz-I daz-I zling with gleaming tinsel and holly. It was like a dream, those ensuing two hours. And Ivy assisted nnd It eemed like n paradise to the wanderer to revel amidst such Joyous friendliness. friendli-ness. And when the little ones had gone to bed. as on that other Christmas Christ-mas eve. he stood beside Ivy. "I am going to tell you what my heart lonced to impart to you just two years ai:o ton rht." he said. "Walt." she fluttered. "I can guess, for 1 had hoped," and she flitted from ; the room. It was to return wearing j the rose-colored sash, j llf knew It was his answer ns she ! hid her blushine face. As he drew her ! to his arms a peal of merry Christmas hells echoed forth. And amid the joy j and glamor and love of that radiant j hour, neither saw the shadow of an-I an-I other parting. |