Show PRELUDE to CHRISTMA CHRISTI f J 9 00 0 0 H By PEGGY DERN PERN 1 L 0 s 0 00 J L I t W. W V N. N U. U e 0 MO Syndicate THE TIlE STORY SO FAR Chloe Chloo Sargent returns to her home town after three years away at school with an Idea that Christmas Is bunk But when her car strikes and badly Injures young youn Dr Scott Kelvin she cancels her plans for a holiday boll holi day cruise and stays ys home borne to give the party he had planned for the children of employees at her fathers father's mill Jim Pearsall arrives and tries to persuade her to Join the cruise party but she re re- fuses Before Defore he be leaves she promises to marry him but when she learns that Dr Kelvin Is also In la love with her she realIzes real real- Izes her mistake She breaks her engagement en to Jim Now It Is nearly Christmas NOW CONTINUE WITH T TILE THE E STORY INSTALLMENT V I Christmas Eve in Sargent Mills village was a time of almost unbearable unbearable unbearable un un- un- un bearable suspense for the youngsters youngsters youngsters young young- and almost equally so for the older people From noon on the doors of the Community House were closed to all but Chloe and her com com- Melissa was a trifle hoarse and not as strong as she pretended So Soshe Soshe Soshe she consented to stay in bed provided provided provided pro pro- vided a bright young man from her her- attorneys attorney's office might be allowed to visit her for an hour Long before thirty seven-thirty every seat in the hall was filled and people were standing at the back Yet the crowd parted with little exclamations exclamations exclamations of pleasure and surprise as a atall atall atan tall tan young nurse a dark blue redlined redlined redlined red- red lined cape a about out her shoulders powdered powdered powdered pow pow- dered with snowflakes came in pushing a wheel chair before her And in the wheel chair sat Scott Kelvin pale but with shining eyes Chloes Chloe's heart turned in hi her breast as he looked straight into her eyes There was a little breathless mo mo- ment And then the lights dimmed A tiny bell ben rang somewhere The mills mill's own orchestra filed into place in the pit beneath the small stage There was a little rustling movement movement movement move move- ment as the audience settled itself Chloe was grateful for the darkness that hid her scarlet cheeks as she slipped into her seat between her father whose hand closed warmly over hers and Melissa who was smiling to herself in the darkness The first part of the entertainment ended a breathless pause followed and then there then there was the crisp jingle of sleigh bells outside a loud genial voice cried cheerfully Whoa there boy I There was the well simulated clatter of small hooves and from fromback fromback fromback back of the stage emerged the rotund rotund rotund ro ro- ro- ro red clad white-whiskered white friend of childhood Santa Claus Glaus him him- self Well Vell well Here are all my good little children cried Santa Claus cheerfully in a great booming voice that reached to the farthest corner of the big auditorium You have all been good little boys and girls haven't you A chorus of ecstatic assents swept the room Santa Claus laughed laid his fing finger r against his nose winked and said cheerily Then I guess theres there's nothing for me to do but give you your presents Let me see now is there a little boy here named Bobby Jenkins Other names were called Other excited ecstatic children raced down to the tree received presents longed for but which they never had hoped to receive Chloe listening listening listening listen listen- ing to their little yells of delight watching the way they displayed their gifts to parents and friends told herself with a little shaken sob that it was the grandest Christmas she had ever had The first in which her thoughts had been busy for others others others oth oth- ers and not herself She looked up at the top of the tree where a decoration that represented represented represented the little Christ Child looked down on the crowded room And then then her her heart all but stopped in her breast She stared afraid to take her eyes for a second away from what she saw Motionless lest some someone someone someone one else see the thin curling tendril of smoke that crept up and up she up-she she drew a shuddering breath With her horrified eyes on that wisp of smoke Chloe realized the packed condition of the big auditori auditori- um On the second floor of a frame building An old structure big and h barn rn like nn She turned swiftly to her father her hand pressing his He looked at nt her and her eyes directed his to the top of the tree She felt the tiny start that he gave and knew that she had communicated her thought her horror of a panic to him Ill get them out somehow You see about that she whispered and her father nodded squeezed her hand hard and slipped away Chloe sprang to her feet and faced the crowded house Santa Claus had paused in distributing the last few gifts puzzled as he watched herAnd herAnd her And now said Chloe forcing her voice to sound bright and merry as if it promised many marvelous treats yet in store everybody who has had his or her present form in ina a line two by two and well we'll march downstairs for another sur sur- prise Lets Let's hurry now A Christmas Christmas Christmas Christ Christ- mas surprise never likes to be kept waiting wailing you know The children clattered out of their seats racing to form into the line and as quickly as she could Chloe sent them marching down the stairs and out into the snowy night Her heart was beating so quickly that she felt sure someone must hear it She steadied it with an effort effort effort ef ef- ef- ef fort and said brightly as Santa Claus at a gesture from her wenton went wenton on rather hurriedly distributing the rest of th the presents And now parents parents parents par par- and friends of the boys and girls who've had their presents Im I'm sure you want to see the other surprise too tool I Suppose you follow the children two by two She turned and saw that only a handful of people still remained Among them were Jane Melissa and Scott the tall young nurse standing standing stand stand- ing beside him Cl Chloes Chloe's oes oe's heart caught on a little sob Scott in his wheel wheelchair chair Melissa chair Melissa moving with the slow heavy caution of the aged She forced her voice steady and called gayly And elAnd now now that's that's the very last present And Im I'm sure there couldn't be really a surprise unless lIDless Dr Kelvin were there to see it Who'll carry Dr Kelvin's chair down Instantly every bodied able-bodied man manin manin manin in in the room moved forward Willing Willing Willing Will Will- ing hands grasped the wheel chair lifted it carried it toward the stairs Chloes Chloe's hands were clenched hard at ather ather ather her sides her body shaken as she watched Not until the wheel chair was halfway down the stairs did she turn to Melissa and Jane Come Gran you want to see the surprise too dont don't you said Cl Chloe oe Take her arm Aunt Jane and the rest of you follow us I And oh please hurry From the top of the stairs with the building behind her cleared the thelast thelast thelast last of the stragglers filing reluctantly reluctant reluctant- ly out into the snowy night Chloe looked b back ck at the lovely tree It stood outlined now against a ruddy wall at its back and the smoke was drifting through its branches the tinsel and perishable decorations catching like tinder Another five II ii lam JL ct l i 4 I V VP P v Christmas seemed a very gay and festive affair minutes two minutes two minutes minutes and and panic would have swept the place Outs Outside de in the cold the people had gathered puzzled curious a little resentful of being hustled out into the darkness as Chloe and Jane came out bearing between them the swathed figured of Melissa There were little confused murmurings murmurings mur- mur and then a childs child's voice sharp excited shrieked the windows windows its its it's a fire The windows windows windows win win- dows of the auditorium glowed ruddily ruddily ruddily rud- rud dily now a glow that increased and deepened Dad screamed Chloe sharply Her father sooty grimy from smoke his eyes rimmed red said almost at her elbow Here dar dar- ling It was a close shave ticklish business getting all those people safely out but you did a swell job of it honey There was a wild shrieking of fire sirens the clangor of bells and the company's very complete and efficient efficient effi effi- dent fire fighting machinery went into action And Chloe assured that not only the audience but each childish childish childish child child- ish treasure of a toy was safe that not one living thing remained in the building that was now ablaze quietly quietly quietly qui qui- etly fainted Christmas Day at Chinaberry Grove seemed to Chloe a very gay and festive affair Red candles glowed through the thick dusk of that Christmas night as Chinaberry Halls Hall's guests sat down to a late dinner Melissa looked across the table at Chloe who faced Dr Scott Kelvin Kelvin Kelvin Kel Kel- vin directly opposite Melissa's eyes were warm and tender She looked at Howell distinguished and handsome handsome handsome hand hand- some a son to m make ke his mothers mother's heart proud at Jane erect and vigorous vigorous vigorous vig vig- orous and last of all Melissa looked at Scott Kelvin who sat in his wheel wheelchair wheelchair wheelchair chair his lean dark face pale from confinement but his eyes eager and alert as they rested on Chloe Well Melissa said when she had filled the tiny after dinner cups and they had been passed its been beena a good Christmas Now I have something to say to all nIl of ot you I think you have a right to hear it yet somehow I dont don't quite know how to say it it Imagine you Melissa wanting to say something and not knowing how how- Martha derided gently Melissa very grave now smiled faintly and turned to Howell China Chinaberry berry Grove the Hall the entire six odd hundred-odd acres belong to me I 1 can do anything I 1 like with it cant can't I 11 Certainly Of course you can but butI I 1 hope you arent aren't planning to sell began Howell concerned Im not planning to sell said Melissa instantly Ive made a anew anew anew new will and I 1 want you all to know that at my death China Chinaberry berry Grove goes to Dr Scott Kelvin It was Scott who first managed to speak He was honestly aghast extremely uncomfortable and he stammered Oh cOh but but Mrs I Sargent why Sargent-why-I why cant can't accept accept- it Good Lord Lord Lord- Chloes Chloe's color was high her eyes blazing Scott looked at her with such intensity that t the e others smiled a little and then Chloe was on her feet her shaking hands on the table table table ta ta- ta- ta ble supporting her upper body that leaned towards Melissa Oh no you dont don't blazed Chloe wrathfully I iCI know what youre you're up to Youre You're trying to make it easy for Scott to marry many me Well you needn't bother I dont don't want any man who has to be bribed to marry me I refuse to accept the gift of co course Mrs Sargent said Scott swiftly Chloe is quite right I 1 still haven't won my independence I 1 still cant can't make a living for her her her- Melissa cut in shortly You love her dont don't you With all my heart said Scott briefly but sincerely Melissa turned to Chloe And youre you're so much in love with him that youre you're not fit company for anybody else Yet because he was born on one side of the railroad track trac and you on the other you both go around moaning that you cant can't ever mean anything to each other Well if Scott Kelvin master of Chinaberry Grove and a darned good doctor isn't important enough to propose to even a Little Princess Princess Princess Prin Prin- cess then the Little Princess deserves deserves deserves de de- de- de serves to die an old maid I Anyway its it's high time you were getting married and having something something something some some- thing to occupy your time and your I mind And I dont don't know of a more likely young man to keep you in I your proper place than Scott Kel Kel- KelI I vin Ive I've worried about leaving Chinaberry Chinaberry Chinaberry Chi Chi- ChiI I to somebody who would appreciate appreciate ap ap- it and be able to manage l ap-l it I feel quite sure that the son of my old friend Alma Kelvin wouldn't I be ungracious enough to deny an old I woman the comfort of dying in the t knowledge that a place into which she has put nearly sixty years of herself was being cared for and kept as it should be she said quiet quiet- ly You will not have it until I 1 Iam Iam am gone You cant can't refuse to be bemy bemy bemy my heir Scott Kelvin not when you are going to be my grandson any any- way It would eventually be yours if you married Chloe whether I leave it to you or not and you are going to marry Chloe arent aren't you she added on a slightly stern note If shell she'll have me Scott said Melissa sniffed and tapped his arm with fingers Take my advice son dont don't ever be humble V with th her It'll take a strong hand to rule her she advised advised advised ad ad- frankly She turned to the others And now lets let's leave the little little little lit lit- tle love birds alone Im I'm sure they've a lot to say to each other in private she said sweetly and led the way out A little taut silence fell on the two left behind Chloe went swiftly to the window and stood there looking looking looking look look- ing out into the blackness of bf the night with blind unseeing eyes Scott from his place near the ta table table table ta- ta ble said unsteadily I cant can't tell you how sorry I 1 am about all this Chloe Of course I 1 wont won't accept the place Ill I'll deed it back to you you you- She faced him suddenly and he saw that tears were slipping down her face and that the slender body in its simple white chiffon dinner dress was trembling She caught her breath on a little strangled sob and went on stormily Oh Scott I was going to come cometo to you on my knees and tell you that Id I'd live in the shabbiest house housein in the village if only you'd marry me but now if I tell you that you'll think its it's because I want to keep Chinaberry Grove in the family To heck with Chinaberry Grove cried Scott I was going to plead with you to forget that we were born on opposite sides of the railroad track to tell you that more than anything else in hi the world I wanted to marry you Oh Scott whispered Chloe unsteadily unsteadily unsteadily un un- steadily and stared at him wide- wide eyed flushed very lovely and ap ap- ap- ap pealing Scotts Scott's hand clenched on the arm of the wheel chair and he said a trifle H f thickly Darling when you look at atme me like that Im I'm at a terrible disadvantage dis l advantage because I cant can't manage this thing very well yet Oh Chloe j my dearest please come here I l I Over their heads a great cluster of mistletoe looked down upon them its silvery white berries shining in lot t t the soft light tj Chloe looked up at Scott tears in I her eyes yet a smile trembling on on j her lips as she cupped his face between between between be- be tween her two hands and said her I i voice shaken a little Merry Christmas Christmas Christmas Christ- Christ mas darling for always and al al- al ways For always and always my dearest dear said Scott his voice caught a little by the magic and und the wonder and the breathless beauty of ot that promise THE HE END J j |