Show AURA WORTHLEY ay had passed her thirtieth birthday some years since and although she was possessed of more than ordinary good looks coupled coup ledwith with a good disposition and an inherent ability for home malting making slie she had never lad had a proposal ot of marriage once some one had almost apol spoken ken the words laura often thought of that wonderful evening since but just as it seemed that tile the fateful moment had aunt mabel had come seeking her for something or another next day robert barrett had left lindenfield and laura had never heard from him since the passing of time had eased the pain in her heart and she had managed to go about and show a smiling face to the world but often she felt AIR very tery try lonely but she told herself that she had no right to think of robert lie was probably married and settled down long before now in that far off land where his company lad had sent him hut but always as christmas approached pro ached she found herself thinking of him and picturing the home that might ilme hae been theirs together aunt mabel lad had been dead two years now and since her death laura had felt very much alone in the world in spite of many friends but every year at christmas time tier her cousin vera a widow ot of limited means came to spend the holidays with her and always at this time she gave aye a party for the young people and lest any of them might be thwarted of love and a proposal as slie 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 party sho she was one whom years give new and added charm in recompense tor for the rosy flush of youth that they steal and as she walked to the door to answer ft a new peal of the bell she would have attracted attention anywhere opening the heavy door she looked without A little cry sprang to her lips for there she saw robert barrett A rush of joy of wonder of delight dell glit flooded her whole being ile he had come lie he still loved her ber else why would he be liere here steadying herself by the doorway she bade him welcome and as she recovered from the sudden rush of joy at seeing him again her voice grew cool and composed as she assured herself that his coming meant nothing more than a friendly visit that even should he be still unwed it would be some one younger fairer than she that he would now seek ile he seemed rather lit ill at ease and he blundered and stammered so when he spoke that his voice was wag almost drowned in the sounds of gay laughter and music that came from beyond then suddenly without warning its his arms reached out and lie he clasped laura close and slie she felt ills kisses upon her lips lie ile was asking r the question that slie she wanted most to hear and he be ww wai telling her that she meant lill all the world to him when they both came back to earth lie showed her the spray of mistletoe above them it gave me the courage I 1 lacked long ago ho whispered later he told her why he had never written aunt mabel had spoken to him tile the evening before he left and had told him that it would not be fair t fo 0 tie laura with a promise also she had hinted of another man who was MO more re favored the company had just brought him back to lindenfield and as soon as he got in learning that laura was still free lie had come and because it was christmas time and also because the years that were coming held a wonderful promise for them and they could a fiord afford to be generous there was no resentment in hi their hearts for the thing aunt mabel alabel had tried to do ac 1927 western newspaper union Tin ton |