The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-12-22

.he saw it was a few minutes before

twelve.
Like the lovers they had been fifteen
years before, they stood upon the front
porch, hand in hand, and peered ahead
Of them.
Down the road, a few lights from the
village glowed faint as q glowworm's
torch, but in the opposite direction none
could be seen. Slight marks, partially
covered, showed here and there, but the
white space seemed endless, looking like
white capped waves. The lamp in the
window threw its beams far out on the
road, and the snow, now falling softly,
formed q golden haze in the light.
Tho lantern was not where Mrs. Blake
had placed it, certainly, and they passed
to the side Of the house. There, hang
ing on the latch of tho barn door, wa,
the lantern.
Slowly, for the snow had drifted here,
they pressed toward tho glmmering
light, keeping their eyes fixed on it as
If it we're a beacon. The snow around
and about it, the soft flakes falling over
it, gave it a weird, uncanny look, like q
halo spreading indefinitely until loss in
the whiteness around.
John shivered and wished he had
stayed in, but Mrs. Blake drew him for
ward. Some one had been here. Some
one had moved the lantern. In her
mind were the words, "And they fol-
lowed the star"
Z; They reached the barn, unlocked the
lantern, and John then discovered that
the door was not locked.
"That little scampi" he muttered.
"But as we are here we mays we'll SEQ
If the critters are all right" Aud they
went in. Old Molly had been led from
her stall, and was standing on the other
side. This so startled John that he
raised his lantern, swinging it from side
E. "There therel John," said Mrs.
Blake, catching at his arm. 'In
Molly's manger. What is that2"
s. They drew nearer, till the light
flashed down on the fragrant hay heaped
In the lnanger, on which a woman was
crouching; while pressed closely to her
breast was little baby, fast asleep.
The mothers dark eyes CLEAR, I'd at
them questioningly; feat and joy at
once showing in her face.
'The baby, John. A little baby in
the manger," SAID Jane, in a trembling
voice. ooh, you poor girl! Oh, Anna,
Anna. why did you not come to me at
first2" .h1k
But the young mother, the cruelty
treated wife, had tainted. John carried
the slight form in his strong arms "into
the light out of the night" while Jane
held the baby-the baby girl-pressed
closely to her heart.
A short journey, but to tho young
mother tho change seemed like that
from death to heaven. To Jane Blake
1t seemed like a realisation OF tho ever
new Christmas story. They, too, had
followed the light where it led; they,
too, had seen the babe lying in a
manger.
When Anna had told how she had
tried to reach the house before dark
how, when she did reach it, her heart
had failed her, aud knowing how Mrs.
Blake had pleaded with her not to
marry John Granger, she had feared she
might not befriend her-how che had
entered the barn and laid the baby in
the warm hay-how she had passed from
one window to another, had almost en-
tered several times-when all this was
told the rest remained unsaid, because SO
well understood by all. Anna, whom
they had all loved for many years, had
come back to her home. That was all.
When in the early morning Mrs.
Blake and Anna arose and began the
daily work, Jane suggested that the
boys room. which was heated bye pipe
from the kitchen, would be better
place for the baby. So the cradle in
which Jane and James mother had been
rocked, with it's solid sides and hoodlike
top of mahogany, was moved into the
other room.
Jane smiled to herself as she heard the
boys bare feet on the floor overhead.
She imagined their start of surprise at
sight of the cradle. But she did not
carry her imaginings far enough.
A shrill whisper of "Mother!"
"Motherl" came from the stairs. Both
mothers hurried into the hall. Rob,
quivering with excitement, stood on the
middle stair, while Frauk, half wise,
half mystifed, but wholly curious, was
at the top both nightowned, barefooted
"Oh, motherl" said Rob, "AnGe;> t.,
come nowadaysl One hes been ~ .,.,
room aud left Christmas BABY tlr::
Come and set New York Observer.