Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-22

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feeling arises between two relatives by mar
riage, it is the one who stands between
them-the one who is bound by the tender
est ties to both-who has the real suffering
to bear, who is torn and tortured until life
holds nothing worth the having.
Orville Palmer was the one who stood
between. He had built his own cross, and
he took 1t up and bore 1t without a word.
Emarlne hurried through the early winter
dark until she came to the small and poor
house where her husbands mother lived.
1t was off the main-traveled street.
There was a dim light in the kitchen
the curtain had not been drawn. Emarlne
paused and looked in. The sash was lifted
six inches. for the night was warm, and the
sound of voices came to her at once. Mrs.
Palmer had company.
TITS Miss Presly," said Emarlne, resent
fully, under her breath. "old' gossip
".spin' to have a fine dinner, l hear
oyster dressin', an cranberries, an mince
an pun'kin pie, an reel plum puddin' with
brandy poured over t an set afire, an wine
dip. an nuts an raisins, an wine itself to
wind up on. Emarine's a fine cook. She
your mouth water to think about. You
goln' to have a spread, Mis- Parmer?"
mot much of a ONE said orville,s
mother. II expected to, but l c'u'dn't git
'em till spring to git any kind O. price. l
don't care much about Christmas, though
her chin was trembling, but she lifted it
high. IT'S silly for anybody but children
to build so much on Christmas"
Emarine opened the door and walked IN,
Mrs. Palmer arose slowly. g~rasp!ng the back
of her chair. 'Orville's dead?" she said
solemnly.
Emarine laughed, but there was the ten
derness of near tears in her voice. "Oh,
my. no!' she said, sitting down. 81 run
over to ask you to come to Christmas din
ner. l was too busy all day to come sooner.
I'm going to have a great dinner. an I've
cooked ev'ry single thing of it myself! l
want to show you what a fine Christmas
dinner your daughter-'n-law can get up.
Dinners at 2, an l want you to come at IL.
Will you?"
Mrs. Palmer had sat Town weakly.
Trembling was not the word to describe the
feeling that had taken possession Of her.
She was shivering. She wanted to fall down
on her knees and put her arms around her
sons wife, and sob out all her loneliness
and heartache. But life is a stage; and
Miss Presly was an audience not to be ig-
reel glad to come, Emarine. It's offul kind
o. yuh to think of t. 1t 'u'd "a ben lone
some eatin' here all by myself, I expect"
Emarine stood up. Her heart was like a
right she said; IAN l want that you sh'u'd
CONS just at II. l must run right back now.
Good night"
"well, 1 declared said Miss Presly. THAT
girl gifts prettier ev'ry day O. her life. Why,
she Just looked full O. glame tonight!'
Orville was not at home when his mother
arrived in her rusty best dress and shawl.
Mrs. Endey saw her coming. She gasped
out, why, good grieve! Here's Mis- Farmer,
Emarine!'
yes, l know" said Emarine, calmly. az
asst her to dinner"
She opened the door, and shook hands with
her mother-in-law, giving her mother a look
of defiance that almost upset that lady's
gravity.
You set right down, Mother Farmer, an
let me take your things. Orville don't know
you're comm an l just want to see his face
when he comes in. Here's a new black shaw!
fer your Christmas. l got mother one Just
like it. See what nice long fringe it's got.
oh, my! don't go to cryin'! Here CONES Or
Vile"
she stepped aside quickly. When her hus-
band entered his eyes fell instantly on his
mother, weeping childishly over the new
shawl. She was in the old splint rocking
chair with the high back. "Mother!' he
cried; then he gave a frightened, tortured
glance at his wife. Emarine smiled at him
but 1t was through tears.
'Emarine asst me, Orville-she asst me to
dinner O. herself! An she give me this
shawl. Tm-cryin'-fer-joy-'
81 asst her to dinner" said Emarine, "but
she amt ever goin' back again. Shes goin'
to stay. l expect we've both had enough Of
a lessen to do u.s."
Orville did not speak. He fell on his knees
and laid his head, like a boy, in his mothers
lap, and reached one strong but trembling
arm up to his wife's waist, drawing her down
to him.
Mrs. Edney got up and went to rafting
things around on the table vigorously. well,
l never see sech a pack o. loonatics! she eX-
claimed. Go an burn all your Christmas
dinner up, If l don't look after it! Turncoats!
| expect they'll beth be fallin' ever their
selves to knuckle down to each other from
now on! | never see!'
But there was something in her eyes, too,
that made them beautiful.