The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-12-25

STORM. just tle nitHt 70 HAhe oAr
'oel thankful for "A hearth and home.
% ray nothing about a bite and sup.
Bless mel You don't mean 70 say
60? WALKED 81 the way from Kirk
wood. ,ye you! / don't wonder that
you look about dane up. with q side
wind driving yOH all the way. and the
snow-drlits lying along the road.
Yes. sir. lis a short cut IN the SUM-
mer time. 10 those who know the coun-
ny well. but even should net like %
attempt Il on a night like this; ana
have lived in the neighb0faOod. man
and boy, for nigh upon seventy years
yes, seventy next birthday IL the
number OF years / have been allowed
20 llverand ase-and-foriy OF them have
been spent IN this house. All dare
say Il does seem q long time 20 young
fellow like you, but they haven't been
long in passing. and appear precious
p,tle 10 look back upon.
1T Is forty-nve years ago last sep
TENDER that I lrst brought my vile
through che door yonder, and here We
rave lived In summer and winter sun
shine and cloud. ever since.
~Oh, yes. We have been blessed with
children. II IL they that have done
much 10 bring the sunshine. although
hey are linked with the cloudy days
a. well. for three Of them are lying up
In the churchyard on the HILL Three
sut Of ave. sun. We are happy 70 think
two have been spared 10 us-the hrss
and the Iast-eyen n they are nov
gone out into the world for themselves.
Tom ls the captain Of q boat plying
between Cairo and New Orleans. ana
Susie Is living In Memphis. for she Is
married, and has two little ones Of aer
own
so We have been content 70 have
lust each other. as We ala the year or
two before they we're given 70 us. untll
last year, when We had what may
sail an addition TO our family
You can sleep IN the blue room.
That Il what the wife calls Il. but
ten her Il viii soon have to Be called
the Christmas Eve bedroom. they
say the third time brings luck. ana u
you accept our offer this viii Be the
lhlrd Christmas Eve that we have had
a sudden visitor TO require T.
well, there IL q little story attach
"a 70 It. II you care to listen, While
ny wife Il preparing the supper. ! VIII
Try and tell Il TO you.
you see, Il IL a little room over
looking the orchard. and Is about the
eoslest one In the house ] suppose
Krt women like 10 have what they
spare room ready. in case COM
many should come unexpected.
Il used TO laugh at her. and tell
her Il would be always ready and new
s- wanted. because. don't you see. when
Tom or little Sue come. they like 10
a,-e the rooms where they used 70
when they were children az home.
-.iut Il is exactly three years ago
tonight that we we're glad 10 think
IL vas all ready for use.
Little Sue-We called her that 20
distinguish her from her mother. al
though she b the taller Of the two
was here With her two little ones. They
bad come 10 spend Christmas with the
osi folks.
I'VE we're sitting in front 81 the
Gre. just as you and ] are doing now.
and the women's tongues were chat
ting together. nineteen to the DOZEN.
for you see they had not seen each
other for over two years. when all a.
once sue stopped In the middle Of a
sentence. and said 'Harkl What was
thatr
we listened. but could hear moth
ing.
what was It. child'' said her moth
sr.
ct was like someone incoming out
aide the door. Llsten--there Il Is
AGAIN.
Il could not tell n there was any
thing or not. for my hearing was get.
ting a BIT dull. but went and opened
the door. and stood there for a minute
or 90. Il was a lovely evening. 90
calm and silll. No noon 20 speak Of.
but the stars were shining like 90
many diamonds. and the snow made
everything very light Away across
The fields could hear the church bells,
but that was the only sound. and ]
was just about TO close the door. when
I heard the noise myself. as she had
described Il. like person moanlne
In pain. Il seemed 10 come from Gloss
BY the garden gate. and. sure enough
when went to look. there lay a man
all huddled up In a heap.
Il managed 10 sc; him indoors ani
laid him on the couch. and then hegal
10 take on his wraps He was wearing
a thick cloak and FUR cap. and wheI
this was removed. saw he vas bleed
ing from a nasty cut al the back o
the head He dld not appear TO havl
los, much blood but he was perfect
" dared Tor awhile.
Il knew who be was, Mr. Hug,
NNuNNINl AANANN u NNaiAA NtAI
tin. You are a complete strange
around here. maybe. and don't know
much about the residents or thoi
history.
The old squire. as We used to cal
him. had three children. two boys ans
a girl Thomas. the eldest. remainc'
AZ homo. Richard went away and Ela
pelh married Mr nanvers. the villag'
doctor. and 30 disgraced herself for
ever In her brothers eyes. although
the worst that could Be said Of th'
doctor was that he was poor.
when a year or two later he tool
practice near ST. Louis, there va
but little communication between a.
families. nut after the death Of Doc
To- Danvera. the squire used TO he'll
Gll sister occasionally.
Il. Ashomas. the young squire, lost HI
m ~ AFTER be had been married te'
- nd. and was leit with an only dauSh
- ns,Ml1s Wlnlired, who grsg up a