The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-24

more questions for I'm not going TO
tell you another thing" =
'.An right, 1 won't. Can you go home
with me and stay all night?"
yes. that's all planned, too. Mother
told Aunt Helen / could 60"
Mrs. Sargent met them in the door
way, smiling. Every one has secrets
that 1 don't know" said Margaret,
kissing her.
You don't know half, You don't
know half" sang Hope. dancing about
the room. Mrs. Sargent rolled up the
bundles with the costumes for Topsy
and Little Red Riding Hood, and very
soor the two little girls were on Mar
garet's pony galoping back to Aunt
Helen's.
you must tell me one thing" said
Margaret, ARE we expected to give
presents? / only have one for you
and one for Aunt Helen, and that
wouldn't seem fair"
Santa Claus is going to bring the
presents. He's going to fill your stock
ings and-oh. mustn't tell.' -
"oh. are we going to have Santa
CLAUSE"
Yes. and you mustn't ask another
question. I've told you more now than
Aunt Helen said 1 could
Let's get the key and go over to
my house. l want to get something
out of my ROOM" said Margaret, as
they rode into Aunt Helen's yard.
"Oh. no. I hate to go into closed
house where it IS so dark said Hope,
in a tone of great alarm.
why. we've been in there lots of
times when it was nearer dark than
this replied Margaret.
Il don't care. it's awful spooky.
wouldn't go in Christmas eve for any
thingI''
At that moment the pony stopped be-
fore the door and Hope slipped of and
ran on before into the house.
"Oh, Aunt Helen" she exclaimed.
bouncing into the room where. Mrs.
Madison and Aunt Helen were still
at work on the costumes. Margaret
says she's going over home after some
thing. If she does she'll guess the
biggest part of the secret. She want
ed me to go. too, but told her / was
afraid it was so near dark
Now. Topsy, you mustn't tell fibs,
even to keep a secret said Aunt
Helen. laughing. Go and tell Mar
garet 1 want her to make a cup cake
for supper. The only thing to do is to
keep her busy every minute until the
party begins"
Margaret made cup cake for supper
and afterwards Hope proposed making
was full. and at 9 o'clock Aunt Helen
sent them TO bed.
Tomorrow is going to. be the hap
piest. funniest Christmas you ever
had" said Hope, when they were cud-
died down in bed.
1T may be the funniest. but it can't
be the happiest, without mamma"
said Margaret A moment later Hope
felt the bed clothes rise and fall, and
knew that Margaret was crying.
IT'S too bad for her to cry so on
Christmas eve" she thought. I've a
good mind to tell her. then she'll wake
up happy in the morning. There is so
much going to happen anyway to-
morrow she'll have enough. II was
going to be, oh, awfully happy to-
morrow and I felt bad now, wouldn't
happy a little now if you knew it,
Hope asked. slipping her arm around
Margaret
II don't want you to tell me anything
and SPOIL the surprise Aunt Helen
wouldn't like it," sobbed Margaret
.Oh. even if I tell you this. there will
be lots let that's going TO happen
Does Aunt Helen know how bad YOU
seel?"
Il haven't let her see me cry. because
she'd think / was ungrateful, When
she's 80 GOOD TO me-"
well. you can pretend you're sur
prised about this. You might as well,
as pretend you don't feel bad, when
you do" Hope SAT- up in bed Mar
garet. your mamma and papa are COM
ing home tomorrow"
"Oh, Hope. are they? Are they?
cried Margaret, sitting up and throw
ing her arms around her little friend
"Ch, Hope. you're not just making it
u. are vou?"
NO. of course I'm not just making 1t
up. l knew I'd million times rather
knew, If were you. than to cry myself
to sleep Christmas eve
"Oh. yes, I'm so glad you told me.
How do you know they are coming %
There's telegram for you Aunt
Helen is going to put ii - the top OF
your stocking, so you'il get it the first
thing in the morning