Graham guardian., 1901-12-20
Unl,e lace, Gained her tears:

MnIte lace, ctimeu iler ledis. ~ 10
ii right now-off the track-no more dan
GER"
He left her, to help the passengers in the
smoker who were imprisoned and some
what injured, then returned.
lie gathered her baggage, and, without
,ermission, told her to follow. With the
emainder of the passengers they took u,
i cold and sorrowful tramp along the track
lcross the bleak prairies to the little town,
,hrce miles away, where lights twinkled
friendly greeting.
Frank tried to be sociable. "1t was
narrow escape" he ventured.
eyes" Nothing more. She would not
even turn her face toward his in the moon.
light. They trudged on in silence.
The town was glad to see them. 1t gave
them the best it had, and none suffered
But its heart was not wholly in the work.
One long-g gated citizen, evidently orig
inally from the south, explained it:
"Yeh see, we S a-goin' ter hev' the
Chris mas .doin's ternight at tn hail."
"What? Id forgot that it was Christmas
eve," broke in Marvin. Lets all go over
The passengers from the Pullman car, lind
ing that they could not continue their
journey until the following day, as well as
many of the others, agreed. Well bun
died up, they took their walk through the
chilly streets, where blew the bitter north
wind of the plain.
The hall was nothing more than the
upper room over a store. 1t was filled to
the alsles, but the exercises had not yet
begun Tne southerner, who was master OF
ceremonies, tiptoed back to Marvin.
70 holr IN tha n n q ~
he w.uspered Wont you un's Gomez!
Frank laughlngly arose, and the dainty
Miss Reisen, having no other choice, fol
lowed him.
Behind the curtain, what sight met
their gazel A Christmas tree 1t was, to
be sure There were no evergreens nearer
than tne mountains, and to make up Tor
the deficiency the plainsmen had secured
dry cot .onwood and wound Its struggling
branches with green paper. The appear
ance would nave been ludicrous had it not
been little pathetic.
Not muca like the pines of the beach
where we used TO rest last summer, whls-
pered Frank TO his companion.
"You and the other-I presume you
mean," was the witherlng response.
"Alice-NIiss Reisen, what do you
mean" but the gaunt captain interrupted.
You, young LADY, Id like you to be the
fairy. Our leadin' lady is sick, an you
look like her.
Entering into the spirit of the occasion,
| Miss Rcisen accepted the task.
! You'll have TO wear some wings, and
,aere viii be little scene, but notain' fer
you 10 10 but look pretty-Yqp don't neec
no ooacIin',' lie added, Gailaa,ly,
"C,cas admraf oil yours, suggested
Frank, as tie fanctionary moved away.
Alice did not reply.
Tie wlHgs were brought, and they
seemed almost large enough for the wearer
% soar with. She put on the costume and
danced two-step across the rude stage.
'Ieh mustn't do that, lady; this is fer
tn Leneft OF th' churches, an tn folks
wouldn't like it, said the manager, with
a grin.
Then came up one Of the women of the
town, who seemed to have a part of the
management, She gave some instructions
as to what would happen, and Miss Reisen
! listened intently. Another listened, but
she did not know it..
The programme of the evening opened
with number of songs and recitations, to
which the passengers from the train gave
tie most earnest attention and heartls ap'
plause. Marvin ,ssnsd wonderfully at
hcu.e, alrSs 1istseh thought, and was call
ing men By tieir first names Is ii lie knew