The Delta independent., 1902-12-26

possession. And her prolonged search
| in house and yard availed nothing.
! Thsn she buried her flushed face in her
trembling hands and cried heart-break-
indy. But 1t was not the loss of the
scarf-n0. far-worse! 1t was the sus-
picion-tTannormed into conviction in
her quick decided mind-that her boy
And girl, the beings she loved and
| lived for, were thieves. She could not
bear 1t.
| It was . fearless, though saddened
fact that the twins saw when they re-
turned, feeling little guilty at hav-
ing lifted away SO unceremoniously.
Now that their nutting fever had
cooled . little they really felt 1t quite
a grave o6ense and their subdued lit
| tie faces only served to deepen that
awful conviction.
1T was for that Panky," she said to
herself ressntfully She's too smart
to be trusted. l haven't seen all the
1 letters she's sent them, an / b'lieve
she's been putin 'em up to it. She
could sell it for lot of money But l
won't accuse them or even ask them.
If kindness won't make them ashamed
an sorry, then nothin' will, and an
ownin' up that isn't a free-will offer
| ing isn't worth the breath it takes.
| Ill wait, an see-an' love them hard
er'p ever"
So she waited and loved and heaped
systematic benefits upon the little
brown heads SO profusely that even
they, who had known her kindness so
well, were Astounded But somehow,
the spring had gene out of life at the
/ farm. jamie and Amos felt it, and be-
gan to try to fit an explanation to it.
They finally decided that something
was worrying Aunt Calisty-probably
money matters.
Il wonder II 'tis.' quayered jamie.
she don't smile nearly all the time. an
she don't tell stories-or anything
only do things for u.s."
"P'r'aps she's gettin' poor We've he'd
such heaps Of things!"
Yep. An We eat SO much. Couldn't
we eat q little less-just little less OF
everything?"
I'LL try" gulped Amos. thinking
Of buttered pancakes and honey.
So they did try. and succeeded-not
very. very well, but well enough to
make Miss Calisty heartsick with re-
newed approAension. She had begun
to family hope that something else
might have happened to the scarf-but
this indifference to food could but be
the result OF guilty and struggling con-
sciences-nOthing less.
The morning of the day before
Christmas broke wild and stormy. with
a wind that rocked the sturdy old
house and lashed its roof with the elm
branches. Breakfast was progressing.
rather silently. when there came such
a crash Outside that they were all up
and At the window before the echoes
died away. There lay the old sweeting
| tree sfill nss1veriur
my dear old tree!" cried Miss Ca
usty. 81
Poor little chippy!" walled the
1 Mr. Bonney,s cat caught him just
before the first freeze. I hated to tell
you." exclaimed Miss Calisty. turning
away with quivering lips from the
sight that was to her q tragedy.
Lets go and see how little Chip had
his winter bed made" proposed Janet.
'All right" said Amos. only too
glad manlike. to escape the sight Of
tears which he could neither under
stand nor help to dry.
Miss Calisty stood and watched them
peering and poking about Suddenly
Amos gave a shout, and held up IN
both hands a bright soft something.
Calisty sank into Q chair. weak a.
rag" she would have caid. The twins
rushed in.
Its that dandy thing you showed US
the mishnery lady gave you. amt It?
See. It amt hurt hardly bit. How did
Chippy get it?"
| Il s'pose it flew out of the window
cleanin' ume-'twas windy day" re-
sponded Miss Calisty. in q queer.
choked voice. as abe held the scarf at
arms length. Suddenly she hid her
face in It and cried and cried and cried
Then she hugged the twins-both ut
once till they gasped.
Il b'lieve it's clearing on" she cried.
"an' blieve I'll take the stage an
ketch the train for the city. I'm kind
OF behind on Christmas things. l
Amt felt well o. late, an SO kept put
tin 1t or"
How were the twins to know that
she had never bsen known to go far
ther than the village for christmas
things?"
at was the scarf thing that allied
Aunt Calisty. don't bslieve It was
not havin' money at ALL"
Nor L." replied Amos. with convic-
tion-and mournfully thinking of the
pancakes ne might have had.
But to his credit be It said he never
threw 1t up to Janet that the IN
called for fasting was of her propos-
ing. There was good stun In Amos.
1t was late that evening when Calls
ty returned. so late that the twins
were asleep on the sitting room sofas.
SO soundly asleep that the clink of late
supper dishes did not rouse them
Christmas morning dawned radiant-
". and they awoke betimes-but earl
Ter still had Miss Calisty been astir.
moving softly and swiftly in and out,
up and down.
They lay rubbing their eyes. wonder
ing why they were all dressed, then Of
1 a sudden they saw wonder that swal-
4 lowed up all others--a big bough Of
the, old sweeting tree. fastened up Sc
curely by the fireplace, bright with
J gifts and under it-Panky!