Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-12-21


tinguished courtesy ms the eues, OF tha
occasion. He also devoted himself I.
Harriet. who sat beside him uS,h.,
own earnest request. for the episode ~
the two kisses seemed 10 have ,afcbed
her little heart
Wethercll was witty and cheerfu,
throughout the meal. He carved M.
turkey to admiration and was appar.
entity alert 10 every ones needs. nm,
I'm reality he felt like man In dream
His surroundings were strange enough
surely. but the wonder that pcrpld k,d
him was In himself. Why was he
boredg How could he laugh at ebII.
drens nonsense aud set a value upon
trifesg
Its her tact" he said 10 himself a,
last. looking across at Amy. "She Is
carrying this whole situation ON her
shoulders and has carried Il from The
start. IL she were any other girl
would 10 out and hide In a snow
bank"
After the dinner came the tree. bur
that should be seen by chlld's vision
Wetherell tried 10 see II that way as be
watched the two little girls come lnto
the room. They halted as soon AZ thew
had crossed the threshold aud stood
stock still. incapable OF speech or mo.
tion-Just two pairs OF wide. wonder.
INK eyes. Doubtless they stlll saw the
glittering marvel hours later when
their eyes were closed In sleep.
At o o'clock Mrs. Williams dragged
them away, protesting. though their
little heads were rocking on their
shoulders Mr. Bunker went out 10
smoke n pipe In the kitchen. wethereu
and Amy drew chairs before Tie FIRE
aud sat with no other light except that
from the waning tapers.
Il have been sinRularly happy 20.
day" said the man Of the world.
"You have been singuiarly helpful"
said she. 1T 10 the same thing"
Il cannot quite believe H." he re-
piled "Of course II was 90 a certain
extent a pleasure 10 do what | could
for my companions In misfortune. but
I'm too selfish to be much moved By
IT,"
III YOU are SELFISH" said she. "you
have a remarkable way OF showing H."
Il really am" he said. Il feel .
selfish happiness at this moment. Shall
I tell you whyi Because have found
my way. This day has been a sort o.
Rllegory. Miss Hunt. have for long
time been lost In a colder and more
hopeless desolatlou than any we en-
countorcd today. ! have sought one
road and another aud have always
gone astray. What should I have done7
DO you remember what I told you in
the grove this afternoon
"You said the road would DO W. no
good, that what we needed was shcl.
ter"
Precisely. And Il has been the ~
with me- The lean stccds ~ sclnshneas
aud petty personal ambltion-mosty
Tor money-have carried me as Oar as
they can go. and ON the wrong rlad
The path that ! have found today leads
out of the highway 90 shelter. root
over my head a home.
"lsn't IL singular how fate ~ To-
creed mef' be- continued. 'Thl(mtra.
Ing was the loncliest. most clbhcd
aud spoiled old rascal that ever took
pleasure Ia being miserable could
hardly bring myself TO yislt my dear
old aunis who have loved me ever
since ! was born. | was afraid of
them. afraid Of their house. afraid u
the children whom they shelter IN sheer
goodness Of heart.
and fate looked down on me aud
laughed. u put me into a place where
| had 10 90 back 10 the natural man,
10 light the cold and the storm. That
was 10 crack the crust OF artinclauiy
Then Il loaded me with responsibilities
such as ! have studiously avoided. u
sent you 90 me. aud those two children
whom began by hating"
and myself also, | fancied." said
Amy.
Il was not drawn toward you. that's
a fact" be reioincd. II was afraid 20
accept even the responsibility OF enter.
tainiug you with my cheerful CONVEX
sation Tor "a couple Of hours. And what
rcsuItedg Why. 10 be brief about b.
have been led step by step 60 establish
very like home here IN the
house of strangers and to celebrate the
best festival 81 the year ~ one mlght
DO beneath bis own roof. And like H.
In the way Of humble confession lee
me say that have never been 10 hap
Dy before"
Il am very glad" said Amy. rising
Shall we put out the candles on the
reeY'
They began az opposite sides and ex-
inguished the tapers until but one re-
nnined on low branch. Amy was
bout 20 put II out when weihcrell re-
trained her.
There Is n superstition" said he.
about the last candle on the Christ
mas tree II two unmarried people
low AZ Il, the one who puts II out VIII
q married first"
Amy turned quickly and blew AZ tho
andle. wetherell did the same thing
{ the very same instant and the fame
anished.
When they blow II out together"
aid be, 1T IL a sign that they will DO
An FrlnI In gha aaNta ahnFah 0n tina