Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
FRANCES STOREY'Sl
= HAPPEST =
| v CHRISTMAS v
BY TIILDA RICHMOND

Il am sorry to have you go to that
dead-alive little village, but you know
papa seldom says must so we will
have to make the best of it. Now
which will it be-"
Its simply impossible for me to go.
mamma" said Margaret, whirling
lightly around on the piano stool. I've
practiced for weeks on this Christ
mas music and the entertainment
could not go on without my playing.
Frances or Kate will have to sacrifice
this time, and it's only fair, for they
have not so much on their minds as
l have"
why, Margaret my time is as pre-
cious as yours said Kate, looking up
from the new dress she was finishing,
''and besides l am going to sing at
the party next week"
Il might go if someone would finish
dressing these dolls for the tree down
at the mission. Poor Aunt Carrie
must be Lonesome since her only
daughter went to Oregon to live and
I'd like to see her again. She used to
let us make little pies and muss
around in her clean kitchen, and at
home Sarah never allowed us to spoil
her domain" said Frances.
I'll attend to the dolls" said
Margaret, promptly, "and help you
pack your trunk if you need help. 1
have no doubt you will have a good
time at Cedar Hill, for Aunt always
thought so much of you"
"And I'll finish the white dress so
you can take it along" added Kate,
inwardly rejoicing over the solution
of the yexed question. you may have
my blue silk waist, too. 1t is little
too tight for me and nobody down
there will suspect it was not made
specially for you"
In spite of her 10 years the whole
family considered Frances a mere
child and no one but the mother
thought it made any difference that
she was to spend the holidays in
lonely house with Aunt Caroline, in
stead of having a share in the city cele
brations, which she so much enjoyed.
Mrs Storey slipped number of pack
ages marked open on Christmas eve'
in the big trunk and provided a sty'
lish travelling dress, but her heart
welled as the trim figure disappeared
amid a chorus of farewells and the
noise of the busy station. Mr.. Storey
gave his daughter some bright gold
pieces with the instructions to spend
them as she liked but Frances reflect
ed that she was likely to bring them
home gain for want of chance to
invest in anything except goods found
in a country store at Cedar Hill.
1t was late in the afternoon before
the brakeman announced Cedar Hill"
and Frances was surprised to see
number of passengers get off. els this
really Cedar Hill?" she asked of an
old man near.
ct really is" he answered with a
smile. eff | am not mistaken you
are Fanny Storey that used to play
with my granddaughter. Don't you
remember Grandfather Devon?''
'Of course do. How are Nellie and
Ruth? The reason I thought this was
not Cedar Hill is because the town
when I knew it, was only little place,
and this looks like city,
We've had boom since those days.
Here, Horace, help Miss Storey with
her luggage. l can take care of my
self. This is the young lady who used
to play with the girls a dozen years
ago, but l don't suppose she remem-
bers the freckled boy who built play
houses for her,
Eyes I do" said Frances, shaking
hands with the elegantly dressed young
man. 'You always built the very
incest houses of any boys we knew,
Mr. Devon. and l still recollect them
with pleasure"
cit used to be, Horace" put in the
old gentleman, 'and if I remember
correctly, this young rascal called you
Sissy. He's an architect now, so you
see his early training comes handy"
All this time they were leaving the
train and looking for Aunt Caroline,
who evidently had not received the let
ter announcing Frances visit, for she
was not in sight. We'll take you to
Mrs. Howard's, for she lives close to
u.s." said the young man, loading him
self with "Sissy's'' baggage "You
never would find the old house without
a guide, for factories and stores ana
churches have sprung up in such pro-
fusion that it is entirely overshadowed.
Your aunt and grandfather and some
more of the conservative old residents
bewail the new order of things as
much as they would a national calam-
ity, but 1 must confess that like to see
paved streets where we used to make
mud pies"
Il wish mamma and the girls could
see me now" said Frances, gazing at
the latest styles in dresses in a store
window. Mamma cried to think of
my coming to his out-of-the-w
place and 1 very nearly started with
only satchel, thinking l would only
need few clothes. We write and get
letters from Cedar Hill so seldom that
l never dreamed of the change l see
to-day"
you'll be glad enough you brought
your trunk, for things are lively during
the holidays"
What is that beautiful building we
are coming to-" inquired Frances. as
they neared a stone structure that
might have graced city.
THAT is the public library said Mr..
Devon. 81 suppose you have supply
of books in that big trunk for fear
there would be nothing to read in our
town. | won't mention it to the citi-
zens though, for fear they might put
YOU on the first train for home. There
NJrc oy bo