The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-12-19
very far from old. Her whole aspect

very far from old. Her whole aspect
was happily expectant. A stranger
looking at her sweet pleased face
would have told himself she must be
expecting some beautiful happening,
and the stranger would have been
right. Marjorie Graham was expecting
her four little dead children to come
home in a few days. She was getting
ready for them. Only-the restless, visit
full eyes betrayed any mental disorder,
and even i'll them it was hardly ap-
parent to ordinary notice.
"I've got a secret to tel you and
something l want you to do" the sweet
voice cried gayly in his ear.
"You didn't know-you funny, alb
sentminded boy not to-that next Sat
urday's Christmas! Christmas, do you
hear, Marshall Graham? To think
had to tell you! And the children COM
ing just in time! Those people-where
they are you know"-the puzzled look
in her eyes-"must have planned just
right. They must have remembered
Christmas if you didn't, forgetful boy.
Pm so thankful-why, Marshall Gra-
ham, what kind of a Christmas would
it be without the children? And that
makes me think of the rest Of it. That's
the secret, and now what want you to
do is-can't you guess?"
She tilted her head and looked at him
archly. He made brave attempt at
smiling and shook his head.
"Can't do it, ma am. Pm not as good
guesser as am forgotten"
"Well, then, take your wife out in the
sleigh to choose Christmas tree," she
cried. "That's what. You took me last
year and the year beforehand before
and before-oh, most back to the flood!
Did you think you were going to get
off this year? Not bit of it, sir!
Well go right after lunch-way out in
the country, you know. I'm going to
be very particular to get fine one this
time"
She chartered on too busily to notice
the look of pain ON the little mans
face. When she glanced at it, it was
smiling again bravely.
They went right after lunch. The
sun was shining, and smart little
wind sent furry of light snow into
their faces, and Marjorie laughed at 1t.
The cutter sped along out of the city
into lovely snow christened country
roads.
"I'm SO happy, dear boy" Marjorie
said. "There's so much to be happy
over! The children coming home-isn't
that enough to make a mother feel
happy? Oh, but you don't know-you
can't think, dear, how I've been miss
ing them! How could you know, when
you're nothing but man, poor boy?
It's different with mothers There,
you needn't look so grieved, dear! OF
course you've missed them too."
eyes; I've missed them, too," the lit
| tie man said steadily.
"Elsie and the grille twins are bad
enough" ran on the sweet voice in
his ear, "but, oh, the baby! You can't
think how l miss that little peck of
mischief, Marshall! 1t makes me ache.
| l keep all his horses and things lying
round to keep me patient till he comes.
don't see-I can't understand''-
| isn't that good tree? Look, Mar
jo!' Marshall Graham interrupted
quickly, pointing with his whip, and
the little crisis was past. They bent
their attention to the choice of Christ
mas tree after that, and nothing more
was said about the children coming
home-the little children that never
would come.
The tree was found at last that suit
ed Marjorie, that had straight enough,
symmetrical enough, low enough
branches and was just big and just
little enough. She was very hard to
suit, 'for," she insisted gently, 'it must
be perfect one this year; just a per-
feet one, dear boy"
1t was marked plainly and the local
ity distinctly noted, so on the morrow
the man could go after it, and then in
the early, crisp winter twilight they
rode home.
The next afternoon Marjorie sat by
her window, absently watching the lit