The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-12-26

kcr was feeding a fire in the big open
fireplace iu the parlor.
The room was already beginning TO
he warm. 1t was not i'll furnished and
surely looked its best by contrast with
the storm. WcthcreIl drew big chair
before the fire and it seemed to be the
most comfortable chair that he had
ever seen in all his life.
why, there's a piano here" ex-
claimed Amy, entering the room. We
will have some music this evening.
There's no time for it now. We must
fix the tree
I've a lot of candy and stuff in my
trunk said Wetherell. Il bought the
unhcalthfulest kind | could find-for
the children. you know. My auntS
have their house full of them. | don't
like children very WELL
Il asked Harriet whether you kissed
her." retorted Amy, and she said you
did--twicr."
Curiosity and prcvarcation." said
Wethcrell. are the two besetting sins
Of the sex. BY the way. did you have
much troubl" with the girls upstairs?'
An experienced person. replied
Amy, ''can always manage Il child
when its mother is not present. When
she is present the experienced person
does not try. You may have observed
I it today
Upon my word" said he you do
understand children"
They went to work upon the tree,
and at half PAST Il when Mrs. Williams
sent Bunker to warm thgh that dinner
was nearly ready there Was no more to
he done. Amy wrnr upstairs Ia dress
the children. lravin" Wrthrrcll To pace
the flonr thuT"htfully hrfor" the fire.
His mrditatiGn$ seemed IL he mostly
humorous. hut from ,imr To time quite
grave. Si!ddcnly Nr threw himself into
, the big chair and laughed softly.
Upon my w"rh." he said aloud.
this must be cnntoundrGly Ike being
married. .Ard lis not 80 bad. That's
the funny Fart: its rot half had"'
Mrs Williams dinner WAS net lad
ut all. Tn" wGm:iu WIS really Il cook
Of 10 m"::n accomplishments and the
sauce of hunger helped her famr. 1t
also helped 10 keep III" chiit.rrn quiet.
that and the fact that their neither
wni!lI not sit down to table. but Insist
I'd untn SpCndu. most al her time in
the Kitchen.
1t WAS with difficulty that Bunker
could lac prevailed upon tn take his
place. for social distinctions. nearly oh
! liberated in the presence Of the storm,
re.cStahliSlicd Themselves in the HOUSE..
Wcthcrrll amused himself 10y speaking
Of the driver aS his old friend Captain
Bunker. whom he had brought home to
dinner and by treating him with dis
unguiShed courtesy AZ the guest of the
occasion He also devoted himself to
Harriet. who sat beside him at her
own earnest request. for the episode of
The two kisses SC. nIcsl To have touched
her little heart.
WCthcrCll was witty and cheerful
throughout the meal. He carved the
turkey 10 admiration and was appar-
emily alert 10 every ones needs. Rut
in reality he felt like Il man in Il dream.
His surroundings were >trang" enough.
surely. but the wonder that pcrplrXcd
him was in himself. Why WAS he not
bored: How could he laugh ut chill
drcn's nonsense and set II value upon
tritlcS?
It's her tact" he said 10 himself at
last. looking across at Amy. she is
carrying this whole situation on her
shoulders and has carried il from the
start IL she We're any other girl.
would 70 out and hide in Il snow
bank
After the dinner came the tree. but
that should he seen by Il chili'S vi. ion.
Wcthercll tried TO soc it that way as he
watched the two little girls come into
the room. They halted as soon as they
had crossed the threshold and stood
stock still. incapable of speech or mo-