The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-12-23
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to China-her one altogether lovely
possession, And her prolonged search
in house and yard availed nothing
Then she buried her flushed face in her
trembling hands and cried heart-break-
ingly. But it was not the loss of the
scarf-no. far worse! 1t was the sus-
picion-transformed 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 it.
1t was a fearless. though saddened
fact that the twins saw when they re-
turned, feeling little guilty at hav-
ing fitted away so unceremoniously.
Now that their nutting fever had
cooled little they really felt it quite
a grave offense and their subdued lit
tie faces only served to deepen that
awful conviction.
1T was for that Panky." she said to
herself rasentfully. "She's too smart
to be trusted. l haven't seen all the
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 free-will offer
ing isn't worth the breath it takes.
I'll wait, an see-an' love them hard
er'n 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 50
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 If 'tis,' quavered jamie.
she don't smile nearly all the time, an
she don't tell stories-or anything
only do things for us.
"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 little less-just n little less of
everything"
"I-Ill 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 apprehension. 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
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. still quivering.
My dear old tree," cried Miss Ca
listy.
Poor little chippyl" walled the
twins.
MIR. Bonney's cat caught him just
before the first freeze | hated to tell
you" exclaimed Miss Calisty. turning
away with quivering lips from the
sight that was to her a 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 lie 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 a chair, weak as
a rag" she would have said The twins
rushed in.
It's that dandy thing you showed us
the mishnery lady gave you, amt it?
See. it amt hurt hardly bit How did
Chippy get it?'
81 s'pose it flew out of the window
cleanin' time-'twas a windy day" re-
sponded Miss Calisty. in queer
| Ial,. .xf1 r1,n 1, nlI ttO
arms length. Suddenly she hid her
face in it and cried and cried and cried
Then she Rugged the twins-both at
once till they gasped.
81 b'lieve it's clearing OFF," she cried
"an' l blieve I'll take the stage an
ketch the train for the city. I'm kind
of behind on Christmas things.
amt felt well o. late, an so kept put
tin it off,
How were the twins to know that
she had never been known to go far
ther than the village for Christmas
things?"
1T was the scarf thing that allied
Aunt Calisty. l don't believe it was
not havin' money at ALL"
Nor IT, replied Amos. with convic-
tion-and mournfully thinking of the
pancakes ne might have had.
But to his credit be 1t said he never
threw it up to Janet that the I'M
called for fasting was of her propos-
ing. There was good stuff 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
ly and they awoke betimes-but earl
ier 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
a sudden they saw wonder that swal-