The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27

ly before he married her that II there
Uere any 'slxnuckling down" to be done,
his mother should be the one TO do II
He had made the promise dehoerately
and he could no more have broken 10
than he could have changed the color OF
his eyes. When bitter feeling arises De-
tween two relatives by marriege II 10
the ono who stands between them-tns
one who Is bound by the tenderest ties
to both-who has the real suffering 70
bear. who Is torn and tortured until lie
holds nothing worth the having Or
Vile Palmer was the one who stood be-
tween. He had built his own cross and
he took II up and bore II without
word.
Emarine hurried through the early
winter dark until she came to the small
and poor house where her husbands
mother lived. 1t was on the main-trGV-
eIed street.
There was a dim light IN the kitchen;
the curtain had not been drawn En-
arine paused and looked IN. The sash
was lifted six inches, for the night was
warm, and the sound OF voices came to
her at once. Mrs. Palmer had company.
Its Miss Presly." 81 Emarine, re-
sentfully, under her breath "Old gos-
sip"
"-goin' to have fine dinner.
hear" Miss Presly was saying. "Tur-
key with oyster dressin', an cranber-
ries, an mince an punkin pie. an reel
plum puddin with brandy poured over
1t an set aire, an wine dip, an nuts
an raisins, an wine Itself to wind up
on. Emarines a fine cook She knows
how to get up a dinner thS. makes your
mouth water to think about. You goin'
to have spread, Mis- Farmer"
mot much OF a one" said Orville's
mother. Il expected to, but / c'udn't
git them fall potatoes sold off. III have
to keep em till spring to git any kind O.
price. I don't care much about Christ
mas, though'-her chin was trembling,
but she lifted 1t high It's silly for
anybody but children TO build so much
on Christmas"
Emarine opened the door and walked
in. Mrs. Palmer arose slowly, grasping
the back Of her chair
"OrviIIe's dead" she said, solemnly
Emarine laughed. but there was the
tenderness Of near tears in her voice.
"Oh, my, no." she said, sitting down.
'I run over to ask you to come to
Christmas dinner. 1 was too busy all
day to come sooner. I'm goin' to
have great dinner. an I've cooked
ev'ry single thing of it myself. I want
to show you what fine Christmas
dinner your daughter-in-law can get
up. Dinners at 2, an / want you to
come at IL. Will yOu?'
Mrs. Palmer had sat down weakly.
Trembling was not the word to de-
scribe the feeling that had taken pos
session OF her. She was shivering. She
wanted to fall down on her knees and
put her arms around her sons wife
and sob out all her loneliness and
heartache. But life is a stage, and
Miss PresIy was an audience not to be
ignored. So Mrs. Palmer said:
We'll, I'll be reel glad to come,
Emarine. It's offul kind o. you to
think Of t. 1t 'u'd "a ben lonesome
eatin' here all by myself. expect"
Emarine stood up. Her heart was
like a thistledown. Her eyes were
shining.
"All right" she said: "an' want
that you sh'u'd come just at II. I
must run right back now. Good
night"
well, I declare.' said Miss Pres
ly. That girl gifts prettier ev'ry day
o. her life. Why. she just looked full
O. slame tonight"
Orville was not at home when his
mother arrived in her rusty best dress
and shawl. Mrs. Endey saw her COM
mug. She gasped out:
Why. good grieve! Here's Mis-
Farmer, Emarinel"
Yes, 1 know" said Emarine calm
ly. Il asst her to dinner"
She opened the door and shook
hands with her mother-in-law, giving
her mother look OF defiance that al
most upset that laey's gravity.
You set right down, Mother Farmer.
an let me take your things OrviIle
don't know you're comm, and I just
want to see his face when he comes in.
Here's a new black shawl for your
Christmas. got mother one Just like II.
See what a nice long fringe it's got. Oh.
my. Don't go to cryin'! Here comes Or
Vile"
She stepped aside quickly. When her
husband entered his eyes fell instantly
on his mother, weeping childishIy over
the new shawl She was in the old
splint rocking-chair with the high
back.
l Mother" he cried. Then he gave
frightened. tortured glance at his wife.
Emarine smiled at him. but it was
: through tears.
''Emarine asst me, Orville-she ast me
to dinner o. herself! An she give me
this shawl. I'm cryin'-for-joy."
II asst her TO dinner" said Emarine.
"but she amt ever goin' back again.
She's goin, to stay. I expect we've both
had enough OF lesson TO do US"
OrviIle did not speak He feii on his
knees and laid his head, like boy, in
his mothers lap and reached one strong
but trembling arm UP to his wife's
n waist, drawing her down to him.
: Mrs Endey got up and went to rat
: tIing things around on the table vigor-
ously.
K wen. I never see sech a pack o.
n loonaticksl" she exclaimed Go an
f burn all your Christmas dinner up. If