The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-05-22
Her Memory Book
~ Holmes Conrad : 3 eaesaaaaaa }ceprishs 1901. y v. (. n.ss


He gave the door bell a sharp pull
and waited impatiently for some one to
respond. He had no right to be inn
patient with any one but himself-his
heart told him that! but just the same
1t seemed that somebody was awfully
slow about answering hat bell. TIe
had time to walk to the end Of the
porch n back again twice before the
door was finally opened by an old coll
ored woman, who, after gazing at him
blankly for a moment, gave a grin of
down, looking more like a cork on a
choppy sea than anything else that he
could think of.
why, Mr.. Jack! How you is chang:
i mos didn't know you," she said,
working in the words between the
bobs. AN you had te walt till Chris
mas come round 80 you would come
back de same time you LET. Thank'ee,
Mr.. Jack. thank'ee"-clostng her hand
over. a new half dollar-"I suttenly is
glad you come. / suttenly is. An Miss
Grace gwtneter be glad, too. Yes sub,
come right in and mex yo'se'f COM
ftable, an I'll go right long an tell
'er you come"
She went up tho big winding stairs,
stopping at every third or fourth step
to glance back at him over her Shout
49, VAeAA q ASSn vi ! dSkOkls 11S WtS
good to look at-tall and straight, with
shoulders broad and a graceful car
rage. His Eyes were his best features,
dark brown n clear, but the face was
clean cut and most people thought him
handsome.
He removed his top coat, which he
hung on the rack with his hat, and
then slowly made his way across the
wide hall, now beautifully dressed with
holly and mtstletoe, and drew aside the
heavy portteres. Once more he was in
the gold and white room which hi
knew SO well. Nothing was changed.
There was the piano where 1t had al
ways stood. He went over and glanced
at the piece Of music which was open
on It. "A Dream Of Love-" he said;
that was my favorite; let me see,
what was hers-but oh well, what's the
use thinking about 1t anyway; it's all
over now and neither Of us cares. so
what does it matter"
The holly in the big vases on the
mantelpiece looked just like that which
was there the day he went away, pre-
served n Its freshness by some magic
power. He could almost swear it was
arranged Just b same way, and he
went over and pulled q spray OF berries
to fasten In his coat. Then he remem-
bered that on that Christmas. two
years ago, a flower, q rose, had been
pinned in his coat, and he put the BIT
OF holly back again, but just for a mo-
ment, and calling himself a fool he took
1t once more and fastened it roughly to
his lapel. staring down into the red
Goals which were burning so brightly IL
the open crate.
It I hadn't felt positively sure. he
went on. in his thoughts. I never would
have come: but then I didn't waAt he1
TO think b a we were net good friends
! q as I had to come south again, and
at Christmas; too. I thought I might
a Just for friendships sake. There
were some pretty high words, but ]
reckon we've both: forgotten them now,
at least I know I have, and her little
note was very cordial. Let me see
hOw It went-"Yeu certainly must moi
leave town without seeing me, for the
sake Of the old days. and, besides. ]
have az Christmas surprise for you
Yeur flowers were lovely"
New that was certainly a friendI,
little note. I wonder what the Christ.
mas surprise is? We always did have
some little surprise for each other a.
Christmas. I see she hasn't Forgotten
1t. Maybe she will suggest that we BIZ
friends again, aye, and more. Maybe
/! she will be willing to forget the las
Two years and we car be as we were
before. Maybe
"She say she be down in a few min.
utes. Mr.. jack" said the old dark5
from behind the portieres.
All right" he answered.; 'thanl
you"