The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1903-04-16


CO HE room was quite dark. There
is never much light at I o'clock
% on a December morning, and the
thick curtains shut out any rant
streaks of dawn that might have been
outside. But neither light nor dark
ness mattered TO one of the occupants
of the room. He sat up in bed Tor
one moment he rubbed his fingers IN
his sleepy eyes to make sure he was
quite awake. and then he proceeded
to arouse the other person in the roohl'
who was still peacefully sleeping.
Mother. mother. wake up! It's my
birthday. ard the day Of my party.
"Philip." she sad. It Is not time
to get up yet. Go back to your own
bed like a good little boy and go TO
sleep again. The party is not TIL
o'clock. and there is plenty of time.
The party, which was partly Tor
Philips birthday and partly Tor
Christmas, was to be very small ana
Of the simplest description, for Mrs.
Dalrymple was widow and very
poor. Indeed. simple as the entertain
ment was to be-only tea and tiny
Christmas tree-it Is doubtful II she
would have consented to giving 1t had
not Martha Joined her entreatles to
Philips and promised to help with all
the preparations. Martha thought
there was no woman In London 10
compare with her mistress, and no
child In the entire universe worthy to
be spoken of In the same breath as
Philip, for whom indeed she had an
alteration bordering on idolatry.
Martha entirely managed the little
house In Stoketon Road. She had
lived with her mistress as maid In the
days before her marriage when she
had known all the luxury that money
can provide. She had accompanied
her when, in direct opposition to the
plans and wishes of her worldly wise
mother she had left home secretly to
marry the poor artist whom she loved.
preferrlng poverty with him to riches
with the sultor favored by her mother
"a rich man with nothing but his
wealth to recommend him. 1t was
Martha. too, who comforted the girl
when her mother refused to have any
thing more to do with her, sending
back her letters unopened and turn
ing a deaf ear to her entreaties for
forgiveness.
Perhaps if Violet Mitchell had real
lied how absolute was the poverty In
which her marriage would plunge her
she might have paused But she never
believed that her mother would really
carry out the threat of considering her
daughter dead on the day she changed
her name; and too, she had unlimited
faith in her husbands talents win
ming him a name and fortune. But
she was mistaken In her expectations,
Her mother carried out her threat to
the letter. Her husband might per-
haps have justified her faith In him
had not death interviewed. He caught
fever and died two years after their
marriage. The widow with her tiny
/ baby and the faithful Martha left the
/ little Italian town where they had
been living, and came to London. A
i little house In dreary suburban road
was taken, and here Violet Dalrymple
eked out her minute income by giving
music lessons. She had given up all
hope of her mothers forgiveness.
Philip lay contentedly by his moth
er's side and counted ON his fingers
the delightful things he had seen be-
Ing prepared.
"Cakies; ehocky; flags; crackersw
he murmured delightfully."-. Then he
stopped suddenly, and n puzzled look
replaced the smile ON his face.
Mother" he said, why cant !
have a granny to come to my party y"
Mrs. Dalrymple hesitated. How
could she tell this baby of the years
Of stubborn unforglveness and hard
ness of heart that had denied him a
granny; how explain to him the rea-
son for his granny, though living, be-
ing as dead to himf
What morning of delight Philip
had ON that day of the party. He
helped Martha to set the table for tea
in the little dining room, for on this
marvellous day mother and Phisey
must dine In the kitchen. And In the
drawing room was the Christmas tree.
wonderful even now before the can
dies were lighted. He helped mother
to stick the little labels on each pres
en-. He filled the little muslin bags
with sweets. taking frequent toll while
SO doing; he arranged the crackers In
fantastic designs of his own. But oc.
casionally in the midst of these de.
/ lightful preparations the thought came
to him: How nice 1t would be II |
could have a granny at my party 70
see all these beauties" Then the idea
began to slowly possess him that per.
haps mother had made a little mis-
take, or had forgotten, and that Fa-
Their Christmas did sometimes bring
grannles. That one had not arrived
ON Christmas Day. the proper day.
mattered little. Since he had once
been too busy to bring Phllsey him.
self till the day after. might not the
same thing happen again?
Mother" he said In a hushed voice.
DO you think Father Christmas
meant to bring me granny for