Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1903-12-24

ny E.n..s H.rbsr. = :. {aaaaaaanna{ cep,dht 1905. = =: I. Ess


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1t was the morning of Christmas eve.
The ground rang hard under foot and
the newly risen sum-, shining red and
wintry through the black. bare trees.
made the frost whitvned lawns and
hedges sparkle as though they were
powdered with jewels.
Striding across the grass went Frank
Sinclair. tw%enty-one. manly and hand
ZONE. He walked quickly, for his way
led to the orchard. where he was to
meet his sweetheart; yet his face bore
u sad, roubled expression. After today
he would not see her for q long time.
perhaps not for four years. He was to
spend Christmas day in London, and
then he was off to the east coast of
Africa. there to help the construction
of some railways. Or the future he had
no doubt. He would soon achieve IL
good position and return 10 marry
Blanche Harrap; but it was hard to
leave her, his little Blanche, so soon
after they a plighted their troth.
Fast AZ he walked Blanche had
reached the trysting place before him.
AS he entered the orchard he saw her
standing beneath an old apple tree
whose bare branches bore here and
tA-iC Dcu6IS vi udIh EIccl IlIStictOcs
His eyes shone with delight as he gaZed
on the pretty picture she made. Her
shapely head was w with a large
black hat, on the Under side of which
was a bunch of violets nestled against
her beautiful brown hair. A close-ft-
ting jacket of warm brown fur covered
her body, and her right hand hid itself
deep out of sight in a large muff, of the
same rich skin, to which she had pinned
I another hlnrh of violate IJar 1aft hand
held gracefully from the ground a trail
Ing skirt of dark grey cloth.
why, Blanche" he cried, as he
kissed her, how long have you been
waiting. lassie?"
Not many minutes. Frank" she an
swered, gazing wistfully up at him. Il
came in plenty of time, for l could not
hour together"
For answer he kissed her again pas
sionately.
IN not b. away from you long,
! Blanche" he said. Very soon I'll come
back again. After that we will never
part any more"
You Won't forget me? Promise,
Frankie" she entreated.
Forget you! OF course 1 won't for
get you. little Blanche"
And you'll write to me often-very
oftenY"
Yes. If you don't get my letters you
VIII know that i have been sent where
there is no post, Or The gray eyes
gazing into his We're rapidly filling with
tears, so kissing them, Frank. who was
himself very lear tears. sought to in
terest her in other subjects.
Come. lassie." he said, there are
very many places / want. you to take
me to. 1. must say goodby to all our
avori walks and views; but first
OF all l am going to climb into this dear
OLD tree and bring O down a great
bunch OF mistletoe. Then we will go to
Davis and ask him to save a piece from
this very tree for us every year. Until
. l come back he aus send it to you.
When you get my Christmas letters will
you ope them under the mistletoe?"
Frank quickly and lightly swung
himself up amongst the branches and
was soon down beside Blanche again,
bearing in his hands the largest bough
that a grown on the tree. He held it
over her head. His other arm encircled
her waist and drew her to him. Their
lips met.
blanche, little Blanche he cried,
never mistrust me. i win always, al
ways love YOU
Mamie Russell dashed into her aant,s
Ihoudoir.
"Auntie Blanche, Auntie Blanche!v
n cried. excited;y. Harry has come
nome. He will be here today See. here
is q letter from Southampton and a tel
egram from London. He has discovered
a gold mine-he md three others, and
ne mas come nome to me again. Just
fancy, ne Will be. here for tomorrow
christmas day-and I did not expect to
see him again for another two Christ
masses. Oh. Auntie. dear, isn't it lust
splendid?"
Putting her arm around her aunt's
neck. N gave her a great kiss and
then ran to the door.
must tell them to get his room
ready, and then I will take the tran and
drive down to h station to meet him.
Inc train will be here in half an hour"
She opened the door, and then turned
c holding a letter in her hand. "Oh.
Auntie, ! am sorry" she said; here is a
ietter lot you. ! should have given 1t to
you at first"
For a long time after her niece had
LETT. Blanche Harrap sat gazing out CT
a wtndo over the -frost-coyered
nedgerows and meadows. There was a
great longing in her beautiful gray
eyes. Fifteen years ago that day she
q a "goodby" to her sweetheart.
ana she still waited his return. For the
MIsl TWO he had written to her
regularly. e anne a letter which
said ne expected to be home in a few
months. for the work was almost done.
After that there came no more. She
wrote three letters to his last address:
U they were returned marked "Ronc
away" A letter to the man he had
worked under ELECTED the Information
that young Sinclair had set out on a
hunting expedition into the interior and
had not been seen since. After that she
sent NO more; bat waited for him to
come. remembering the words he had
said to her when he kissed her beneath
ago.
There still came to her every Christ.
mas g bunch Of mistletoe from that
same apple tree. She would have
stopped its annual appearance. but
that, deep In her heart, there was 4
feeling that as long as the token hung
overhead at Christmas time there was
a chanc that a letter from Frank. or
perhaps Frank himself. might come Ia
greet her with wishes for q happy and
Joyous year.
With 9 Sigh she opened the letter n
her hand. As she read it she rave a
little cry Of distress nj tears came into
her eyeo.
Dear Miss. = It ran. In the trembling
writing of old Davis. II am sorry that
this pear we cannot carry out Mr.
Franks wishes. There was only ous