Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-12-25
FRANCES STOREY'S
q HAPplEST :.
v CHRISTMAS "
BY HILDA N

troubled look on her motherly face.
II am sorry to have you go to that
dead-alive little village, but you know
papa seldom says must SO we will
have to make the best Of 1t. Now
which will it be-"
"lt's simply impossible for me to go.
mamma said Margaret. whirling
lightly around on the piano stool. I've
practiced for weeks on this Christ,
mas music and the entertainment
could not 90 on without my playing.
Frances or Kate will have to sacrifice
this time, and It's only fair. for they
have not so much on their minds as
have"
why, Margaret, my time is as pre-
cious as yours" said Kate. looking up
from tho new dress she was finishing,
and besides I am going to sing at
the party next week"
~ might 90 If someone would finish
dressing these dolls for the tree down
at the mission. Poor Aunt Carrie
must be Lonesome since her only
daughter went to Oregon to live and
ia like to see her again. She used Ia
let us make little pies and muss
around in her clean kitchen. and at
( home Sarah never allowed Us to spoil
her domain" said Frances.
"I1l attend to the dolls" said
Margaret, promptly. "and help you
pack you trunk If you need help. ]
have no doubt you will have a good
time at Cedar Hill, for Aunt always
thought 50 much of you"
In spite of her 10 years the whole
family considered Frances a mere
child and no one but the mother
thought II made any difference that
she was to spend the holidays in a
lonely house with Aunt Caroline. in
stead of having a share in the city ceie-
brations, which she so much enjoyed.
Mrs. Storey slipped a number Of pack
ages marked open on Christmas eve
In the big trunk and provided n sty
fish travelling dress, but her heart
welled as the trim figure disappeared
amid a chorus of farewells and the
J noise Of the busy station. Mr.. Storey
gave his daughter some bright gold
pieces with the Instructions to spend
them as she liked, but Frances reflect
ed that she was likely to bring them
home gain for want of a nance to
invest in anything except goods found
in a country store at Cedar Hill.
1t was late in the afternoon before
the brakeman announced Cedar Hill,"
and Frances was surprised to see a
number OF passengers get off. as this
really Cedar HIP" she asked OF an
old man near.
at really Is" he answered with q
smile. "If ! am not mistaken, o
are Fanny Storey that used to play
with my granddaughters. Don't you
remember Grandfather Devon"
"Of course ! do. How are Nellie and
Ruth? The reason | thought this was
mot Cedar Hin is because the town
I when | knew il, was only n little place,
and this looks like a city,
"We'vc had a boom since those days.
Here. Horace. help Miss Storey with
her %lurgapc. | can take care Of my
self. This is the young lady who used
to play with the girls a dozen years
ago. but | don't suppose she rcmem-
bers tho frccllod boy who built play
houses for her"
Eyes ! do" said Frances, shading
hands with :hc elegantly dressed young
man. you always built the very
incest houses Of any boys we knew
Mr.. Devon. and ! still recollect them
with pleasure"
All this time they were leaving tho
train and looking FOR Aunt Caroline,
who evidently had not received the let
tier announcing Frances visit. for she
was not In sight. Wen take you to
/, Mrs. towards, for she lives close TO
u.s." said the yong man, loading him
self with "Sissy's" baggage. "You
never would find the old house without
a guide. for factories and stores ana
churches have sprung up in such pro-
fusion that II is entirely overshadowcd.
Your aunt and grandfather and some
more OF the conservative old residents
bewail the new order of things rs
much as they would a national calam-
fly, but I must confess that ! like to see
paved streets where we used to make
mud pies"
81 wish m and the girls could
see me now" said Frances, gazing at
the latest styles in dresses in a store
window. Mamma cried to think OF
my coming to mis- out-Of-the-way
place apd | very nearly started with
only q satchel, thinking ! would only
need II few clothes. We write and go,
letters f'on Cedar Hill SC seldom that
! I never dreamed of the change | see
to-day"
you'll be glad enough you brough,
your trunk. for things are lively during
the holidays"
= 49, ---.tr 40,