Evening journal., 1903-12-22

It Of the old doctor who had taken him
for little walk ana had asked him to
be brave. and then had whispered the
word. Consumption" while the tears
stood in his kindly eyes
Then he had said good-by TO the few
friends he had, thanked God that his
parents were dead and come out here.
But one thing more he had done. He
had written a letter TO Kitty that had
wrung his heart, posted it in New York
and without leaving any address be-
hind him had found this ranch to be-
gin life anew.
He had prospered beyond his hopes
There had been a boom In the valley,
and he had parted with large part Of
his land at a figure which swelled his
account in a Los Angeles bank In a
gratifying manner. A new town was
even. in progress, and the influx OF
Eastern buyers had made unwonted
activity in the once quiet settlement.
But John Bascom was not happy.
His orchards We're promising; q thou
sand boxes of his oranges had recently
gone to the East and his money was
ia the bank. He had made the wilder
ness blossom like the rose. but his
heart was IN the sterile, frost-bound
regions of New England.
Then he heard Sam Lees voice cali
ing from the open door:
"Chlismas dinner: come eatee."
'rm not hungry" said John.
"chlismas dinner get heap cold-no
lit to eatee."
Christmas dinner indeed. He had
been many kinds Of a fool, he admit
ted in his time. but just why he had
given orders for an elaborate feast on
this occasion. with decorations Of palm
leaves and orange blossoms, he could
not tell.
Then he heard voices in the road
and wondered if the Eastern lot-buyers
couldn't let him alone on Christmas
day Then he called TO Sam:
Keep dinner for a few minutes LEI
! 1t get cold, or eat u yourself" and
awaited the arrival of the strangers.
Good heavensl the girllsh figure that
strobe down the road was Kitty Mel
son, and the man by her side was hel
fatherl John Bascom stood like a stone
image and watched them approach
Then he had a thought With hi:
rough clothes, his bearded face and ro.
] bust appearance they wouldn't recog.
nize him. Kitty l1ad probably marie,
or forgotten him. He must remembe
that it had been five years.
In an instant he had formed hi
tplans; he Would invite them 10 hi
Christmas dinner, and then-well, n
hadn't decided what he would do afte
that.
AS they approached John notice,
that MI Nelson had grown older. bu
Kitty had not changed, save that ther
was a wistfulness in her eyes and he
face had grown more womanly.
Il am looking for an old friend o
ours began Mr.. Nelson. who live
somewhere in this valley. and perhap
you can give me the information / de
sire. Kitty, have you the paper2"
at her purse and drew forth an orang
wrapper and began TO read il: "Call
fornia Oranges. 'Old Baldy' Ranch, Johi
Bascom."
Can you tell us where we can fnl
his ranch2" asked Mr.. Nelson.
John Buscom did some rapid think
ing in that moment. He must not tel
Iher yet, If ever, so he said.
''Oh, yes. / remember Buscom. poo
fellow" He noticed that the girl pale
but he stumbled on. You see he ha
consumption-one lung gone. / guess
and you know how such things usual
end
Then he saw Kitty sway and her IA
theirs look Of distress. and someho,
John found Kitty in his arms an
heard the bees humming in his ear
( and as he glanced up "Old Baldy
seemed to be smiling back at him.
Kitty opened her eyes and she knel
him. but 10 the surprise Of Mr.. Nelso
she made no effort to release hersel
: from the grasp OF the stranger. ]
was only by dint Of explanations tina
I he was made to understand. and then h
told Of how Kitty had hunted throug
orange wrappers for five years. and a
: last had found the one shs wanted.
"Oh, Sam" called John from III
road, get dinner on at once. and S,
places for two guests"
IAN lite" answered the Celestia
Mclean man dam crazee"
And that is all Of my story.
G. b. II.