Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1903-12-24
FRANCES STOREY'S|
= HAPPEST 4
Y CHRISTMAS Y
BY HILDA RICHMOND

4
II am sorry to have you go to that
| papa seldom says must SO we will
have to make the best Of it. Now
| which will 1t be-"
"lt's simply impossible for me to go,
mamma" said Margaret, whirling
lightly around on the piano stool. Iva
practiced for weeks on this Christ.
mas music and the entertainment
| could not go 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 the new dress she was finishing
land besides l am going to sing at
the party next week"
II might go 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
I'd like to see her again. She used to
around in her clean kitchen. and at
home Sarah never allowed us to spoil
her domain" said Frances
"I'll attend to the dolls said
Margaret, promptly, "and help yon
pack your trunk If you need help. l
have no doubt you will have a good
time at Cedar Hill, for Aunt always
thought so much of you"
In spite Of her 10 years the whole
family considered Frances mere
child and no one but the mother
thought it made any difference that
she was to spend the holidays in a
lonely house with Aunt Caroline, in
stead of having share in the city cele-
brations, which she so much enjoyed.
Mrs. Storey slipped number of pack
ages marked open on Christmas eve"
in the big trunk and provided sty
lish travelling dress, but her heart
weled as the trim figure disappeared
amid a chorus of farewells and the
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 chance to
invest in anything except goods found
in 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 rs this
| really Cedar Hill?" she asked of an
! old man near.
ut really is" he answered with
smile. IF | am not mistaken, you
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
not Cedar Hill is because the town
when knew it, was only little place,
and this looks like city"
We've had boom since those days.
Here Horace, help Miss Storey with
her luggage. | can take care of my
self. This is the young lady who used
to play with the girls dozen years
ago, but /! don't suppose she remem-
bers the freckled boy who built play
houses for her"
Eyes | do said Frances. shaking
hands with the elegantly dressed young
man you always built the very
incest houses OF any boys we knew.
Mr.. won. and | still recollect them
with pleasure"
All this time they We're leaving the
train and looking for Aunt Caroline,
who evidently had not received the let
ter announcing Frances visit. for she
was not in sight. wen take you to
MS Towards, for she lives close to
us" said the young man, loading him
self with "Sissy's" baggage. you
| never would find the old house without
guide. for factories and stores ana
churches have sprung up in such pro-
| fusion that It is entirely overshadowed. >"
II wish mamma 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 ,nis out-of-the-way
| place and I very nearly started with
only satchel. thinking l would only
| need few clothes We write and get
letters from Cedar Hill so seldom that
never dreamed of the change see
to-day"
You'll be glad enough You brought
your trunk. for things are lively during
the holidays"
What is that beautiful building we
are coming tor inquired Frances. as
they neared a stone structure that
| might have Graced a city.
THAT is the public library" said Mr.
! Devon. II suppose you have a supply
| OF books in that big trunk for fear
there would be nothing TO read in our
town won't mention IL to the citi-
zens though, for fear they might put
you on the first train for home There
is Mrs Howard on the porch She
! knows you"
The days that followed we're busy
ones for Frances She sent a telegram
telling OF her safe arrival and found