Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
FRANCES STOREY'S
y HAPpEEST ;.
VI CHRISTMAS "
By HILDA RICHMOND

the nOlldayS, Salu MIS-. storey, WIN q
troubled look on her motherly face.
81 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 it. Now
which will it be-"
IT'S simply impossible for me to go,
mamma" said Margaret, whirlinS
lightly around on the piano stool. I've
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,
"and besides I 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
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
"Ill attend to the dolls" said
Margaret, promptly, land help You
pack your trunk If you need help 1
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 a 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 a 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
welled as the trim tlgure disappeared
amid 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 chance 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. "Is this
really Cedar Hill?" she asked of an
old man near.
at really is" he answered with a
smile. "If l 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 l thought this was
not Cedar Hill is because the town
when knew it, was only little place,
and this looks like a city"
"We've had a boom since those days
Here, Horace, help Miss Storey with
her luggage. l can take care Of my
self This is the young lady who used
to play with the girls dozen years
aEo, but l don't suppose she remem-
bers the freckled boy who built play
houses Tor her
Eyes l do" said Frances, shaking
hands with the elegantly dressed young
man. "You always built the very
incest houses of any boys we knew
Mr.. Devon, and I still recollect them
with pleasure"
All this time they were leaving the
train and looking for Aunt Caroline
! No. - Io1
ter announcing Frances visit, for she
was not in sight. Wen take you tc
Mrs Howard's, for she lives close tc
u.s." said the young man, loading him.
self with "Sissy's" baggage. "Yor
never would find the old house without
a guide, for factories and stores anI
churches have sprung up in such pro-
fusion that it is entirely overshadowed.
81 wish mamma and the girls could
see me now" said Frances, gazing al
the latest styles in dresses in store
window. Mamma cried to think oi
my coming to mis- out-of-the-way
place and I very nearly started with
only a satchel, thinking l would only
need few clothes. We write and ge
letters from Cedar Hill so seldom thai
I never dreamed of the change I 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 to?" inquired Frances. as
they neared stone structure tha
might have graced city
THAT is the public library" said Mr.
Devon. II suppose you have supply
of books in that big trunk for feal
there would be nothing to read in oul
town l won't mention it to the citi
zens though. for fear they might pu
you on the first train for home There
is Mrs Howard on the porch. She
knows you"
The days that followed were busy
ones for Frances. She sent a telegram