Arizona republican., 1903-06-03
HER MEMORY BOOK

He gave the door bell sharp pull and waited impatiently for some one to respond. He had no right to be inn patient with any one but himself-his heart told him that. but just the same | it seemed that somebody was awfully slow about answering that bell He ! had time to walk to the end oi the porch and back again twice before the door was finally opened by an old col Ored woman, who, after gazing at him blankly for a moment, gave a grin of recognition and began bobbing up and down, looking more like a cork on a choppy sea than anything else that he could think of.
 Why, MT. Jack, How you is change; I mos didn't know you" she said. working in the words between the bobs An you had to wait till Chris mas come round so you could come 1 back de same time you lief. Thank e. MT. Jack, nk'ee"-closing her hand over a new half -dollar-"I suttenly is glad you come, I suttenly is. An Miss Grace gwinter be glad too. Yes, suh, come right in and me'k yo'se'f conf table, an I'll go right long an tell TT you come"
  stopping at every third or fourth step to glance back at him over her shoul- der with a look of admiration. He was good to look at-tall and straight. with shoulders broad and a graceful car riage. His eyes were his best features. dark brown and clear. but the face was clean cut and most people thought him handsome
 IIa a1 l,ac fnra h fgh ln hung on the rack with his hat. ana then slowly made his way across the wide hall. now beautifully dressed with holly and mistletoe, and drew aside the heavy portiers. Once more he was in the gold and white room which he knew so well. Nothing was changed. There was the piano where it had always stood. He went over and glanced at the piece of music which was open on il. A Dream of Love" he said. that was my favorite: let me see, what was hers-but. oh well. what's the use thinking about 1t anyway: it's all over now and neither of us cares. so what does it matter?'
 The holly in the big vase on the mantelpiece looked just like that which was there the day he went away. pre- served in its freshness by some magic power. He could almost swear il was arranged just the same way, and ne went over and pulled a spray of berries to fasten in his coat. Then he remem- bered that on that Christmas. two years ago. q flower, a rose, had been pinned in his coat, and he put the bit of holly back again. but just for d moment. and calling himself d fool he took it once more and fastenzd it roughly to his lapel. staring down into the red coals which were burning 50 brightly in the oper grate.
 If l hadn't felt positively sure" he went on. in his thoughts. "I never would have come; but then l didn'U want her 70 think that we were not good friends, and as I had 10 come south again. and at Christmas. too 1 thought l might call just for friend ships sake There were some pretty high words. but l reckon we've both forgotten them by now; a least I know l have, and her little note Was very cordial. Let me see how it went You certainly must not leave town without seeing me, for the sake of She old days, and, besides, l have a Christ mas surprise for you. Your flowers were lovely
 Now that was certainly friendly little note. ] wonder what the Christ