The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-13
MRS. BORDEN'S
CHRISTMAS ANGEL
BY ANNA S. RICHARDSON.
Copyright 1908, by Anna S. Richardson

EQUESTRIAN skirt or manniSh material,
tailored shirtwaist and smart,
sum nat with coquettish wings on one
side. Hers was not a girlish face, but
the face we'll preserved and bright
ehed by experienced cheerfully accept
q. she was well-groomed, and ra-
grated not the sickeningly heavy per-
rune which some women affect to Off
set the fetid atmosphere of the train.
put the clean, almost keen air of one
VINO mas just returned from a brisk
walk in the winter air.
Fruit-yes, oranges-and cracked
wheat"
Inc Albany paper slipped to the
moor, and Borden swung round so
suddenly that his tweed coat sleeve
almost knocked over the cream
He had not heard the voice for
seven years, yet it came to him with
the clearnes of bell-and something
more. The girl was looking out of
the window now, and he studied her
pronle curiously. 1t had changed,
Inc roundness was gone, with the
dimpled mischief that had brought on
mis- first affair of the heart By Jove!
ne wondered, had his mother thrown
away the little pearl ring? 1t had
ialo IN box with some other boyish
trinkets. She had returned it in a
fine pet, when he told her he was 90
ing away from Clayville to make his
fortune. She had wanted to be mar
rled then and let the fortune be earn
ed jointly
No doubt she had forgotten that
little affair-she looked prosperous
and happy. And she had a certain
air OF self-restraint and self-confidence
never shown in those earlier and hap
pier days. Yes, he suddenly realized
that thew had hpar hoN
vision came to him of shaded lanes,
and apple orchards, a. fluttering hand
mat rested quietly only in his, and
mead that had once cuddled confiding-
~ on his big, square shoulder. There
were no curls now, just well-arranged
waves, but Borden liked them better.
He liked the firm poise of her head,
too; the straight, self-reliant figure.
he decided that he had best make
himself known.
She turned with distinct evidence of
annoyance. Mildred Davis did not
care for casual travelling acquaint-
ances. Then the look of hauteur gave
way to sudden expression of almost
girlish pleasure.
"Of all people to meet, here, In the
| dead of winter, and dear knows how
many miles from where" she ex-
claimed. Certainly, have your break
fact brought right over here. My
dear boy, you have-yes-you have
| actually grown, since we met-let's
sect was seven years ago-or
eight?"
Jack Borden sat opposite her and
! made a pretence Of eating his break
fast. The waiter reported in the tiny
pantry that the young chap was evil
IDENTIFY hard hit.
Borden was hard hit, but he did not
know it. His parting with impulsive,
girlish Mildred Davis had not occa-
stoned any particular pain, and had
soon been forgotten in the scramble
for business recognition. Yet his
meeting with the new Mildred, calm,
self-contained and somehow radiat-
ing a social superiority that mere
wealth cannot give, had thrilled him.
Where am 1 going? Why, home
for Christmas. of course" she was
saying in even tones. You heard of
! mothers death, l presume"
Borden flushed He had heard Moth
ing from the old town in years. He
murmured some words of sympathy
and noted that she looked wistful, but
there was no trace of tears in her
eyes. The old Mildred had been given
to tears.
Il had my position in Albany two
years before she left me. No, there
is no one for me to stay with at Clay
vile, except the Applebys, but they
always take me in at Christmas time.
1 simply cannot stay in Albany then.
| Even second or third cousins are bet
ter than business friends"
They returned to the sleeper after
a breakfast drawn out until the din
ing car began to fill up. He forgot his
inevitable after breakfast cigar, and
passed the smoking compartment with
out flinching.
He had so much to tell her about his
success, and their beautiful home. Per-
haps, then. she would understand why
| Clayville was only a memory to him.
She listened appreciatively, but ask
ed more questions about his mother
than about his great factory. The
train started up. Three hours had
| passed on wings. She would leave
him at Syracuse. to take the accom-
mediation north to Clayville. He said
something expressive of regret, but he
said it awkwardly, This brought to
him a realization that he had some
how lost his grip on the little arts of
| politeness.
1T does seem odd" she murmured,
with a sudden softening of her clear,
| bell-like tones, that you are off to
ST. Louis, and l to a Clayville which
holds nothing but memories, and your
dear little mother, who was once so
nrecious to us both. will be sitting
alone watching for the Christmas
| dawn. Fate plays such strange tricks.
Why, it seems like just few months
since your mother and my mother had
that Joint Christmas tree"
She was looking steadily out of the
window, where the snow flew by like
the pure, sweet memories she was re-
viving. Her profile was softer than 1t
had been in the dining car. Borden
co,1ehed and frowned. He suddenly
recalled the pitiful expression on his
mothers face as he had implanted that
nerfnnctory kiss on her forehead.
"Why must you go to Clayville? It's
an awfully dead place" he asked
harshly.
Mildred turned to him in amaze
noent He was looking straight ahead,
and his forehead had contracted into
frown. which did not reflect the
thoughts surging through his brain.
Tvha brakeman hurried through the
ear.
NEXT stop Syracuse! Change for the
CIayville and Northern branch!"
"Why can't you go back 10 west
Taunton and spend Christmas with
mother? She'll be deucedly lonesome
and"
"Why, how absurd"
"Its not absurd. We could eaten
the noon train back"
"We?"
Her face had flushed and sudden an
ger shone in her eyes.
yves: oh, 1 say, Mildred, I've been
the biggest idiot. 1t isn't all money
though it counts tremendously; yes,
n was worth working for" he added,