Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-12-22
33333:S33S33S5S
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$When Elizabeth \ \
Is By \
$Went Hone.... 5ss,r., !; y y
* Ronald ~
Cpyi by S. Clureco ~
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~ Copyrighted. 1908,
NSSSG%EGGS:GEs
1t was only . O'clock but the wide. far
stretching prairie LAID lay swathed in twi-
light. 1t was too early for stars as yet.
ind the oncorirg night lowered down UNI
broken by airy point of light, unbelievably
STILL fun of a strange soemnity, and to
Elizabeth. Inspcakably dreary. She stood
with her face against the pane, gazing out
absently into the deepening dusk.
AT holnc," she unused. and the word
vitrated in her mind with an aching ten
derness. the electric lights are cleaning
along the streets, the trolley cars are fun
of happy Christmas shoppers Papa has
come in now and hurres off to his room
with various mysterious bundles; Alice
and Dick are hobnobbiug together In q
corner over mama's present. After dinner,
some of the crowd will come in and there
Will be music and dancing. then later a
jolly little supper around the chaling
dish She titriied from her thoughts to
the gray stretch outside. Snow. stiffness
country country, country. hate it,
she gaspcd with Il sob of selfpity. II
like noise and lights and good times and
people. OH ! want 10 go home. want
to so Eome!"
Her husband MAS coming now. She
could not discern his figure. but she heard
his whistle. the notes duh and spifitirss.
mere ghosts of his old-time runs and trills.
"But he doesn't hate Dakota rs do, Alle
thought rcsentfu,ly. lie lilses 1t. He is
troubled only hccaHsc i'm
Stamping the snow from his feet. he
came into the warm room. seeming some
how 10 fill it 18th his large personality.
He stopped and Kissed her tenderly, try
ih;s To meet her averted gaze.
'y., ,ai.l am ,prp Eliza
beth he began. with tentative cheer
fulncss. "lt,s awfully cold outside. The
rir-wite made TO response, but began TO
SGT the ta,l. and the man said no more
until She summoned him TO the evening
meal. He looked mt her from time TO time
;,s she sat opposite him. hoping that her
sombcr mood would pass but she kept her
wistful sazc bent toward her plate. and
the bitter ines of her mouth never re-
Taxed
"What a dainty meal. dear" he said,
with an attempt at animation. quite
worthy of the season. 1t doesn't seem
possible that the day after tomorrow is
Christmas. does ii >?
please don't remind me of 1t. Robert.
l beg" sic ered SHARPLY. The man WINGED
and put Gown his coffee cup gazing with
set brows into its amber depths. Sudden
ly he gave his shoulders an energetic little
shake and sighed with the stress Of a firm
resolve.
"Elizabeill," he said. lets hurry ard
,,','.in,, ,.n,r ,,,nl, for Won mi,st si,,l
,',,.l 80 -, ,,.,,;,, ~, viii ,rr;vo
, ,,Y,.:e z c,,s H. ,;,,,a 90, mo-, of
~, f,;;,i,. Ia ,,, ,,,n cav i,,s. ,s
long as you like.
Elizabeth looked at him squarely now.
..,v,,.,, ~, ~, ,,,..,, ~, ..bo ,e,,e,1 "you
49,, ,.'-,.,.s IA >,
~, ~; 49,, vo, ,,,,,st ,al.e tba
49,, 49,. ,,,a,, NO s.,t..;,, 10 DOT IN.
-, ~, sn,i,. ~, man,ne
" ~ .,''', ~
..y,l,, va, no,,l,,,., do ,bat stom-
-, ,,,;.''i., -, ,a,,i.,, ,,,, vim, hone
in NO., rs.,t 81 won., do If
.',,, ~ In :. ~, re,Iisd In his
~, ~, go W. .,a ,.,,,, ~ .,i ~
,ton h,.. ,.,,,,,oss broke
.,,, w. ,.,,;a,, from Nj. ha,rt IAN dearest,
',au ~ ''','' ''o''' mo ,.;i, -,
,'o', ~, 80, ,,,, ,,,,,,,t
-. -. 49,. i,' ,s =. - ~. esn, :,
'', y. 80, -, ,,.,a ,.,,,t,, t,oussc,,,
49,, - :. .9,.,s ~. ,,.a,.',..,l for III. o.,.,t
.i''"s. Wy, ~ VOC -
efl loui'eS- . ,aa,, sh.,,,v
"a ,: ~ 80, Is,,,sr, cf, ,nxio,,s.
y. Of ~. stror.,est ,ilers,
-. 49,, 80 ~ - ''''
" ',,9 ~ ~, ,t ,vot +. f,sbion-
On, no, tiieN "oii esi'oN' q i",''o
plate TO come out oil inc wilderness, sie
r,,,,,,. !, ,hi.,....-',,, ;, iittIe :"
iu ea,,, s''i io . p n,i y she Skinned on
,i,,, -, ,ale,nI o,,.,,in. yown md
your work any more. or make little Jokes
and laugh IS YOU used TO do? Think |
get the machinery somehow, nut let S
not think about that now, Nothing mat
tiers except for ms sad little girl to ind
her happy heart again
With a cry OF reniorseful tenderness, she
threw herself into his arms.
oh, Robert. You're so good, 50 good.