The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-12-16

wearer to soar With. She put on The
costume and danced Il two-step across
| the rude stage.
"Ych mustn't do that. lady: this is
fer tn benefit OF tn churches. an tn
folks wouldn't IKE it," said the man
ager, with a grin.
Then came up one of the women OF
the town. who seemed to have Il part
of the management. She gave some
instructions as to what would happen.
and Miss Reisen listened intently An
other listened. but She did not know it.
The program of the evening opened
with Il numbe of songs and recitations,
to which the passengers from the train
CAV the most earnest attention ana
hearty applause. Marvin seemed Won
derfully ut home. Miss Reisen thought,
and Was calling men by their first
names as if he knew them. He was
behind the scenes Il good deal: too
much, she thought, also. and 1t worried
her, for he was the only one in all the
house that she counted on as a friend
no, was he a FRIEND? She wished she
knew if the story her chum old her
were false or true.
Then ann the time for the Christ
mas tree "doin's,' as the y manager
called the exercises. The big curtain
was dropped. and the children of the
prairie farms and ranches gave an
audible oh" as the beautiful green
paper MIGppeu lolloilNO Oo. iISIIaS"
with candles and glistening with tinsel.
all brought from the city 400 miles
away burst on their eyes. Many of
them had never seen an evergreen, and
this was a fulnlment of all their antici-
pations.
Before the tree stood the fairy, her
wings and robe making her Utmost
ethereal in the. sight of the little ones.
Behind was the open mouth of a CHM
ney, and far off rang the horn of Saint
Nicholas as he approached over the
housetops on his seligh. 1t was cold
enough outside for his biggest furs, and
whcn he came laboriously down the
chimney n stood amid the group on
the stage he was the very picture of
the Santa Claus of their dreams.
Swiftly he made the rounds of the
tree and in cultural tones told the little
folks to help themselves. Then he did
what was not on the bills-he APP
preached the fairy, and in the same
rough voice exclaimed:
You are to go,with me on my trav-
els tonight. Come"
For a moment she stood irresolute,
not knowing il this were part of the
program. Then. thinking it must be
she took the heavily-gloved hand, and,
with a bow to the audience, stepped
back and back. until both were swal-
lowed up in the vast depth of the chin
ney.
But they did not so upward. Santa
Claus opened a door in the rear. and
they were outside the noisy hall and III
the dressing room.
Suddenly Santa Claus stripped off the
heavy wings and crown from the fairy,
and handed her her furs. Come with
me-" he said masterfully.
What do YOU mean?" she replied.
This" and he threw down the mask
and wig. thefur coat and heavy gloves
before her stood Frank Marvin. u
asked you to come with me on my trav.
els. n you consented, as you did once
before-but this time it. is for lite"
Alice Reisen laughed a little hyster-
ically. But you nov what happened
before, Frank" The last word Was {
caress, so tenderly was it spoken.
Yes. l know from what YOU said :
was another girl in whom / was inter.
ested. There was and can be no other
girl but you" And then they talked
it all over, for good.
The candy II toy We're distributed
from the green-Daper-wrapped tree
when they returned to the hall. The,
did not remain long. but went out un,
. der the stars II to the little parson.
age across the way. Frank had sent
friend for a license, and in Il trice the,
We're married.
a team and carriage We're at tn,
door. and away they We're whirlet
through the beautiful but crisp prairie
night.
ITO the ranch.' ordered Frank. ant
then added: 1T was a miracle that the
| train stopped right here in my OWL
| town. The big ranch house is ablaz
!, With light out there, and all is read,
for you"
mountains Without two of its passen.
| gers.
DO YOU know" whispered Frank. a.
the team drew up to the ranch house
: almost a mansion out there on tn,
plains, that | received the best Christ
, mas present of all t%onight?"
! But you had to be your own Sants
Claus to get It," laughed Alice.
I, CHRISTMAS IN BOSNIA.