The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-12-01

| and can't work SO well. Here, lei
me hold your coat"
Mrs. Singleton dressed silently. She
was too dazed to speak. As she
started to 60 she frightened up for a
moment.
'Of course they knew you would
Decline she explained, land they in
vited you just to spite me. Good-by.
dear!"
The lace fell unheeded again when
Clare was once more alone.
And that is the world have left"
she whispered.
"And the world that is calling me
to return! Never!" she exclaimed
aloud. Il was undecided before Julia
came; now, am sure of myself 1t is
clear that l can never live with her.
nor allow her to help me; and better
| live here alone forever than marry the
senator, or any other man simply for
money. There, l will settle that mat
, ter at once"
Flinging her work aside she crossed
to the desk and wrote rapidly. Then
she ran down the stairs and dropped
the note into letter box just across
the street When she returned she
waltZed gaily around the room. She
had acquired the habit of talking to
herself, for at time it was relief to
hear even her own voice break the
| silence.
"Good-by to the senator forever"
she sang. Farewell to his money and
all that it can buy! Why, believe I
feel better already. l believe it was
that money that was making me blue.
Now l will work hard; for like work
and the life here-all but Sundays and
holidays-they drag!"
Thanksgiving day had just passed.
Clare had spent it alone, trying to
think of long list of reasons for be-
ing thankful. Some way the list was
rather short Her mind had persist
ed in veering off to a certain young
| eyes-a friend of long ago. She kept
| wondering why he had gone away SO
| suddenly. At times she had thought
| that his eyes told story that would
| have been worth listening to; but he
| had gone without word. Since she
had been living alone she had thought
| of him often.
| The senator, and all the advantages
| he could offer, being definitely re-
fused, Clare grew brighter, and the
tired look left her face. She often
sang light-heartedly, as the days flew
on toward Christmas. All invitations
| were refused, and on Christmas morn
ing she arose as usual and began to
| paint Soon she threw down her
brush in despair.
Its no use; I can't to-day!" she
said, mournfully. II do really hate
! holidays. Everything will go ali
| right tomorrow, but for to-day-I
must give it up!"
To pass the time away she began to
look through some of her fathers old
books; but her mind still wandered
Off to the laughing blue eyes. She re-
membered with start, that it was
just one year since she had seen him.
There had been company-she had
slipped away to the library for
stolen glimpse of a book she was
reading. He had followed and they
had a happy half hour together. Then
some one called, and when at last she
returned the room was empty. She
had never seen him since. What was
it she had been reading? Oh, yes,
Vanity Fair!' She looked through
the books, and when she found it
touched it tenderly. They had dis
cussed it together! Someway, the
laughing blue eyes seemed very near
her now.
IF he had said only one word" she
murmured.
Suddenly something white and
bulky fell from the book to her lap
She caught her breath as she saw that
it was a letter with an unbroken seal
She knew the writing-and her hands
trembled. In flash she saw it all
He had left it in the book she had
been reading, thinking she would find
it at once And she had not opened
the book since! AS she read, tears
filed her eyes; it was the outpouring
of boyish soul, revealing his love
and asking her to wait. When she
reached the end she bowed her head
and wept tears of Joy.
Il would rather have one letter like
this" she sobbed, than a thousand
senators, with all their money! 1 do
not think l dislike holidays SO much.
after ALL"
Christmas evening was spent in
writing page after page of explana-
lions. There were so many that tie
letter was much over weight.
The last days of the year slipped
rapidly by, and no reply came. Clare
began to look anxious. All sorts Of
fears beset her; she could not account
for his silence. Finally came the last
day of the year-and still no reply.
Another holiday Tomorrow"
Glare groaned. How I hate them!"
She retired early and cried herself to
sleep. dreaming all night of deaths.
sickness. murders, fires and many
horrible. impossible things. A vigor-
Gus knocking awoke her early in the
morning.
Telegram. ma'am!" said a voice
Glare dressed as hastily as possible, a
terrible fear at her heart. Her dreams
must have meant trouble of some
Find. and she felt that it had come
Trembling, she tore open the envel-
ope.
Happy New Year for US both. VIII
arrive to-day. Letter Just received.
FRANK"
"Oh, I wish had never said such
horrid things about holidays!" ex-