The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-12-22
few trinkets and paper Of pretty can
dies which he had bought at the store,


dies which he had bought at the store,
ito be in spirit with the season." he
had apologized to Miley. These he
placed in Bessies hands and watched
the expression of delight that iilumi-
mated the child's face. She had hardly
done thanking him when the door
opened and Faith entered. Her eyes
met Desmond's in one long, searching
glance, then she turned white and
leaned against the wall. Rob let his
hat fall to the floor as he fastened to-
ward the agitated girl.
Faith. Faith Haskinsr' he cried
els it you-and here"
''Oh, Rob, never expected to see
you again. she sobbed, burying her
face in the folds of her shawl. The
sight of an old friend had thrown her
off her guard and brought back to her
sharply and keenly all her trouble and
loneliness and made her strangely
weak.
When Clint came in few minutes
later he found his sister in the arms Of
what appeared to him to be big buff
falo. Never having heard that buffa-
loes were in the habit Of coming into
cabins and hugging people, he ap-
preached Bessie, whose teeth had just
decapitated a candy rabbit, and asked
in an awed whisper:
"What's got Faith? Is it hurtin'
her?'
Il dess not" Bessie whispered back
as well as she could with her mouth
full Hes awful nice, an dess he's
a relation to Santa Claus. See what
be dibbed mev' holding up her pres
ents.
Returning from the blacksmith's
shop, Ike and Jim left the repaired
wheel by the wagon and stole quietly
up to the shack. AS they passed one
Of the windows they looked in to see
if their victim were there. With sur
prise they beheld him sitting by Faiths
side, holding both her hands in his.
The freight revealed to their aston
ished sight the two happy faces, while
two equally happy children were sit
ting on the floor at their feet.
The fellows, realizing that their joke
had missed fire." started to walk
away, but Rob- catching sight of them.
went to the door and insisted on their
coming in. After they had partially
recovered from their embarrassment
and the genial atmosphere did much
toward restoring them to their natural
selves-they distributed their gifts and
received the young lady's blushing
thanks for all their kindness to her.
Desmond said:
pretty good joke you tried to play
on me tonight, boys" with slap on
their shoulders, at the same time laugh
ing heartily. But you see how it has
turned out. Only I'll have to explain.
This little woman, Faith Haskins, and
1 used to go to school together away
back near the old Tippecanoe in In
diana.
1--WE grew up as lovers, but her
father thought l wasn't Of much &C.
count except to pick an old guitar or
play the fiddle, so when he had taken
his family off to Nebraska he wouldn't
allow Faith to write to me, and Of
course 1 lost track Of her. But loved
her just the same, and that might
become more worthy gave up my idle
habits, taught school for few terms
and earned the money to give me a
start here in Kansas on this timber
claim and am in pretty fair way to
make my living, as you know. l find
nv little school friend has not forgot
ten me, and since she had the audacity
to Jump my claim in my absence l
think 1 may as well keep her here.
Now, as you fellows have already had
a finger in the pie l want you to 60
with US tomorrow to visit the judge
over at the courthouse. Something's
going to take place there that will eel
citrate Christmas in proper style. 1t
was kind of you to see to repairing the
wagon, but there won't be any use for
it going to Uncle Ethan's ranch, for
Clint and Bessie will have to stay and
help us be happy. You'll go, won't you,
boys?"
60? In course we will! Well see
you and her through, if the earth slips
cog. We will, you bet! By ginger,
but you're lucky galoot! l wish ole
Christmas ID drop a jewel like that
inter my stockin's.''