The Washington herald., 1906-12-23

the gCverness. Well have to sit up all
night and watch this lamp. II It burns
ont, we can take a taper and light an
other"
Better still" suggested Ellen. we
VIII build a fire here and then. in the
morning light the tree and the kitchen
IRE from the fireplace"
"You are both wrong" exclaimed Lar
ry feeling that somehow the affair was
taking on the favor Of an adventure I'll
60 up 70 Davids cabin, and borrow some
matches
David was the man OF all work and he
had a cabin Of his own behind the cor
rails. No doubt he would be blessed with
big supply Of matches, for he was an
inveterGte smoker.
Larry reached for his hat and coat. and
just at that moment there came a knock
at the door. Ellen. lamp in hand. stepped
TO the door Il swung open ana the
lamp went out in the draft 4 voice.
rich and friendly. came out Of the night;
Sure, Mrs. Grey, would you give me
the loan of a few matches? I haven {
one, and two Of the boys from the Bark
ranch has dropped in for a bit of Christ
mas cheer and friendly smoke
Ellen Gray burst into hysterical laugh
ter, and Larrys hand was stayed in the
act Of removing his hat
You want matches?" he echoed. Why,
so do We"
Larry tramped back to the cabin with
David but no matches were forthcoming
from the cowboys Of Bark They had
expected to find matches and other crea-
ture comforts at David's cabin.
The hOmesick little governess picked
her way carefully upstairs to bed. Larry
q -
her to the sofa in the dark sittng-room.
Larry, think of it," she said. fearful
~. a lovely Christmas tree and not a
match in the house to light it when the
children get I'D. A beautiful turkey,
minCe pie, everything that's good-and the
nearest neighbor from whom we could Dor
row matches. ten miles away. On, If you
only hadn't" she stopped abruptly.
She would not reprOach him on this
Christmas Eve He had meant TO do
what was best. He had told her that he
wanted money and power only to make
her happier. He could not understand.
And arguing thus, she fell asleep in his
arms
But her words would not sleep. They
came back to the man, sitting rigidly in
the dark. his arms clasped about the
woman he loved.
"A lovely Christmas tree and not a
match to light il. The nearest neighbor
ten miles away Oh, if only you had
not
II only he hadn't! How many times
in the past three months he had said the
same thing. How often he had missed
Hiram's protecting presence and comfort
ing strength and brotherly affection. How
often he had grieved as the chiIdren's
plea for cousinly cOmpanionship had been
cut short by his wife's tactful words He
had made them all unhappy What was
the use of trying to hide this fact with a
gorgeous tree and high priced gifts?
There was something they wanted more
than presents.
Suddenly he bent forward and caught
his wifes regular breathing. Then very
gently he laid her on the sofa. covered
her with infinite care, and. putting on
his great coat, stalked forth into the
night
There was a path through sage brush
across the quarter section, long since
dropped into disuse. but he found it now
and followed it. close 10 the barbed wire
fence. Suddenly he caught the approach Of
quick pattering feet. He bent his head
to listen. It was not the soft, padded
fall OF a VOLTS or coyotes foot 1t was
human, and short and sharp, and Il was
very close now. He sprang forward and
a woman fell gasping into his arms.
oh, Larry, is that you? 1 was fright
ened almost to death. / never dreamed
you'd be coming this way tonight"
Nor /, that I'd meet you on the same
path, he said, grimly, as he supported
his trembling sister-in-law.
She chung to him gratefully and ignored
MS grim speech.
i haven't slept a wink. I saw such