The Washington herald., 1906-12-23

She hated the expression. 'TH show
him She did not want a h8nds0mer
hOme-just a home where there were no
tender memories Of sisterIy kindness. now
lost forever, home on the, extreme far
Their edge Of their property, where the
very nearuess Of her sister was not a
daily thorn in her flesh.
Three days before Christmas. Hiram
Grey drove into Santa Anna and loaded
his high spring wagon with boxes and
bundles. The druggist, the statoner, and
the prOprietOTs OF the two general stores
had contributed Of their Christmas stocks.
There should be a merry Christmas at
the Hiram Grey ranch, thought the little
milliner, as she watched the wagon and
its square shOuldered driver flash by her
small window.
Two days before Christmas. Larry Grey
drove into town and out again. Re had
not only gathered UP his full quota Of
packages from the various trades-people,
but he had gone TO the depot and claimed
a large express package from Denver,
which, he explained to the station agent
was the finest doll his partner. the cor
pOratiOn lawyer, could get il was for
little Lucy his daughter. named IN non
or Of the aunt whom, by the way, shs
missed sOTely. Perhaps the doll might
I'LL the void OF course. Larry Grey did
not say all this, but he thought it IS he
drove back with the parcel smuggling up
against his great coat.
And so came Christmas Eve. The HI
ram Greys trimmed their tree early and
retired. As Lucy Grey stepped for the
last time TO her window she saw across
the quarter section OF land a sudden
fame shoot UP behind her sisters kitchen
WINDOW, and then as suddenly die down
into darkness.
I do declare, Hiram, it looked ex-
actIy as if something had taken fire over
at EIen's, and then gone out again
quick. Do you suppose She
"Oh, don't worry about other peoples
affairs. The children viii hear you chat
tering and be down like wolves on the
Christmas tree before midnight Larry1l
take care of Ellen. don't you worry. He
has shown he knows how TO look after
his own
The bitterness Of his tones told his wife
that even in this Christmas tide the wrath
in his heart die not burn lew. She crept
into bed. buried her face in her pillow
and gave way TO soUndiess sobs.
Over In the Larry Grey house there
had been a FIRE, single but hope-blast-
Ing tongue Of flame. Not that the Lar
~ Greys had realized the extent of their
loss at the time. 1t was an hour before
its full extent was made clear.
They, too, had begun to trim the tree
early, Larry. Ellen, and the governess,
an Eastern college girl who had come
West for her health. and was trying to
Danish her own Inconsistencies by creating
a Christmas spirit that would not burn in
the Larry Grey home. BuJ the tree was a
beauty, the trimmings intricate and de-
handing many bits of ribbon and wire
hangers. The two women made a feint
of Christmas merfiment as they prepared
the trifies for Larry to hang. Strands of
popcorn and tinsel gave the finishing
touch. and then they stepped back to ad-
miTe their work
Lovely" exclaimed the gOVernesS. DO
light it up, Mr. Grey. while we arrange
the presents. Let Us have a peek at its
complete loneliness before we go 10 bed
In the morning we shall be so excited
with the children that We viii not notice
the tree"
On the opposite side of the room rose
a mighty fireplace of adobe in which
pinOn logs usually burned But tonight
1t had been warm. owing 10 a sudden
thaw, and they had let the fire burn low
Larry Grey kicked the ashes and gray
logs aside as he bent over them with the
taper. but not a spark could he find.
Where are the matches. Ellen?'' he
asked, as he felt in the empty box above
the fireplace
'Oh, I have been so busy I forgot TO
iii the safes. You'll find them in the cor
ner closet IN the kitchen-a whole big
box that you brought home yesterday"
And moment later the fame that
Lucy Grey had seen a quarter Of a mile