The Washington herald., 1908-01-13

speak. but I shall be very much sur
/ prised If he gets anything out of her.
Il am quite sure he viii have tried,
! said Mrs. Brenton, warmly.
OH said Katherine. quietly. ''ht
must have so many things to think OF
just now. / expect he has forgotten al
about me-"
On Christmas Eve Mrs. Brenton hand
ed over the completion of the decorations
10 Miss Granger People were arriving
all day
Toward the afternoon Betty fell into a
state Of consternat ton. They had run out
of gold and silver paper, and there were
any amount of other little things that
had been forgotten.
Katherine rose TO the occasion.
Look here. sweetheart. I'll tell you
what I viii do. ! will ask Mrs Brenton
/ If / may go and get everything for you.
! You, viii be gone ages. and ages and
ages and l want It now" said Betty,
/ who was like her mother IN more than
one thing. She pleaded TO be allowed to
so into the town, too, but the wind was
much too cold.
Mrs. Brenton fell in quickly with the
/ arrangement only suggesting that Kath-
crime should drive; but the walk did not
frighten the girl.
Indeed. a sense Of gladness radiated
her as she progressed briskly along the
muddy road and yet perhaps it was in
evitable that as she found herself alone.
away from the warmth and the coy
atmosphere Of the busy household. she
should drift into comparisons; that she
should awaken to the significance of how
really apart she was from these happy
elements EAg4A H. 4.
tival
oddly enough, it was not for herself
es she was this day that she felt pity.
1t was for herself as thar little. lonely
creature. left TO pick what sunshine she
could out Of the bleakest Surroundings,
that her heart ached.
The very pleasantness of her present
circumstances emphasized all she had
missed
Christmas hitherto had been TO her
synonymous only with the packing Of
boxes and the departure Of all her
sehoolmates. The last winter she had
spent In that old schoolhouse had, il is
true, been less lonely than most, for two
other little children had been left TO
share her solitude, and she had made
gallant efforts at gayety. She smiled
lainty now as she recalled all she had
done, but she sighed, too
fet we were really and truly happy.
she said 10 herself AT any rate. il was
hundred times better than last Christ
mas. Shall / ever forget that duh. ions.
miserable, foggy day! Ii seemed as if
IL would never end. My food sent up as
usual 10 my room, and not a soul 10
say kind word. Well, il is a little bit
different now"
The Wind swept across the open place
1t was so strong and cold that it made
her gasp for brea.h every now and then.
but il stung the color into her cheeks.
and made her dark eyes light up into
extraordinary beauty
If only this could go on forever" she
said 90 herself; but somehow I feel so
afraid IL can't last. She Is so sweet. so
affectionate" "she" was Camilla
when We are together. but even now I
believe she has forgotten my existence.
Indeed, though a daily report Of the
children's doings was sent 10 London.
Mrs Lancing had not even scribbled "A
word to the girl In reply, She wrote 10
Mrs. BrentOn. she telegraphed, she tele-
phoned, and she sent all manner of things
10 her children, but she showed no signs
of remembrance TO Katherine
ana -then the girl mused-'l am all
very we'll now, but Betty will want a real
goveTness in a little while. It will be
very hard TO leave them then. ! almost
think that I was better off when ! had
no chance OF growing very attached 10
any one. It cannot hurt TO part when
one does not know how sweet IL is 10
care and TO be cared for "
Cherries and yet gray as the country
tu winter acuapt had oTr4av-c
a charm and a beauty for Katherine
Granger
Half way to the town she marked a