Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-26

ness and loneliness into Miss Debby's
heart!
1t was late when everything was
cleared away; the orange fire of Il
wintry sunset was burning in the west
ern sky, when Bertha, with q red
tippet tied over her haxen braids,
trudged out. to the hen-hOuSc r.. with
water and corn for its inmates
1t was pitiful TO see the girls at
tempts at sociabilty with the small,
feathered creatures.
Coon now! Coom.'' she crooned to
the Plymouth Rock rooster. You
must not be 50 greedy und gobble ev
erything from your vimmenfolks.
Here, leedle Speckle. don't be afraid
nit me. SO? | holds out mine hand
you eats the corn. Bertha likes YOU
she likes 20 talk nit you; she heart
sick nit lonesomeness! She think
she shust got to do something's to
keep Christmas leedle."
Miss Debby retired very early that
night. It's been a sort of poky,
gloomy day. she said a little queru-
lcuslv as she blew out her light and
crawled into bed. There hasn't been
a soul dropped in to see me, only
Mrs. Pettibone, to inquire if any of
us had seen her cat Augustus; she's
afraid he's showed up under the barn
Well, Christmas has come and gone
and I amt any happier for it and I
guess. what's worse, l amt made any
body else happier. / most wish IA
let Bertha have her way about go
ing"
Miss Dcbby presently drifted off
from her uncomfortable musings into
an uneasy slumber. How long she
slept she knew not but after a time
some noise awoke her. She sat up
in bed and listened. thinking of her
pocket t-boOk left on the Sittlng-room
table and of the solid silver teaspoons
used for the Christmas dinner.
Yes. certainly somebody was a-stir
in the house. Somebody was stealing
down the stairs,
Miss DebDy was no coward. Hastily
donning a few garments. she tiptoed
from the room out into the hall and
cautiouslyl peered over the bannisters.
A pale streak of moonlight flooded
one of the lower windows, and in its
beams. near the front door, was plain
II revealed a dumpy figure swathed
ir innumerable shawls. surmounted
by a naxcn head wound round and
round with a scarlet tippet
cts Bertha-all wrapped up. What
is she going out for at this time of
night" and Miss Debbys soul was
filled with Indignation
She tried to call. but her voice end
| cd in a little squeak inaudible to ears
| buried fathoms deep in a red. tppet;
l no a.
en- was busily engaged in opening the
| front door.
Miss DENLY flew back to her own room
| and finished dressing herself. I'm going
| to see what that girl is up to- she said
| in a determined voice. II feel it my duty
tor
| Five minutes later two dark figures
| might have been seen going down the
| lonely street. Bertha was some distance
| ahead. her much bundled figure making
| a arotcsrue, wabbling shadow on the
| white snow Without a glance behind hel
| she hurried along the street until 1t ended
| in the turnpike road. There were nc
houses now. but. just ahead. on a little
rise of ground the tombstone of the Gene
terry glistened white against clumps ol
evergreens
Thither the German girl made her way
she paused near a couple of low, white
mounds not far from the gateway. Brush,
ing away the snow from these, she Strew
ed them with sprigs of holly and trailing
SPRAYS of ground pine; then she bowed
| her face down to the cold graves ant
| sobbed q little.
"Vater. Mutter"' she moaned. and will
| a gesture of entreaty she raised her arms
| starward.
Something in the serenity of the radi
ant heavens. in the white purity ant
| peace of the little cemetery seemed to re
| assure and comfort her, for she present
lv rose to her feet, wiped her eyes an
murmured. "Ach wohi. the good God, FL
cares for us all!''
| Then she turned and fioundered dow
l through the drifts again.
: Miss Debby. who all unnoticed, ha
! been lurking in the shadow of a hug
evergreen, fingered little until BeI
: tha had proceeded several rods alon
} the road, then she followed her SLOWLY
| murmuringi to herself in tones of dee
contrition. 80, the poor girl. She came t
l put those evergreens on her parent
! grave: probably that's what she wante
to do this afternono, and didn't let her
5 1 didn't let her! But''-peering into til
gloom ahead-'is she going back HON
: now or is she going somewheres else?"
q Evidently Bertha intended the latte
: course for she was hurrying along I'll
road leading toward Brighton. Pres
' emily she came in sight of aslargep re
i Continued from Page SeyeI1.)