The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-18

4 IT Toes seem odd" she murmursd.
with a sudden softening of her clear,
| beil-iike tones, that you are of to st.
! Louis, and i to Clayviiie which holds
nothing but memories. and your dear
little mother, who was once so precious
to us both. will be sitting watching for
| the Christmas dawn. Fate plays such
strange tricks. Why, it seems like Just
a few months since your mother and
my mother had that joint Christmas
tree"
She was looking steadily out of the
window. where the SNOW flew by like
the pure. sweet memories she Was re-
viving. Her profile MAS softer than 1T
had been in the dining car. Borden
| coughed and crowned. He suddenly re-
| called the pitiful expression on his
mothers face as he had impaired that
p~erfunctory kiss on her forehead.
Why must you go to ClayNilie? It's
an awfuliy dead place" he asked
liarshly.
Mildred turned on him in amazement.
He was looking straight ahead, and his
forehead was contracted into Il frown.
which did rot reflect the thoughts
surging through his brain. The brake
man hurried through the car.
Next stop Syracuse. Change for he
Clayville and Northern branch.."
Why can't you so back to West
Taunton aud spend Christmas with
mother? She'll be deucedly lonesome
and"
Why. how absurd"
It's not absurd. We could catch the
J noon train back
We"
Her face had flushed and sudden an
ger shone in her eyes.
Yes: oh. l say, Mildred. I've been
the biggest idiot. 1t isn't all money
though 1T counts tremendously; yes.
1t was worth working for" he added.
his cautious nature reasserting itself.
But I've lost a lot. Mothers lost
more. l didn't realize it until I saw
you. I've hurt her awfully-l know I
have. VIII you go back with me and
help make it up to herr"
The din of the rushing train almost
drowned the words. but Mildred caught
them-and more. She saw in his eyes
that which had not been there in The
days of loves young dream.
The man ahead was gathering up his
bags. They We're on the outskirts OF
Syracuse.
Mildred. don't say no. l don't de-
serve you-but mother does. Come
home to us, and st. Louis ma sc
hang
1t was boyish, but it was earnest. She
hesitated, then smiled.
It's a shame to waste that ticket to
- I L1C4ASp "a Aoi SiS own W. yOAA
soul-and your mother-I-am going to
West Taunton
At Syracuse they sent two wires. One
wen to Clayville and conveyed Miss
Mildred Davis Christmas wishes and
regrets to the house of Appleby. The
other went to Jim Cartwright. and
read:
Provide Christmas treat for en-
p.oycs. John Borden
IT. was past midnight when he opened
his own door very softly, and just az
softly summoned the astonished Mag
gle. His mothers hearing was slight
ly impaired and her door was closed
shielded in the dining ROOM. and they
trimmed the little tree to stand by
the mothers chair. The bewildered
Maggie, too excited to sleep, waited out
in the kitchen to conduct this mystt-
flying visitor to the guest chamber, and
returned to the attic to inform cook
thai these were strange doings for q
belied her words.
The next morning Mrs. Borden had
the same dream of the Christmas ange
only the figure was ella in something
soft and blue. The voice which said
Merry Christmas, lear Mrs. Borden
was not angelic, Dut very nrm anc
cheerful and womanly. h little
white-haired woman sat straight up IL
bed, laughing and crying together
When she could see through her tears
she found her son, lowering in thu
background, looking sheepish, b hap.
ply, and when she reached once NOR,
for the firm but caressing hands o.
Mildred Davis. she saw that h little
pearl ring was back in its place. I
had been Jacks only present to hi
promised wife. but that was only be
cause every jewelry store in town hat
been closed on their arrival.