The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-03-13
bones in norris chair and determined


to return to the city early next morn
| ing. He would be old and sensible and
] comfortable once more. He would for
get Gertrude as long as he could not
keep up with her youthfulness.
But alas for his determination! He
nearly forgot his bruises and sprains
that evening in the charm of Mrs. An
/ CELLS presence, and he noticed, too,
with pang of something very like
jealousy, that Briggs, the youngest
man in the party, occupied his spare
moments looking in her direction.
"I'l see what tie weather promises
for tomorrow" was his irresolute com
| ment as he reached his room at mid
night and noted that Peter had ODE
dlently packed his things ready for the
, $40 train. IF it should storm, may
be- was his last conscious thought,
| and then he drifted off into land
where Gertrude spent her Christmases
with him beside a quiet hearthstone
and chaperoned house parties no more.
Next morning, when he awOke, the
snow was driving against the window,
while the wind whistled savagely
through the trees Merriwether turn
| ed over with deep grunt of satisfac-
| ton. There could be no sleighing. no
skating, no tobogganning, such day
| as this. and that night was Christmas
eve and the Christmas tree. He had
purchased an exquisite copy OF Maud"
| for Mrs. Angel. 1t was a poem they
had once read together, and he won
dered if his memory of the fact would
| touch her With these thoughts he
| drifted back into sleep, and the morn
| ing train went numbering cityward
| without him.
But his triumph over the state of the
weather was short lived. At the break
| fast table his nephew curdled his blood
| by the announcement of the plans for
the Christmas trees, which yet stood in
! the forest mile across lots. 1.-TWO Of
| the men are sick this morning, fellows,
so well have to fall into line and fetch
| the trees" Roy proclaimed, with rel
ish born Of twenty-three years and
| warm blood
The fellows" including Merriweth-
er, worked in the storm until noon be-
| fore the trees were properly cut, trim
| med, cleaned and set up in the ball
room ready for the decorations and
| gifts. The ladies had the decorations
| in charge. but Merriwether found there
| was no rest for the weary. He bal
| anced himself perilously by the hour
on the top of stepladders. which sway
ed and creaked ominously under his
L., .,4. - NaIx -
| ages from the billiard room; he search
ed for lost hammers and knelt on mis-
| laid tacks until he relegated Christmas
and house parties to the lower regions.
| At last the trees were decorated, and
Roy called the party into the music
| room to practice Christmas anthems.
Merriwether saw his fellow workers
| safely into the music room; then he
| dragged himself upstairs for solacing
smoke, only to find his fire out and his
| chamber cheerless.
Showing his aching feet into slippers,
! he got himself into Il smoking jacket
lit his pipe and descended to the libra
ry. The library lay back of the living
| room, far from the music, and 1t con-
| tanned an inviting couch, at which
| Merriwether had looked longingly, but
| had not found time so far to occupy.
He pushed aside the curtains at the
| entrance with broad sweep of his
| hand and stepped within. Then he
| stopped abruptly. The couch was occu-
! pied Il beg your pardon, Gertrude.
l thought YOU were singing"
"Singiug!' she responded GROSSLY,
struggling into sitting posture. "Why,
I've not shred of voice left to sing
With" She did not smile. but passed
her hand across her eyes in q gesture
which caused great light to break in
on Merriwethcr.
You're tired." he accused In ring
| fng voice of triumph.
She leaned back, resting her head
against the wall. "Tired?" she repeat
| cd In an intense voice. "Pm half dead
with the awful pace of these two days.
| If l were q big healthy man now"
| glancing resentfully at the proportions
of the man before her, 81 might be
| able to endure everything and yet feel
| fresh, but, being a woman and forty
| one
| Gertrude" interrupted Merriwether
in tone of solemn joy, "are you forty
one?"
"Of course am" she responded al
| most irritably. you know that I am"
"Ye-es," he replied vaguely, coming
nearer, but | didn't know that you
knew it,
81 have every reason to know IT.
the tears were near the surface now
when skating gives me the rheuma-
tism, and dancing the headache, and
| that sleigh ride She spread her
hands out in gesture of despair. Il
can't endure it any longer I'm going
home tomorrow on the 9:10 train and
leave you to chaperon. Nothing seems to
tire you" The tears had reached her
| ashes, and she turned her head away.
Merriwether sat down beside her un-
invited. Gertrude" he began in a
voice in which rang a satisfaction out
Of harmony with his announcement,
"the exertlon attendant on chaperon-
/, ing this house party and keeping up
with you has given me the rheumatism
| I'm avcrv ioint and muscle and not ONLY