Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-20
24B1z9GzDoub1eE c7!0r8
BY HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD "

And even were she willing, for the sake of the chill,
dren to make such a sacrifice, it would be criminal
to accept it. He felt flush OF guilt
had cone over to Old Place and brought Old Place
back bodily with him; and there had been pudding
in blue hames and he had taken out ms colecuoh
of gems. among them ring OF wonderful workman
ship, The marriage ring OF some old princess gone
to DUST he said H.: e -.
1T could have been Paula's marriage ring, II we
had let her marry YOU said MILFORD. Married
people wear rings But married people go away from
their own folks, and couldn't spare Paula;
Nanny Rose asked us how we would like IT, Ana
we said not at all. And that settled it. Just then
the tray OF jewels slipped, and in the scramble after
the runaway treasures no one but the D P saw
the Doctors purple and, the jewels being recovered
the children we're hustled homeward out Of hand
Paula was mad with us" Monty told the Doctor
next day: "and we asked her why. We asked her
if she wanted you to marry her. We told her thar
married people owed each other and we ASKED ner
if she loved you OF course, we knew that you You
loved Paula, BECAUSE every one loves Paula. but
she grew angry she ran right out OF the room.
re love you but that's different. You can't marry
ID Of us And you know we couldn't lose Paula
we couldn't do without her The Doctor was
helping Benson fit their skates Just then ne Was
teaching them to skate, stretch OF cold weather
without snow having made the river, broadening
below sheet of ice By Christmas time they were
too absorbed in the joy of their winged feet to care
even for Christmas tree Nanny Rose and Paula
however, had their own plans. I'D. c1-;....
1t was before the sunset of cloudy Christmas
Eve that DR.. Lloyd went over to Old Place to
bring the children to a festvity Marina and Benson
had prepared "Huccom dem chilluns ain come
in an done hab DER faces wash Nanny Rose
was saying "Dey's dess natully gone wild ober
dem skates. Pears like l ain yeered EN- racketin
dis YER long time Marse Monty! NIarse Johnny
Oh. Mameep And her voice ringing out like
bell came back like echo, no other sound reply
ing,
ooh, Nanny Rose" cried Paula, anging down,
her needles you don't beleve-oh, DR.. Lloyd
my gracious, Missy Paula you don't reckon deys
in de rbber? Sho chile, de ribbers done froze stiff
to de groun Dem limbs is more bodder to me dan
all my money! Marse johnny" And her voice
rose to concert pitch. -
But no Marse Johnny replied nor were any chill
dren in sight when, catching up cloaks and hoods,
they outdoors, where 1t was already twilight
with the coming storm
"They have probably gone down the river said
the Doctor, cor, could they have gone up?" And he
looked about him anxously; for up-river was the
pond with, its air-holes and down-river was the Big
stream where at the junction, there was sure to be
broken ice and trouble. Il am going after them,
said the Doctor. ut will be pitch dark in half an
hour. Benson shall go up stream, and VIII go
down. In the meantime let us have torch that VIII
throw light far as light hies!o And when he
came back with his skates, two of the farm hands
followed their arms full of kindlng stuff with which
they made pile at the base of the dead pine tree.
"As soon it is fred" he said, buckling his last
And then he was off way, and Benson the other,
calling as they went. And Paula and Nanny Rose
stood shuddering and shiverng the bank, Calling
%Yo come in, chile" said the old Nanny,
"'Tan' no use addn' to trouble an reskin' yoseY
sick; wen dem limbs o. mischief comes home, deyll
need us bofe, | reckon. Yo come IN along o
Nanny"
Dr. fiovd had not skated far down the bends and
reaches of the little stream before he how be-
wildered children might become. Suddenly, through
the stiffness following one OF his stentoran cries;
the Long Wood, came frail pipe like that of bird
fallen from nest; and then another and another.
The Doctor stopped to listen he put fresh
force to his strokes and sped on to find the little
people at last hudded together in mortal terror
ooh, we knew you'd come" piped one, as he APP
preached hearing, if not seeing, him Only we
were afraid" whispered another, land got turned
about We didn't know which way to goP' And
very truly the Doctor felt, he rose from com
forting them moment He, himself didn't know
which way to go. He had given his last match too,
to Marina with the farm-hands and he could not
He waited seeking something that might seem
familiar But all was still and blank Out here,
failed him. And then great glow shone in the
sky "Comep he cried quickly. That is the way
homer And as they rounded the bend pillar of
FIRE made the darkness blench before it
"You did it, said MILFORD.
"God did it," said Jo.
81 guess this is Christmas tree, said little Mary
1t was the next morning, the storm blown away,
that DR.. Lloyd saw the procession of little people
his snowy lawn. Paula was with them, in the cloak
hurriedly thrown on at their demand 1--WE haven't
wide hall down whose depths the fire blazed, "be-
cause we thought she might make time. But we
came to wish you Merry Christmas-and make
you Christmas present-you gave us the big
"And it was gorous"
"And it saved our 1ves!
"And we want to give you the best thing we've
got"
"And so we're going to give you Paulal"
And part OF them fell upon Paula, slipping off the
cloak, and part of them upon the Doctor. You're
going TO stay here now, Paula" they said. 'Well
come over every day"
"And all day long,"
"You may marry her. if you ike!"
May l. Paula? May II" whispered Dr. Lloyd.
1--WE will try to do without her!" and the lips began
to tremble, the voices falter, the heroes to cry
at is present have wanted very much. But
Paula herself must give it. Paula?"
She stood there flushed, beautiful appealing, down
cast But for one moment she raised her luminous
in his arms and doubted if he were not dreaming
dream of heaven.
81 think" he said presently, still holding Paula
eve will have wedding here to-day And then you
won't have to do without Paula For you will stay;
too"