The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1908-03-29

while the wind whistled savageIy
through the trees Merriwether turn
ed over with deep grunt of satisfac-
ton There could be no sleighing, no
skating, no tobogganning, such day
an this, and that night was Christmas
eve and the Christmas tree. He had
purchased an exquisite copy of MAUD"
for Mrs Angell 1t was poem they
had once read together. and he won
dered il his memory Of the fact would /
touch her. With these thoughts he /
drifted back into sleep, and the morn /
ing train went laundering 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 We'll 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-
err worked in the storm until noon be-
fore the trees were properly cut, trim
med, cleaned and set up in the ball 1
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
weight; he climbed stairs to fetch pack
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 cherries.
Showing his aching feet into slippers,
be got himself into a smoking jacket.
lit his pipe and descended to the libra
ry. The library lay back of the living
room, far from the music. and it 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 a broad sweep of his
hand and stepped within. Then he
stopped abruptly. The couch was occu-
pied. Il beg your pardon, Gertrude.
/ 1 thought you were singing"
"Singing," 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 a gesture
which caused great light to break in
on Merriwether.
You're tiredr' he accused in a ring
fng voice of triumph.
She leaned back, resting her head
against the wall. "Tired?' she repeat
+ ed in an intense voice. I'm half dead
with the awful pace of these two days.
If l we're a big healthy man now"
gIancing 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 l am" she responded al
most irritably. you know that / am"
"Yees,'' he replied vaguely. coming
nearer, "but / didn't know that you
| knew itt'
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 q gesture of despair. II
can't endure 1t any longer. I'm going
home tomorrow on the 9:1O train and
leave you to chaperon. Nothing seems to
tire you" The tears had reached her
lashes, and she turned her head away.
Merriwether sat down beside her I'M
invited Gertrude" he began in a
voice in which rang a satisfaction out
Of harmony with his announcement,
1.-THE exertion attendant on chaperon-
ing this house party and keeping up
with you has given me the rheumatism
in every joint and muscle, and not only
the headache-the effect has penetrated
to my disposition, which Isl
A door opened somewhere, and 8
burst of music interrupted him. "Peace
on earth, good will to men,
The door closed, and silence reigne6
in the library. A realization of the
spirit of the words came to Merri
wether. His light manner dropped from
him. He leaned over and laid his hand
on Gertrude's. Lets be old and peace
. full together, dear Don't go back TO
morrow. Spend Christmas herewith
me-
! The freight played softly over tn,
woman's face. She glanced up with
: ! smile which was tremulous in spite O
her moc'sing words, Now that thinl
: Of 1t. Bruce. I haven't bought my tick
eft yet and-it is more comfortable t,