The state herald., 1909-12-17

Wibhcu thdt uc uiBut uuu uib ucdIs
filled with Joy at again being beneath
the old roof-tree, wished that this
Christmas might be the happiest OF
all the Christmases he had ever ex.
perienced, and lastly assured him that
she was sending him memento OF
the season. which she hoped he would
cherish and love for her sake.
Parrish Morton repeated the words
sadly: For her sake! All, for her
sake!"
II she but knew what he would do
for her sake. were 1t possible! But.
no. she was not for him The violet
and the cosmos are inconyruous.
Youth and late summer are not born
to trip hand In hand across the fields
Elysian into Agapemone.
The bell rang sharply. He heard
Phipps' soft tread upon the stairs. and
listened. Yes. it was she. There was
no mistaking the rippling cadence of
that sweet-throated bird Of passage.
Turning. he pressed button and the
room was sparkling with light. At the
top of the stair he stood hesitating.
striving to gain control of himself At
the foot, she paused, made him a mock
courtesy" and held out her arms:
'Oh. Par. dear old Par. have
brought you your Christmas present
instead"
The attitude. the look in her eyes.
the irresistible enchantment OF her
beauty flooded him with impelling
power. What did she mean? Was 1t
herself she was offering? For a brief
moment he stood swaying to the
mighty impulse within him. Standing
stupified there, he remembered, as she
bounded toward him! He must not
he could not
And then, as he was about to sweep
aside all the positiveness Of his duty.
all the negatives and forbearances and
give free impulse to his heart. there
came step behind her. She heard
and turning as she was about to enter
the yearning haven OF his eager arms.
cried:
"Oh. pardon me, Mr.. Morton, let me
Introduce Marshall Marriott. He"
Suddenly the stairs went black be-
fore him. He realized now! She was
bringing him Christmas surprise.
the man she loved, the
Somehow he managed to greet the
stalwart young fellow with the frank
eyes. In maze OF conflicting pain
and surprise he did the duties OF a
host, and when Verona and her es.
cort had been shown to their rooms to
dress. he slipped into the den and
cast himself into the great arm chair
before the pulseless Goals OF the fire.
place.
Lost! LOST" kept ringing in his
ears. and with a groan OF anguish he
once more buried his face in his
hands and gave way to mans
grief. In vain he tried to reason
with himself that II were better so
He should not have expected or even
dared to think 1t might have been
otherwise. He was too old for her
She was sunshine. he was the somber
cloud-but. oh. how he loved her. And
for the moment he had thought she
meant to give herself. The misery OF
1t all! The heartache OF It,
Suddenly. behind him he heard a
rustic. the frou-frou OF woman's
gown. and over the side of his grea,
chair a warm arm stole softly against
his neck.
"Oh. Par, what is II, dear? What
have done? What"
Instinctively In the darkness he felt
the frightened rabbit look. the appeal
Ing gaze. Summoning all his reserve
strength. he said, with scarcely .
tremor In his voice:
Nothing dear. nothing to offend.
am glad-glad-fo you. II he is
worthy. II"
"If-if-he-is worthy--oh. you
goose. I see II all now," In n flash
she threw her arms about his neck.
Her face was close to his. How soft
and warm and soothing her flesh was, I,
"He-he is my brother, lost that day
In the foothills Of New Mexico. IL
have Just found him. Thought you
would be glnd-I wanted to surprise
you-I-l-don't you want your
Christmas PRESENT." In desperation.
With mighty heart throb he
reached about and drew her to him.
Tenderly. tremblingly he clasped his
arms about her and as their lips met
in a plighting kiss. a tiny flame spring.
ing as from the heart OF an ash-cov.
cred sapphire. famed up from the
crate and sent the shadows scurrying.
Phipps coming to announce dinner.
stood transnxed. Then. n broad grin
upon his face, he slipped softly away
chortling to his inmost self:
"Lawd! Lawd! Dcrc sure am gwine
T. be a weddin' In this yeah house
afore another Christmas cvel Yaslr!"
A ouickly.Made Present.
Al.