The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-01-30

scrape she might now she was not able to make
any great Roadway toward paying it off. The land
lord was growing more clamorous each week and
month that went by till now at last she threat
ened with actual eviction as soon as the Christmas
holidays should pass over
She tried 10 think she would not be sorry after
all to leave this place where she had been so glad
and so unhappy, to get away from the constant
worries and anXleties the anxious forebodings and
the terrible, unending sense of loneliness There
was not soul about the place save herself and the
one young man who helped to look after the few re-
naming cattle drove the little loads of hay and
potatoes each week the nearest market town: and
he lived and slept in an clubhouse. for though he
was only IN his teens and she nearly thirty
Miss Ellen had too strong notions of what was dig
nlfled and proper to allow him to occupy room
IN the farm house itself.
And yet. if the place should really be sold over
her head, where could she look for home. She
had cousin married in Limerick City who would
doubtless give her shelter if need be; but Ellen
did not love the city and liked less the prospect
OF living on other peoples charity, and eating the
bread of their children She could work, of course
II she were only sure of finding something to do.
Anyhow, the sooner the end came the better for
since she had received the notice to quit she had
lost all heart or energy for doing anything about
the farm; even the little garden which she had SO
much loved had not known the touch of her hand
for many weeks gone by.
low wind began to wall mournfully in the
against the window pane awakened her from her
reverle. She and drew back the window
blind. looking out world that steadily
growing winter. Somehow the snow and the
thought of Christmas that was so near filled her
with a greater sense of loneliness For the second
Christmas III her lifetime the whitewasf.d
walls of the farm house stood bare of holly and ivy
or any smallest decoration put up to welcome the
great festival that was coming She had not suffi-
cient energy or "heart" for it. where the
where there to see it4 And the cup of
tea and the rasher new-laid egg which made her
everyday dinner would do her Just as well on
Christmas day since there was no Maurice-no no
body--to get ready proper Christmas dinner for.
Dimly through the falling snowflakes little
light shone out from the Widow ODriscolls farm
house lying the hill facing her. For
long time after Mats going away the widow and
herself had not been speaking" but since Maui
rice's sudden death that good motherly woman had
wiped out all old scores and had become Ellens
best friend and kndliest neighbor. The girls heart
winged itself longingly across the little valley
and its interseeting stream into the warm welcom
ing glow of the farm house kitchen filled with the
laughter and busy air of the long family of boys
and girls who were at once the Widow Driscoll's
greatest anxiety and happiness. Only for her eld-
est son. Matt. the neighbors said, the widow would
never be able to do for them; but Matt was a good
son. God bless him He had blessed him. too it
would seem, for Matt doing wonderfully well
in the States, and though he was marrying one of
the handsomest and richest women out there, he
had never forgotten his mother and the young fam
lily at home
He was much in Ellens mind tonight; and her
heart was heavy with love and sorrow As she went
back to her lonely place by the fireside filled with
thoughts of what might have BEEN" memories un-
dimmed of him came back to her. the information
of his. voice, certain roguish turns of his hand
some curly head. the coaxing laughing look in his
blue Irish eyes as he had first pressed his boyish
ca tbp mon IF md his
stern disapproval. Had she been wise after all in
obeying him. She feared not; God knows she had
done what she thought was right and best, but
Matt, she knew now. the she ever
could or would care for in that way, and her trou
bled heart tonight torn with lonely ache and
longing deep as first love and wild with all re-
greet"
low growl from the dog at her feet Weakened
her suddenly from her dreaming. \ moment later
a mans heavy footstep sounded outside. pausing
for a second two at the window before passing
on toward the door. little tremor of fear passed
through her; those last two years of loneliness had
left her and imaginative, and the servant
boy preparing for an early Journey to tomorroW's
market, had long ago retired to rest in his loft
above the barn. She had been feeling more nervous
of late since she heard that Mrs Finnerty's fine
flock of turkeys had been stolen from her by
tramps a few nights before: what if il dis
honest tramp. coming to demand money?
An imperative rapping for the second
time, and since her lighted window told that she
was within. she perforce found courage after
while to falter "Who is therez
"a friend" came the answer in a somewhat
muffled Tone which yet held something in its sound
so familiar and dear as to send the blood rushing
warmly through Ellen's veins The little dog
Dandy was leaping and barking ioyously about her
feet; confused and trembling. she opened the door
and man stepped boldly in across the threshold.
White snowfakes lay heavy Oh his coat and cap
on the thick crop of tight little curls she had long
ago known and loved.
"Why, Matt, it is you'll" she cried in a voice
at once fearful and joyous. Yes sure it was Matt;
the same big, handsome kindly Matt, with the
laughing eyes and the tender way with him; no
wise changed for all the long years of his absence
save for more serious expression and slightly
tanned and sunburnt appearance.
Eyes, it's Matt himself, and no one else,
asthore" he cried gayly. "And sure you're not
afraid of me, my own calling" for the first look