Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1909-12-17


from the OVERLOOKING drawers in the 4
Closed chambers. and Calista's best
cloak and hat lay OH the sofa. s&H IS
The poorhouse was three miles away !
on the highload, and a snowplow had
Fleyeiet Il broad track to the very door.
so Calista. clad In her best. put on her !.
oyershoes and started forth. a basket
M either. hahd. 's i =ss~< IN
EtsSShe was quite pale and tired when
sshe turned, into The. high white gate
and advanced up thepath. bordered on
keither, side ,wi,trg gloomy cedar trees.
[sDr Keyes was. the oyerseer of the
Observation-Disclosures. and twas con-
sidered the hest managed institution
sofairsakind in the state. H. !
Breakf Fast swas being served in the
long dining bali when Calista rang the
bell. and when. the, door. opened the
bluff. brown eyed doctor himself stood
before her. \ -
ssMerry Christmas. Miss 'CaliSta! So
youare playing Santa Claus this MORN
ing: am glad of that, because some
Sof my old people are feeling very blue
today"
He relieved her Of the baskets and
lied the way into the CHEEKY warmth
OF his comfortable office, where Calls
ia sat down before the glowing stove
and thawed out her frosty fingers.
When she spoke her eyes were fasten-
ed on the red Goals, and the words
came hesitatingly.
1--WE kept christmas alone-for
twelve years. Somehow didn't care
about seeing anybody. just wanted
to- try to bring back things as they
used to be-before"-
DIR. Keyes wiped his glasses and re-
placed them on his fine nose. Had he
not stood side by side with little Ca
lista Thorp and fought hopelessIy the
battle of life and death-and lost!
And had not Caiista turned on him
like a little: Wild animal and CON
demned him because he had failed!
She had avoided speaking to him
afterwar1. and this was the first time
they had met. and she was talking to
him now as it she had forgotten that
be had lost the grim battle for her
loved ones.
| .--"betore my folks died." went on
Calistu steadily. "Rut 1t cant be done:
The minister talked to me about it.
and got to thinking last night may
be the best way to live over happy
times is to give them to somebody
else that never had any. so I've
brought all the presents I've given
mother aud father and the children
ever since then-and | want the folks
here to have Them"
| Two tears rolled down her cheeks
from Calista's overchurged heart. and
| others followed and fell into the glass
Of grape jui;e which DR.. Reyes held
at her lips. aud perhaps it was that or
the large warm hand which rested on
her shoulder that revived the little
woman to. renewed strength.
/ 5.tYou need never be without fami-
| ~, Miss Calista," said the doctor ut
I lastsin Il husky voice. Il have fami-
| ly here-forty people-old and young,
and little children. They need help
and encouragement and comfort. Some
| may have another chance in the world
| If they receive A word of womanly
sympathy in season. Will you be my
right hand here:''
I'D like to-" sobbed Calista thank
fully. !! ~ -? ~ E
| Together they distributed the con
tents of the two baskets. and calist;,
! found her tongue saving soft pleas.
antries aud hers cold face responding
warmly to grateful smiles. Z.
She saw her mothers kindly look
and her fathers approving nod in the
faces Of many Of these INDECENT, old
people, and the delight Of Bobby and
little Ann were repeated tenfold by
the orphaned poor children of the doc
tors household.
You have, been an angel in disguise
to them this Christmas day." said the
doctor as he carried Calista home ir
his sleigh that evening, for Calista hat
stayed to the dinner Of pork tenderloir
and apple sauce, with vegetables ant
many dainties contributed by the COCO
overseer from his own scanty pocket.
Scalolo = AOA uOuSc was clupGy III
longer. There was always room fo
some broken soul from the poorhous,
some one who dropped in the at
mosphere which could never be insep
arabic from the institution and VIII.
needed comfort and encouragement be
fore taking up the burden Of life ant
attaining independence in the end. q
The following Christmas Calista wa.
welcomed as an old friend by the in
mates Of the poorhouse.. .>.> r.,
At her bidding each one had hun,
his or her stocking on line stretched
before the dormitory doors. and tina
evening Calista and DR.. Reyes hat
filled them all. ss3s,i, II. ~, ~.
Caiista's blue eyes were shining witt
happiness as the doctor drove he
home under the Christmas stars. =
Eve remembered every one" sh
said contentedIy. leaning back anon,
( the soft robes. 5s5 s5s 5, HI s.ss
Every one?" he repeated doubt
. fully. s3;...55}s:.a
ssWhy: who have we forgotten p,