The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-12-21

passed and no record of her kin could
be found. he had advanced her into
his heart-into the most sacred corner
of his great heart and watched her
grow into a beautiful maturity a full
blown rose OF womanhood with eyes
like the depths Of quiet brooks and
the face of an angel. with red lips
ruddier still and tantalizingly sweet.
And then the blow fell, The reali
zation that he loved her and that he
her protector, must preserve her
against that love. for she was but H..
and he was 80, then-and he had
promised her mother out in the New
Mexican foothills that he would care
for her and keep her from the pitfalls
as best he could
All, how lonely the place was when
he had sent her away to school. to a
distant school where he might not
have to endure the pain of seeing her
often and how she had looked into
his eyes at parting with the half
pleading. half understanding eyes Of a
Young rabbit suddenly met face to
face in some leafstrewn hollow in the
autumn woods,
He had kissed her in his old. pa
ternal way and her heart aggrieved
had sent subtle glances OF bewilder-
ment to flash and play within those
urbs whose depths he dared not
sound
And to avoid meeting her, he had
gone on a distant mission. kept him
self aloof for two years. while absence
made the heart grow fonder and the
memory OF her thrilled him as the
soft caressing fingers If some sweet
iLamorata thrills Cne tremulous
strings of her guitar. And now upoE
his return, she had written him thai
she had made plans for Christmas that
might detain her at Sussex but she
wished him very merry Christmas
wished that he might find his heart
filled with joy at again being beneath
the old roof-tree, wished that this
Chris tmas might be the happiest OF
All the Christmases he had ever ex-
perienced, and lastly assured him that
she was sending him a memento Of
the season. which she hoped he would
cherish and love for her sake.
Parrish Morton repeated the words
sadly For her sake, An, for her
sake"
II she but knew what he would do
for her sake. We're it possible. But,
no, she was not for him. The violet
and the cosmos are incongruous.
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
istened Yes. il was she. There was
40 mistaking the ripping cadence OF
hat swect-throated bird OF passage.
Turning. he pressed a button and the
room was sparkling with light At the
,op OF the stair he stood hesitating,
striving to gain control of himself. At
The foot she paused. made him 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 impolling
power What did she mean? Was it
herself she was offering? For a brief
moment he stood swaying to the
mighty impulse within him Standing
supplied 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 forbearanees 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 a Christmas surprise.
the man she loved. the
Somehow he managed to greet the
stalwart young fellow with the frank
eyes. In a maze of conflicting pain
and surprise he did the duties Of a
host and when Verona and her es-
cort had been shown 90 their rooms 90
dress. he slipped into the den and
cast himself into the great arm chair
before the pulseless Goals of the fire
elace