The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-12-24

might dstain her at Sussex. but she
/ wished him . very merry Christmas.
wished that he might end his heart
filled with Joy at again being beneath
the old roof.tree. wished that this
Christmas might be the happ!sst 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! Ah. 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 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
listened. Yes, II was she. There was
no installing the ripping cadence OF
that sweet-throated bird Of passage.
Turning. he pressed . button and the
room was sparkling with light. Al the
top 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 impelling
power. What did she mean? Was 1t
herself she was offeringi For brief
moment he stood swaying to the
mighty impulse within him. Standing
supplied there. he remembered, a. she
bounded toward him! He must not
be could not
And then. as he was about to sweep
aside all the positiyeness Of his duty,
all the negatives and forbearances and
give free impulse to his heart. there
came q 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 ne
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 = maze Of conflicting pain
and surprise he did the duties OF .
host. and when Verona and her e.
cort had been shown to their rooms To
dress. he slipped into the den and
cast himself into the great arm chaiI
before the pulseless Goals Of the fire
place.
Lost! LOST" kept ringing in hi,
ears. and with a groan OF anguish b.
once more buried his face In hi.
hands and gave way to = man.
grief. In vain he tried to reason
with himself that II were better 90
He should not have expected or sveI
dared to think 1t might have beef
otherwise. He was too old for heI
She was sunshine. he WAS the sombe
cloud-but. oh. how he loved her! An
for the moment he had thought sh
| "
1t all, The heartache Of Il!
Suddenly. behind him he heard
rustic. the frou-frou OF = woman
gown. and over the side of his gres
chair a warm arm stole softly agains
his neck.
"oh. Par. what Is It. dear! whs
have I done! What"
Instinctiveiy In the darkness no fe
the frightened rabbit look. the appea
ing gaze. Summoning all his resery
strength. he said. with scarcely
tremor In his voice:
Nothing dear. nothing to offend.
am glad-glad-for you. II he
worthy. II"
"If-if-he-is worthy-oh. yo
,. goose, l see II alb now," In . has
she threw her arms about his nee
% Her face WAS close to his. How 30
and warm and soothing her flesh wal
p "Hs-he Is my brother. lost that d.
e In the foothills Of New Mexico. /
D. have Just found him. Thought ye
IA would be glad wanted to surprii
q you-I-I-dont you want 20,
r Christmas PRESENT." in desperation.
10 With q mighty heart throb
reached about and drew her to hill
h Tsnderly. tremblingly he clasped b
10 arns about her and a. their lips N
,e In . plighting kiss. tiny flame sprin
Id Ing ~ from the heart Of IN ash-cc
to cred sapphire. famed up from q
er crate and sent the shadows scurryin
er Phipps coming to announce dinns
Ill stood transnxed. Then. . broad 81
IS spon his face. he slipped softly aw'
i'd chortling to his Utmost self:
Pc "LAwd! Lawd! Dere sure am gwi
{ be q weddin' In this yeah hou
H. afors another Christmas eve. Yasir