Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-12-24

WlNOOW'
ton. the assurance that his life in
the west had cleaned the blot from his
escutcheon. She began to busy herself
about the room, pinning sprlgs of
Christmas green on the hangings do
you remember how we used TO dec,
crate together?" she asked him.
do IT' he said. Don't you LET the
servants do 1t YETI
"No,' she laughed. "It'd spoil the
fun. have to do II alone now"
"Oh. beg your pardon" he apollo
giZed, coming over to her eagerly.
"Can help your
"Well." she said, 'if you haven't for
gotten how
"Forgottenr' he exclaimed II re.
member the proper place for every Der
ry."
Get the holly. then" she ordered.
We'll have to hurry. They'll be in on
us In a few minutes
He brought the branches to her and
they went to work together. putting
twigs of 1t among the bric-a-brac and
in the vases, dropping clusters over
the tops of the pictures and twining
them in the chandeliers and electric
brackets. She saw him smile with
something of his old boyishness and
was encouraged.
They stood in the center of the room
at last and looked around at tbeir
work. 81 have one sprig left" he
said Where can I put it?'
There's not corner left" she said
searching the walls with most in.
nocent eye He could see none either
why" she exclaimed. there's the
old place over the mantel."
He looked up at the carving. ~ can't
reach 1t without ladder. even yet
She measured his height with
glance. Stand on the arm of
chair"
with my weight?' he laughed
She studied the situation. IN do 1t
II you'll steady-the chair"
He drew over a corpulent chair of
puffed upholstery. with an arm as
broad as a cushioned window seat
She hoped into the ample seat of II
with show of dainty slippers aud put
her hand on his shoulder. "You will
have to~catch me If fall" she smiled
down on him.
He reached up and took her hand
BE careful" he said and closed a
firm grasp on her fingers. which were
trembling despite herself.
She stepped up. swaying. on the
arm: he held the chair with his knee
and handed sprig of holly 10 her.
He had forgotten the four years chat
had passed.
She Strengthened up slowly. "Oh. l
can't" she said and fell back to him
again. I'm afraidi you can't hold
me-"
He came around TO the other side of
her. PUT your hand on my shout.
der" he directed. II vas the way they
had done II before. and he longed for
the old touch. When she stood up on
the arm of the chair he put his arm
about her and held her there She
reached the branch of holly into it's
place in the carving slowly and then
lowered her hand to his shoulder.
There were tears In his eyes. He
took her fingers and put them to his
lips. Thanks" he said huskily.
She slipped down to him in sud |
ueu wave VI WGdhutSS. I'll. buTu
side" she whispered, "how-how you
frightened me!'
She was such little thing In his
arms. The blood choked In his throat.
Have you forgiven me?" he asked
quickly.
Her hand stole up. trembling to fut.
Ter touch OF pity on his brown cheek.
Forgive your" she whispered. II
'orgave you the day you went away
and cried all night for you to come
back"
He gazed into eyes that were swim.
ming in tenderness. God bless you"
lie said to them-"dearest," to her
Ups.
The butler coughed In the hall. .The
nistietoe has come. Miss Frances" he
Bring 1t in" she cried. Wen have
ome on the chandelier"
"And piece over the mantel," Burn
ide suggested slyly.
She looked at him with a sideIong
mile. New York Commercial Adver-
User.