Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1910-12-08

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III What would
1 y Christmas in the
III " country be with
~ out roaring
fire in the CRATE?
~ Theodore, two
years older, spoke
in take-it-f or-granted manner that
caused the other members Of the
large family to look at each other.
Wood is more easily burned than
bought" remarked still younger sis
ter. "and you know father isn't as
rich as banker this year. Now II
we're boy or II Willie were q little
bigger. we could go out in the woods
and hunt some stumps and wood for
Jour Christmas fire."
"If," repeated Patricia.
Yes: we really need big brother.
don't we. Willie?" asked Theodore Of
the small boy who was sitting on the
floor trying to make his improvised
iengine run on two laths for tracks.
The little lad paid not the slightest
attention to the remarks of his sis
tiers. He was surfeited with that sort
pf relative and they were as so many
s,ninteresting flies to his diminutive
masculine mind. He was the young
est Of the family and the only boy,
much to the regret Of the hard-work-
ling father and gentle mother.
I say, Willie," persisted his sister,
"why aren't you big enough to get US
Zone logs for the Christmas fire? We
~ Mt you to hurry up and be big
brother"
I'm as big AZ Carl jenkins. an he's
II gger'n his sister," argued Willie
|falf-heartedly. still struggling with his
lobstreperous engine.
E, That's logic for you." laughed Pa
|trtcia, patting the bland curls on the
head at her feet.
I Its logs-not logic-we're crazy
|for," added Theodore. wisely.
And might inform you. inciden-
italy that that is the lowest form Of
Ihumor-it isn't even respectable. my
dear sister" observed the sixteen,
lyear-old, with withering glance.
| Miss Theodore was properly sub
ldned for the next few moments, while
1.-THE remainder of the family discussed
ways and means Of getting the logs
lfor the Christmas fire.
But then Theodore had been more
!or less subdued for the last three
Iweeks-ever since the visits Of GER
ltain young man had ceased abruptly.
No one dared to ask the reason for
1.-THE unexpected absence and every
time the name Of Harold Van Kenton
was mentioned Theodore would flush
10 the roots of her hair and turn the
subject irrelevantly.
For almost a year Harold had been
4 u, bi-weekly guest at the Morton home
and he had always Joined in all the
isnyeties Of the young folks, albeit, Of
recent weeks, he had seemed more
anxious for the solitary companion
ship Of the Oldest daughter than Of
the whole family At-last, though an
engagement never had been an.
ii'ounced. 1t was generally conceded
Iamong the friends Of the family that
lTheodora Morton and Harold Van
lKenton were betrothed.
Then-his visits had ceased and his
Friends had noticed that his genial
lsmile was less spontaneous and that
lhe was less ready with his joking re-
marks to them all. Furthermore. he
stndiously avoided all social gather.
lings at which 1t was possible Miss
Theodore might be found. A certain
reserve in matters purely personal
Kept even his most intimate friends
from king what had happened.
/ And in the case Of Theodore 1t was
lmuch the same. She was kind and
Isweet in her family circle, but the
|joyousness of her temperament
ltsemed strangely lacking. She was
beautiful and the somewhat wistful
lsmile she now wore more than ever
leAhanced her type. She was tall and
letrongly built, but pale rather than ro.
|l,pst; her deep blue eyes were pro
|tscted by long, dark lashes and her
|hair-neither light nor dark-waved
lfoftly about her broad. white brow.
For her the approaching Christmas
|i'vlidays 60 happily looked forward to
inv the others. held little promise Of
IEladness., That Harold would not be
one Of the merry party about the
lcrackling fire made more difference
|thnn she dared to admit. even to her
linnermost conscience.
But he had been at fault. And II
|he could not come to her like man
land say 30. what could she do? She
Twas too proud to tell him to come
|anyway-thus admitting herself un.
liable to exist without him. And when
ishe was not In the wrong how could
isle apologize?
He. In his masculine way. had It
ARRANGED In his mind differently. II
ITheodora. after all there had been
lbatween them, still persisted in con.
|tinuins her correspondence with John
McShane when It was contrary to his
iw,sh-he could not countenance It. II
!r+e cared more for the correspon.
i!tence Of this man she had known all
|her life. but who was now midship.
Iran in the navy, why-ali he could
lfo, ~ man II honor. was to leave
her. free to go to him. II such were
mot the case, II she cared for him.
Ielone. and he objected, she should
|ceaso the correspondence and elimi.
hstA the boae Of contention.
cnlyea tsiAs to : third party.