Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-12-27

SOME ONE WAS PLACING CHRISTMAS
 WREATH IN THE WINDOW. 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 sprigs of Christmas green on the hangings Do you remember how we used to dec crate tsgether?" she. asked him.
 Do I?" he said. Don't you let the servants do it yet?'
 "No," she laughed 'Tt'd spoil the fun. I have to do it alone now"
 "Oh. beg your pardon" he apolo giZed. coming over to her eagerly. "Can I help you?"
 Well" she said. If you haven't for gotten how
 "ForgottenT 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 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 their work. 'I have one sprig left" he said. "Where can put t?"
 There's not corner left" she said searching the walls with most ip- nocent eye. He could see none either
 Why" she exclaimed. there's the old place over the mante.'' He looked up at the carving. "I cant reach it without ladder. even yet" She measured his height with a glance Stand on the arm of a chair"
 With my weight?" he laughed, She studied the situation. "I'll do 1t if you'll steady-the chair" He drew over corpulent chair of puffed upholstery. with an arm as broad as cushioned window seat. She hopped into the ample seat of 1t | with show of dainty slippers and put her hand on his shoulder. You will have to catch me if I fall" she smiled down on him.
 He reached up and took her hand. ''Be careful" he said and closed a l 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 to her He had forgotten the four years that had passed.
 She strengthened up slowly. "Oh. can't" she said and fell back to him again. "I'm afraid you can't hold me-"
 He came around to the other side o1 her. Put your hand on my shoul der" he directed. It was the way they had done 1t before. and he longed fol the old touch. When she stood up or | the arm of the chair he put his arm about her and held her there. Sht reached the branch of holly into its place in the carving slowly and thel lowered her hand to his shoulder | There were tears in his eyes. Ht took her fingers and put them to his lips. Thanks" he said huskily. She slipped down to him in a sud den wave of weakness. "Oh. Burn side." she whispered. ''how-how 70, frightened mel
 She was such little thing in hi arms. The blood choked in his throat .Have you forgiven mel? he asked quickly.
 Her hand stole up. trembling to flut ter touch of pity on his brown cheek .Forgive you?' she whispered q. forgave you the day you went ava. and cried all night for you to com back"
 He gazed into eyes that were swim ming in tenderness God bless you. he said to them-"dearest." to he lips.
 The butler coughed in the hall. ''Th mistletoe has come. Miss Frances" b announced. l Firing 1t in," she cried. well hay some on the chandelier" s
 And piece over the mantel." Burn side suggested slyly.a b i1s I She looked at him with a sidelon
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