The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-12-24

TOR the third time the girl move
her spinning wheel. III I ar
too far from tho fire / freez,
and II / am too near the fire
cook" she Iaughingly complained. set
ting her wheel awhlrl again. 1T Is
bittor night" her old uncle agreed fror
his corner OF the settle on the othc
side OF the cobbled chimney-place o
rough stones and mortar. where tn
great logs were blazing merrily.
Young Westcott. on the settle bcsid
him, said nothing at all. but his eye
followed her every movement with ;
sort OF reluctant fascination. The.
had been following her ever since hcl
arrival In tho Massachusetts colony
six months before. He had never seer
such girl nor dreamed of such bright
bewtlderment or beauty. I.
Something in the silence. perhaps
something in Westcotts eyes. which
rested on her, seemed TO dlsconccrt the
girl. for she cast about for a sub
ject of remark.
Dropping her distafr, she bent to
rouse the children Wake up. little
folkl must take you up to bed. Miles,
dear. wake up The apples you set
TO roast are all cinders. Elizabeth.
wake up,'
Tho little girl sat up with start. her
round. sleepy eyes opening In bewilder-
ment.
Tho old man reused as at Il shot
and his deep eyes under their shaggy
prowS bent peeringly upon them.
Christmas" he repeated, with angry
emphasis. Where have you heard OF
Christmas7'
'Zellah said" stammered the little
girl, that in merry England"
Merry England came grimly from
)he old mans throat
'She said they did no work Tint
FAY. but had great dinner. and some
Eet UP tree from the forest with
candles on tt
Yea" said the old man. there were
not enough abominations In England
with their masking and mumming, but
they must needs bring in this German
6ummery. And what did she tell you
MAS the meaning OF III
The small brother rescued her with a
remembered phrase.
They are SO glad that the Lord is
born" he repeated in his grave little
slng-song
And that is the way for righteous
people to show Il holy thanksgiving 2
BY sticking up Il tree like poplsh idol
In the house and rigging IL with
heather candles? We keep no Christ
mas here. The laws provide punish
ment for anyone who keeps that day |
with a feast or even ceases from his |
1Suul ihpul- i uN lnlS lollS from your |
mindS-lct me hear no more OF It, |
md do YOU" turning 10 his niece, keep
your tongue from running ON such |
matters, charge YOU for your souls |
AXE"
Nay. Mr.. Cotton" young Westcott |
demonstrated. touched by her flushed |
lace. she did but tell them OF the |
custom, not commend 1t To them"
She took tho little ones up TO bed and |
when the Girl presently returned she
ound her uncle asleep.
Reluctantly Westcott rose to go.
1t Is late" he murmured
She nodded. with unconscious rueful-
ness.
Westcott took a quick step nearer
her. his fur cap gripped tensely In both
bands. There was something that he
had come over half-minded TO say that
svcning. something the sight OF this
girl always tempted him to say
He dlstrusted her beauty and his de-
sire for IT.
Undeniably there had been tender an
ticipation In the girls face. II went
out now before a flush of hot shame.
and her eyes were twin fires OF pride. I
You are so thoughtful" she said, 1
with seornful little smile. whose
mockery he felt. but scarcely under I
stood. ,
I VIII come Tomorrow" he prom
sed. lingering !
ITO wish me Merry Christmas or see .
4 l am wickedly abstalnlng from )
work. she impishly persisted
could not think any such III doing Y
II you" he answered graycly. s
Ill doing?" she hotly fiared back 9
Do you. in truth, see any i'll doing In
Observing the day?" I