The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-12-16


ing from the yellow slip in her hand
'Snowhound. VIII arrive late this
evening. Don't sit up"
"Thoughtful Christopher" murmur
ed Dick Mason from the depths Of his
easy chair.
Poor old Chris-what luckw cried
Amy, while Alice murmured to her
lover, 81 am SO anxious that you
should meet Christopher, Dick"
Pray. who is Christopher? Tell me.
that |, too. may be distraught at his
nonarrival," drawled Penield survey
ing the love stricken Dick and his be
trothed with some disgust and turning
to Amy, who was viewing him with
unmistakable relish.
"ChristOpher Browning is our couS
in" she replied, with a wicked look
at her sister "The dearest fellow!
Writes, you know"
81 didn't know" murmured Penfield
apologetically.
well. Chris does write for the pa
pers, magazines or anything that will
take the stuff"
Hmm"
Amy looked at him from mirth brim-
med eyes. She was dressing a doll
for the cooks little niece. and she tied
a pink bow on the flaxen curls and
then admired the effect with audible
satisfaction.
isn't she too sweet? Now I'm go
ing down TO the village to leave this
at Mrs. Lees, and you may come, too.
Mr.. Penfeld, for the way is long and
the night is stormy"
Penfield arose with alacrity. Any
thing was better than sitting before
the CHEEKY fire and staring at the pho
tograph of the girl he loved unwisely
and trying to summon courage to ask
carelessly whom the picture represent
ed Didn't he know?
When they reached the front door
Amy ran back to the library, and he
heard the rise and fall of her shrill
girliSh voice as she expostulated with
her sister 1t was evident that she
gained her point, for when she re-
turned she was smiling and her eyes
were as bright as the snow crystals
sparkling under the radiance from the
wide open door.
They plunged into the softly falling
whiteness, and Penfield barred his head
TO the cold fresh air and endeavored to
thrust aside the burden that lay heavi-
ly upon his heart
"Such an ideal Christmas eve" said
Amy. when l was a little girl
"Oh. WHENr' interrupted Jack
mockingly.
"WHEN | was little girl" insisted
Amy serenely, ~ used to believe that
something wonderful must happen on
Christmas eve. | would watch at the
window and look for messenger tC
arrive with marvellous news or expect
that long lost uncle would appear
and shower gifts upon us. But it never
happened. Nothing wonderful ever
does happen to me-" she added, with q
sigh that was muffied in a mist of fly
ing fakes.
Thine enough for things to happeT
when you are grown up, child" JacE
said gravely, and then, arousing him
self from the unpleasant thoughts that
vampire-like, seemed to cling to him, ht
added: Come! A race to the corner"
They reached it laughing and breath
less.
Later, when they had returned ant
were sitting before the fire, each wait
ing for the other to make a bedtime
start. Jack remarked lazily:
when do you expect Mr.. Browning
TO arrive"
Amy giggled, Dick looked amused
and Alice and her mother exchanged
glances of distress.
"Oh, any time before midnight
suppose" replied Alice, with eviden
constraint I'VE will not sit up-th
arrival Of the train is too uncertain
One of us will hear the bell and com
down"
II was about to volunteer to sit u
and wait for him." said Jack. II al
in wakeful mood tonight"
Really, Mr.. Penfeld," began Mrs
I.atimer anxiOusly. when Amy inter
rupted her eagerly
"Oh. mother, let him sit up IL h
wishes to. We can get up and gree
Chris afteTward, but there is no use i
all of us sitting here like owls unit
shat train comes in. II may not arriv
for hours yet and Peters will be wal
ing at the station with the sleigh, $
Chris will be all right"
"Very well, dear. 1t doesn't seel
lutte fair to Chris" remarked Mr.
Latimer grayely, but you may settl
that betWeeu Yourselves" !"
"Perhaps I'd better 90 with Peters
said Dick. II am ashamed that | dl
not think u doing SO before"
"Oh, Peters has gone" said Mrs La
inner. II thought II best for him TO |
there in case the train should arriN
earlier than expected"
"Its not a particularly bad nigh
Mrs. Latimer," said Penfield reassu