Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-12-16

SOME ONE WAS PLACING A 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 togethcr:" she asked him
do II" he said Don't you let the
servants do 1t yet:'
"No," she laughed. ltd spoil the
fun. have to do it alone now"
"Oh, beg yonr pardon" he apollo
giZcd, coming over to her eagerly
Can help you:'
We'll" she said. IF you haven't for
gotten how
"Forgot;rn." he exclaimed 81 re-
member the proper place for every Der
ry.''
"Gct the holly. then" she ordered.
We'll have to hurry They'll be in on
lis in few minutes"
He brought the branches to her and
twigs of it among the bric-a-brac and
in tho 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. 81 have one sprig left he
said. Where can put it?'
"rhcrcs not a corner left" she said,
searching the walls with most in
n"rcnt eye lie could see none either
Why" she exclaimed. there's the
old place over the mantel.'
lie looked UP at the carving. II can't
reach it without Il ladder. even yet"
She measured his height With q
glance stand on the arm of a
chair"
with my weight?" he laughed
She studied the situation. I'll do il
If you'll steady-the CHAIR
He drew over corpulent chair OF
puffcd upholstery, with an arm as
broad as a cushioned window seat
She hoped into the ample seat Of II
with show Of dainty slippers and pu
her hand on his shoulder. You viii
have to catch me if l fall she smiled
down on him.
He reached up and took her hand
"Be careful he said and closed :
6rp, rrroe.n M, nor r prorc yrhich &vorI
trembling despite herself
She stepped up. swaying. on thu
arm: he held the chair With his knee
and handed sprig of holly to her
He had forgotten the four years tina
had passed.
She Strengthened w slowly. "Oh.
can't she said and fell back to hin
again. I'm afraid you can't hole
me-
lie came around to the other side o
her Put your hand on my shout
DER" he directed II was the way the,
had done it before. and he lonsed 70
the ola touch. When she stood up OF
the arm Of the chair lie put his arm
about her and held hci there Sh
reached the branch of holly into it
place in the carving slowly and the
lowered her hand to his shoulder.
There We're tears in his eyes. II
took her fingers and put them to hi
lips. Thanks" he said huskily.
She slipped down to him in sud
den wave OF weakness. "Oh. Burr
side" she whispered. 'how-how yo
frightened me-"
She was such a little thing in hi
arms. The blood ctoked in his throat
Have you forgiven me?" he aske
quickly.
Her hand stole up. trembling to flut
ter touch of pity on his brown cheel
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,
Q he said to them-"dearest," to he
lips
The butler coughed in the hail. 18th
mistletoe has come, Miss Frances" h
!, announced
!, bring it in" she cried. We'll hav
some On-the chandelier"
q "And a piece over the mantel." Burr
side suggested slyly.
She looked at him with sidclon
smile.-New York Commercial ADJ a
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