The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-12-25

x&A - tHiN~AfA@ IFA uS"u Within Wy
open library door ana read
ing froE The yellow slip IN her hand
.suowbound. win arrive late this
evening Don't sit up
Throughput Christopher" murmur
ed Dick Mason from the depths of hi,
easy chair.
Poor old Chris what luck" cried
Amy. willie Alice murmured 10 hei
lover, y am 50 anxious that you
should meci Christopher. Dick"
"PrGy WHO Is Christophsra Tell NE
thar l. TOO. may be distraught at his
noharriralr drawled penGeld survey
ing the love stricken Dick and his be
trothed with some disgust and turning
to Amy, WHO was viewing him with
unmistakahle relish.
Christopher Browning is our cous.
ill.," she replied, with wicked look
at her sister The dearest fellow,
Writes, YOU know
y didn't know" murmured penfeld
apologeticaily
Wei, Clris does write for the pa
pers, magazines or anything that win
take the stan"
"H-m-inrt
Amy looked at him from mirth brim-
med eyes. She was dressing a doll
for the coos little niece. and she tied
q pink bow on the ffdxFn curls and
then admired the effect with audible
satisfaction.
isn't she too sweet? Now I'm go
ing down to the village 10 leave this
ct Mrs. Lees. ana you may come. too,
sIr. Penfeld, for the way is long and
the night is stormy"
Penfeld arose with alacrity. Any
fling 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 reaehed the front door
Amy ran baek 10 the library, and he
heard the rise and fall Of her shrili
girlish voice as she exposulated with
her sister. Ii was evident that she
gained her point. for when she re
turned sne was smiling and her eyes
were as bright as the snow crystals
sparkling under the radiance from the
wide open Gonr
They plunged into the softly falling
wilderness. and Pentield barred his head
to the cold fresh air and endeavored tq
thrust aside the burden that lay heayi-
~ upon his heart.
"Such an ideal Christmas eve!" said
Amy when was Il little giri'-
"Oh, WaEN9' interrupted Jack
mockinGly.
WHEN was little girl" Insisted
Amy serenely, Il used TO believe that
something wonderful must happen on
Christmas eve. would watch az the
window ana lock for messenger 70
arrive with marvellous news or expect
that a long lost uncle would appear
and shower gifts upon us. But it never
happened. Nothing wonderful ever
does happen to me" she added. with o
sigh that was mufiled In a mist Of fly
ing fakes.
"Tlme enough for things to happen
when you are grown up. child Jack
sald grayely, and then. arQusing hinl
self from the unpleasant thoughts that
yamplre-like, seemed TO cling to him. he
added Come! A race to the corner"
! They reached it laughing and breath
! less.
Later. when they had returned and
were sitting before the fire. each wait
ing for the other to make a bedtime
start. Jack remarked lazlly;
when do you expect Mr., Browning
| to arriveY
Amy gigged. Dick looked amused
! and Alice and her mother exchanged
chances Of distress
"0h, any time before midnight.
suppose replied Alice, with ev.den
constraint. 1--WE will not Sit up-th,
arrival of the train is too uncertain
One of us will hear the bell ard come
! down"
81 was about to volunteer to sit VI
and wait for him" said Jack. II an
In a wakeful mood tonight
Really, Mr.. penaeld," began Mrs
| Latimer anxiously when Amy inter
rupted her eagerly:
"Oh, mother, let him sit up If Ii
wishes to- We can get UP and gree
Chris afterward, but there is no use il
all of us sitting here like owls unit
that train comes in, 1t may not arriy
for hours yet, and Peters will be wait
ing at the station with the sleigh, s
Chris viii be all right
VERY well, dear. 1t doesn't seer
quite fail"~to Chris" remarked Mrs
Latlmer grayely. but you may settl
that between yourselves
Perhaps ia better 40 with Peters,
said Dick II am ashamed that | di
not think Of doing so before"
"oh, Peters has gene said Mrs. La
inner. Il thought II best for him to
there in case The train should arriv
earlier than expected"
i "lt's not i particularly bad nigh
Mrs. Latimer," said Penfcld reassu