Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-12-30


hearts are sortened ana OH grlers are
poignant.
After supper Rowe and Dcllm0re
| lighted their pipes and sat down to
read the week old newspapers they
had brought over from the Fails II
there was hint of approaching Christ
mas in the mir 1t might have cmanated
from the holly printed calendar Eben
had hung on the bare walls or II might
have been waited In from the kitchen.
where Wah Lee was chopplng a mince
meat compounded from the united rem.
inisccnces of his employers. There was
plenty of meat In II. and juicy apples
and prunes, because there were no raj
sins In the house, whole orange and
n spoonful of every sort Of spice in the
pantry.
\ wind sprang up and sent the pur
| pie sunset clouds 10 mask the starry
sky. Snowilakes fluttered slowly down
In the outer world, fell faster, thicker.
raced before the wind and battered
dryly against the windows.
PLAY cribi" asked Eben Rowe after
awhile.
Dellmore nodded ana produced the
crlbbage board and pack OF cards
from n drawer
All was silence again except for the
chop. chop. chop Of Wah Lee in the
kitchen. and dry patter of snow against
the pane and the muttercd counting of
the two men rs they played
-Fiftecn two-four- six-and" Dell
more was counting when suddenly
there came a muilled thud against the
outer door. followed by gathering
crash on the vcrnnda and shrill. child
ish cries.
Without word the two men sprang
to the door and tore II wide open. The
scene that met their astonished gaze
was a strange one indeed
Half sprawled on the low vernnda
was n small horse. Crowded behind
him. the front wheels fitting on the
| steps, was n long top wagon. From
the gloom OF the wagons interior glow
ed n small lantern hung high against
the inside. and from the wagon there
came the childish cries.
Jerry drunk again," muttercd Dell.
more with disgust as he yankcd out
the form OF sleeping man from the
wagon seat. Jerry Mink dropped heav-
lily on the snow of the veranda and
slept again. quite undisturbed
Eben went around 10 the back of the
wagon. made inquiries and removed
from under the canvas flap n small.
slender woman. muilled and yelled and
shiverlng with cold and fright, and two
little boys. The two children he car
ried inside and set down before the
stove, and with n brief direction 10 the
woman to draw near and warm herself
Eben returned TO the veranda and help
cd Dellmorc 10 throw blanket under
the PROSTATE horse and presently to
get the animal upon his feet and OFF on
TO the ground one wheel OF the wag-
on was broken beyond repair.
While Eben led horse and vehicle
out TO the barn and put them up for
the night Dellmore thumped the drunk
en- stage driver into peevish conscious
ness and drove him into the lean-to
where there was an extra bed near
Wah Lees immaculate couch.
The partners having discharged these
duties reached the kitchen door togeth-
er and entered the house Wah Lee,
unbidden, was making a pot Of tea
and warming milk on the stove Dell
more nodded approval and strobe TO
the door Of the next room. He stood
there as though paralyzod and Eben
came and stood beside him.
The woman had removed her wraps
and mufling black veil and disclosed
small, dark eyed. pale face, above
which ripplcd soft black hair. She
was warming the chubby fingers of
the threeyear-old twins She seemed
very much at home there In this room,
and 1t was all the more strange be-
cause she had been living In the hearts
Of the owners for many years. 1t was
Lucy Farr-Lucy Graham now.
She looked up and recognized them
With little cry OF delight she sprang
up and held out her hands.
You two-my old friends" She
beamed upon them.
Silently, smiling stinly In each
Others presence. the two men who
loved Lucy Graham came forward and
shook hands with her. II was simple
story she told. but very wonderful TO
have happened to all OF them that
Christmas eve.
She had married Graham and gone
to Ohio. lie had died year ago, and
she had failed In her efforts 10 sup
port her two children. A distant
bachelor cousin had offered them n
home on his ranch next TO the one
owned by DeIlmore & Rowe, and she
had been ON her way there when
Jerry Mink had bllndly driven his
horse almost into the door OF the Dell
more ranch
ITS twenty miles farther along
You can't get there until some time
fomOrrow eot1 Ehan dacicivaiv stvott