Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-26

Hamilton swung up on the steps of
the sleeper. The rescue portion of
the train crew had started its twelve
mile push through the snoWdrifts
down the track to Moosehead, the
nearest telegraph station. There was
one chance in fifty that they might
meet relief gang working toward
them And it was Christmas eve.
''We won't get through, sab" said
the porter cheerfully. "Suttinly looks
most unpromising for Santa Claus to-
night"
Never can tell, Sam. You'd better
hang up your SOCK" Hamilton re-
turned. I'm sorry for the poor devils
in the day coaches and tourist cars.
How about that private layout we
tackled on at Boise City? a5
Private car, sah--Mme. Helene
Cesare."
The name struck a chord that had
been Hamilton's dominant strain for
ten years. He knaw Helene Cesare.
Back in the lean years, when she had
been slender eager-eyed girl with a
golden voice, who frankly hailed
from Omaha, he had met her at one
of his sisters musicales In the east.
Kit Murray, they called her then.
She was about seventeen, with q mass
of reddish hair, framing a tense, de-
termined face, with big. dreamy, al
most resentful eyes. She had been
resentful, too, of his proffers Of
friendship and assistance so far, as
her career was concerned. She would
win, she had told him, win by sheer
work and effort. It had not been
with her consent that his sister had
bent all her influence toward her
success. Yet she had been grateful,
too, and had never known how much
of it she owed to Hamilton's love for
her. e j.
On his way to the private car he
met the conductor.
about six hours anyway. sir, pos
sibly MORE" he answered Hamilton.
Tough on the people in the cars
ahead. There's nothing to feed them
with, and lot of kids, too"
Hamilton went on to the last car.
He met madame's secretary at the
vestibule, and gave his card. When
he entered the drawing room section,
she had risen to greet him, her fur
trimmed lounging cloak slipping back
from her shoulders, her eyes full Of
the same luminous eagerness he re-
membered well. T." =, - .5%a.5
"Ah, but this is kind Of YOU" she
said. "And I am so lonesome, and
bored. How much you look like your
self" The absurdity Of her own re-
mark dawned on her, and she laughed
richly, happily. II mean as ! remem-
Der you. Hugh. Tell me OF yourself.
Sit there. We will dine presently"
"But we must not, not yet, please
he interposed. "1 have come to you
for two reasons: first, to see you.
You know how have wanted to-
"But we were on the same little
earth, my friend"
"Half a world away. and more. You
were a planet, child, and / a star wor.
shipper. So-well, have worshiped
as a star should be worshiped."
She looked at him questioningly.
almost anxiously.
His eyes regarded her hungrily.
This was not the girl Of seventeen
whom he had loved tenderly, pro-
tectingly, this woman with the curved
Inns and well-poised head, the sure,
clear gaze, and voice that stirred old
| :
memories into life.
Yet, gazing at the white perfection
of her throat and shoulders, her Jew
eled head, the exquisite lines OF her
velvet dinner gown, he thought OF
the mass Of warped humanity on the
rest of the stalled train, hungry, bit.
ter, stunned by the prospect OF a
snowbound Christmas. .>..
II made no difference to Cesare,
her car would be as warm, as bril-
liantly lighted, her dinner as per
fectly served as IL she were In her
own Partisan apartment. And sud
IDENTIFY he resolved to throw all his
chances on. one single number. 1t
would prove to him whether any
tenderness, any womanliness, still lay
dormant under that breast. .
I'm awfully sorry, but simply
cannot stay with you, not with those
poor devils ahead stranded. There are
children, too, they say. You know
what that meant, Kit"
The old name slipped out unthink.
ingly, and she smiled
at is kind Of you to give me the
chance to share with them" she said.
1--WE will send in all that ] have. ex-
cent our own dinner tonight. Does
that content YOU" -. -
"Will you come with me- and sing
them Christmas carols?"
"Why not?" She caught the infec.
tion Of the thought gayly. Il was to
sing tonight at some city; where was was
It? NV secretary knows-for five
Thousand. What then? We will pour
the voice out to your day coach pill.
grims, Hugh. hope they will like
me-"
with her hand laid lightly on his
arm, she went ahead through the
train. and the word spread like fire.
The great singer would give her voice
as freely to them for their Christmas
eve as she gave from her larder to feed
them. -
Hamilton never forgot the picture
she made as she stood in the aisle OF
each OF the crowded coaches, head
lifted, lips smiling, singing old heart
songs and carols that left her audi
onooa IL taoro And she oniOyed II as