The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1911-09-29
CHAPTER VI.
oormIy Announee. ~, osndIdaey.

SoFWllJ N0V9hVNNN FlNN SsNb'aaSls
Tho hall into which Miss llaldano
stepped early the next morning had /
been transformed into a perfect bower |
OF winter beauty. There had been no |
timo to buy anything: but tho most |
available pine trees on the place. OF |
which there were several. had been |
ruthlessly sacrificed. and under CORN
iy's personal supervision the hall. a
magnificent apartment under any cir.
cumstanees. had been layishly decor
Rted with the fragrant evergreen In
honor Of Christmas,
Gormly had been busy during the
night. lie actually had not slept a
wink. So soon Az he had got the
party safely to bed. no had gone TO
the stable. and in default OF anyone
else who could do so. he had himself
ridden across tho country through tho
snow and storm. which was even then
dying out, to notify the people at the
Haldane place OF the predicament OF
the family and to arrange that maids
ana men with proper clothing should
DO brought over TO his own cottage
carly in tho morning.
Hence Miss Haldano was under no
necessity OF appearing in evening cos
tune at eight o'clock In the morning.
or OF making a guy OF herself IN Mrs.
Bullen's extraordinary attire. She had
learned. OF course. from her maid how
the news had been brought and how
she happened TO BIO there with the
change Of apparel.
Miss Haldnno had not slept worry
well; for ono reason her thoughts had
dwelt increasingly upon that strange
conversation she had had with her
host. ShO had awakened earlier than
the rest. had dressed Immediately. and
had descended TO tho hall Ia hope OF
seeing him. Her pleasure and salts.
faction sparkled IN hor eyes as she
extended her hand.
How delightfully."- Christmasllko ia
the room; how good II smols!" she
said after the FIRST words OF greeting
Il an glad indeed that II plcHses
you" answered Gormly, smiling And
n you will permit me, will repeat my
words OF last night. or early this morn
ing, and wish you again very Mer.
ry Christmas and Happy New Year
as we'll"
And | will give you back your wish
with interest,"" returned Miss HaldRne.
"as | did last night am sure that
we arc all intensely grateful TO you for
your forethought In having the maids
and clothes brought over. Felice. my
maid. has told mo that you rode eyer
yourself very early this morning 20
carry tho nows OF our plight, aud to
bring them. II must have been hard
riding"
1T took mo back to boyhood days.
Miss Haldane."
In tho wost2 asked tho girl.
well, yes" WA the somewhat rs-
luctant answer, although tho creator
part OF my boyhood was not spent In
tho west"
And this ride in the storm. was II
like the other rides and storms you
have experienced"
This was very mild affair com
pared to those. l could wish II had
been harder"
why"
This time was riding for another
woman, a different woman"
Miss Haldane rather thrilled to the
direct statement, but womanlike she
changed the subject
Did you have this Christmas ar
rangement OF pines made In the hall ?
She asked irreleyOntly.
For you-Gnd your party" inter
posed Gormly with percepuble breaA
after tho pronoun so as TO allow The
fact to permeate thoroughly. Il wish,
he added, that circumstances permit
ted me to slgnaliEo tho season by OF
fering you an adequate Christina
present.
81 have, however, something tina
may possibly interest you. which
may venture TO hope you may regar'
MS a personal tribute from me in lie'
OF such 4 gift''
And what 10 thatt" asked Mis-