Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-11-25
When
Christmas
Came Back
1t Brought With 1t Comfort to
Two Lonely Persons
BY MARTHA BURNt4AM
BY MARTHA BURNHAM
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

Inc SHOW lay leVel On Aluc piuihS'
but the distant ranges beloved white
against red and purple sunset Two
horses tracked across the unsullied
Wilderness, kicking up the snow In lit
tie sparkling fiurries.
"You didn't want to stay all night
at the Falls. EbenT asked one Of the
riders. with a side glance at the hand
some. sullen face of his companion.
"And get drunk as n lord by Christ
mas morning?" returned the other con-
temptuously. II guess I'm pretty des'
perate. Dell. but amt mean apd
small enough to do that. I've got
some self respect left"
"So've l." rejoined Dellmore quick
ly. TITS darned lonesome at the
ranch. and 1t doesn't seems II could
sit around all day tomorrer when 9TH
er folks are keeping Christmas and
just hear that chink singing around
always reminds me OF how different
things are than they used to be-"
"You mean when you were boyT
asked Eben Rowe curiously.
"Yes There was big family Of
us, and we always had a ripping old
time. They're all dead now except
me. l got used to knowing l was all
alone, but whenever Christmas comes
, around 1t seems as If had to learn
1t all over again. I'm glad when It's
the day after" Dellmore looked away
and his strong, gray eyes winked rap
idly.
Same here" said Eben gruffiy.
"Of course I've had dreams of hay
ing a home some day-getting married
and seeing children around-and I've
always had the idea OF Christmas in
mind whenever l thought about that
home. could see the tree and the
row of stockings stuffed with things
that I-er-we had bought over to the
Falls" Dellmore's bronzed cheek red
dened to deeper tint than the vivid
sunset.
Same here" repeated Eben Rowe
hoarsely.
Suddenly Dellmore threw out his
hand and laughed recklessly. But
what's the use Of talkingT' he de-
manded. sit all came to nothing"
Same here"
Dellmore turned and faced his COM
panion. do you mean that, Eben.
honest? Or are you joshing me?"
"Mean what? asked the other stead
lily.
'That you've had all those expert
euces too? or course l know about
your being a boy and losing all your
folks same as I did--that's q common
case-but about having dreams ,of-of-
a home and youngsters and Christ
mas and having 1t all come to nothing
after air.
Every word you've-said has struck
home to me-" assured Eben Rowe, his
dark eyes on his companions face.
Its queer. too-us being partners
for two years and knowing so little
about each other. Maybe-maybe yours
didn't marry some other Teller" he
suggested shamefacedly.
"She did" said Rowe briefly.
well. he couldn't have been pin
headed schoolteacher from the east"
insisted Deilmore as If he were jeal-
Gus of his own modification.
HE was" came Rowe's astonishing
reply.
| They turned startled questioning
eyes upon each other as questions and
answers few fast.
Name wasn't Graham?" demanded
Dellmore.
at was"
mot Abel Graham"
THAT'S it."
bent downward. When he spoke his
jaw was set grimly as II to control
some emotion that would have sway.
"Her name was Lucy Farr." he said
between his teeth.
For a long while after that there
was no sound save the thud of horses
hoofsan the distant Growing of cocks
from the ranch which they were APP
preaching.
"She wasn't to blame" blurted DELL
more suddenly. "She never encouraged
me-"
me neither" agreed Eben Rowe
heavily. "A girl can't help It if a cou-
pie Of cowpunchers get locoed over her.
! ain't cowpuncher now. but | was
then-it was down Larrabee way-four
years ago" he explained
Dellmore brushed huge hand across
his forehead. lit was down Larrabee
way with me. too. only It was Ave
years ago. When found out she was
engaged to him I lit out and came
here
Same with me, only 1t happened a
year later. and that's how we happened
to meet up with each other. Queer.
amt it7' Eben Rowe turned to his
partner as they rode through the gate
into the yard
The other nodded. "'Tis odd
s'pose II we'd talked like this before
we'd have known"
Between the partners the matter OF
their mutual love for the same girl was
not again referred TO- Each had spoken
ronfldentially In a rare moment engen-
dered by the sunset hour and the fact
that 1t was Christmas. eve. when hard