Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-12-30
hearts are softened ana OLD grlers arr

hearts are softened ana old griers are
poignant.
After supper Rowe and Dclmore
lighted their pipes and sat down to
read the week old newspapers they
had brought over from the Fails. II
there was a hint Of approaching Christ
mas in the air 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,
whore Wah Lee was chopping "A mince.
meat compounded from the united rem
iniscences OF his employers. There was
plenty of meat In IL, aud juicy apples
and prunes, because there were no raj.
sins In the house, whole orange and
a spoonful Of every sort OF spice In the
pantry.
a wind sprang up and sent the pur.
pie sunset clouds 10 mask the starry
sky. Snownakes futtered slowly down
In the outer world, fell faster. thicker,
raced before the wind and battered
dryly against the windows.
play crib;p asked Eben Rowe after
awhile
Dellmore nodded and produced the
cribbage board and pack OF cards
from a drawer.
AL 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 muttered counting of
the two men as they played.
"FIfteen wo-four-six-and' Dell
more was counting when suddenly
there came n muilled thud against the
outer door, followed by Gathering
crash on the veranda 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 n strange one indeed
Half sprawled on the low veranda
was a 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 small lantern hung high against
came the childish cries.
"Jcrry drunk again. muttered Dell
more with disgust as he yanked out
the form OF sleeping man from the
wagon seat. Jerry Mink dropped heav-
fly on the snow of the veranda and
slept again. quite undsturbed.
Eben went around to the back Of the
wagon. made inquiries and removed
from under the canvas flap small,
slender woman, muflled and yelled and
shlvering with cold and fright. and two
little boys. The two children he car
ried inside and set down before the
stove, and with brief direction TO the
woman to draw near and warm herself
Eben returned 10 the veranda and help
ed Dellmore to throw blanket under
the PROSTATE horse and presently TO
get the animal upon his feet and of on
TO the ground. One wheel OF the wag-
on was broken beyond repair.
While Ebcn led horse and vehicle
out to the barn and put them up for
the night Delmore thumped the drunk
en- stage driver into peeyish 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 paralyzed. and Eben
came and stood beside him.
The woman had removed her wraps
and muflling black veil and disclosed
a small. dark eyed. pale face, above
which ripplcd soft black hair. She
was warming the chubby fingers OF
the three year-old twins. She seemed
very much at home there In this room.
and II was all the more strange be-
cause she had been living in the hearts
OF the owners for many years. II 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 stifliy in each
others presence. the two men who
loved Lucy Graham came forward and
shook hands with her II was n 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 a year ago, and
she had failed in her efforts TO sup
port her two children. distant
bachelor cousin had offered them a
home on his ranch next TO the one
owned by Dellmore & Rowe. and she
had been on her way there when
Jerry Mink had blindly 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