Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-12-21

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Tho house was very quiet, for his sister
and her husband had gone out to dinner,
an engagement which they could not put
off, even when the long-absent Jervis re-
turned to them so unexpectedly.
The children were in bed. the servants
no doubt enjoying Il little seasonable fun
on their own account. and Jervis, COM
fortably tired by his long journey, lounged
in his easy chair and thought how good
1t was to be back in England once more.
Ihe weather was as unreasonable as 1t
usually is at Christmas. Instead of II keen,
invigorating frost and snow-white land
scape, a drizzling rain beat against the
window panes and the wind moaned
drearily.
Jerv1s drew his chair we'll up to the fire.
crossed his legs, closed his eyes and fell
into a pleasant dose.
PRESENTLY, above the moaning of the
wind. another sound forced itself upon
his dull ear.
A voice, clear and sweet, in spite of the
unequal rivalry, scared above the noisy
elements.
"Waits!' he murmurcd. complaccntly.
How delightful! Quite makes one realize
that it really is Christmas eve and home. +"
The voice rose and fell, rose and fell
again in plaintive melody.
only one voice." muttered Jervis, rous-
Ing himself to listen. "But, by Jove, she
can sing. Must see what she is like
He got up. and, going into the hall,
opened the front door.
The carol was almost finished. and he
waited silently till the end. Then the sing
er approached hin and he gave her half a
crown and n CHEEKY Happy Christmas
as he tried to mike out her features i'm
the darkness.
She thanked him in a low voice, and then
hurried down the drive, while Jervis still
stood and watched the shawl-wrapped fig
ure until 1t had disappeared.
Somehow the sight of her had taken all
the lazy self-satisfaction out of his mood
ana ieft some vague, uncomfortable sug-
gestions behind it. He was not sorry
when his sister and Bob GRAVITY returned
nome, full Of questions and gossip. Then
came the important Christmas eve %srites''
OF ming the two great stockings hat as
euredly would never fit the owners of the
little white beds from which they were
suspended.
AS he played the part of Santa Claus
to his two small nieces, Jervis thought OF
the singer again.
Poor singer! She looked young and not
too strong. He wondered what sort OF a
Christmas hers would be.
Christmas day broke serene and fair.
The sun shone, and the air was fresh and
sweet after the rain of the previous night.
Jervis Chandler walked to church be-
tween his two little nieces, who kept up a
regular bombardment of questions till they
reached their destination.
1t was a quaint old country church. and
The happy memory of similar Christmas
services OF long ago ran riot within him.
Suddenly, in the middle of the first
nymn, a voice fell on his ears with u
strange note of familiarity. 1t came from
O pew on his left, which was occupied by
two ladies'. one old. the other young. Ii
was the voice of the young lady which
mad attracted his notice. and as he
strained his ears to catch its sound
through the remaining verses of the HYMN.
Jervis became convinced that it was the
same voice that had sung a Christmas
carol In his sisters garden the previous
evening.
"Who are those two ladies?" he asked
MS sister, as the congregation trooped out
into the sunshine again.
Mabel Grantly's eyes followed his own.
Oh, that is Mrs. Eroughton ana her
daughter" she replied, carelessly.
Where do they live?"
"At the other end of the village. close
to the old mill. They are very poor, and
take people in in the summer
What is the daughters Nance" per-
sisted Jervis, still watching the figures in
front of them.
But Mrs. GRAVITY was not interested IN
the B~roughtons. and her attention was en-
gagged by an acquaintance who had just
overtaken them. so it was his elder niece
who gave Jervis the information he de-
sired.
Her name is Margaret, but her mother
calls her 'Madge,'" she said, sedately.
And she made our frocks when we went
20 Gertie Harrison's party" supplemented
Lily, the younger.
II was Bo-peep, and I had a long crook
thing with ribbons on 1t, and Lily was a
fairy with WINGS"
Dear me, you must have looked flne,''
said their uncle. laughing. And does
Miss B%roughton do anything else besides
make frocks and sing?" he asked.
"Oh, yes: lots Of things She teaches
the Harrisons music, and she paints flow
ers and things: and she cooks the dinner,
too"
And her name is Madge. is it?.
"Only her mother calls her that-we may
not" replied Lily. primly.
"Madge Broughton-Madge Broughton.''
to himself as they walked home.
Nov. where the dickens have I come
across that name before?" he muttered.
The question remained unanswered. but
still ranked In his mind. when, some
days later, the following conversation took
place between his sister and himself:
Il have been thinking that perhaps I
had better stay on here the rest of my
leave, Mab.'' said Jervis.
Mable GRAVITY ook troubled.
1T Is awfully nice having you here, Jer-
VS." she began, In q rather embarrassed
tone, butt know 1t sound awfully in
hospftabse-would o mind IL we got you
. bedroom In the village? You see, when
the children's governess comes back. l
really don't know where I can put you to
sleep. for W are expecting Bob's mother.
too. for her annual yisit.'