The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-12-14

ne ndu DetI On MS way
TO San Francisco to spend Christmas
with his favorite married sister; and
midway, in the most barren desert OF
the country, bridge had been swept .
away by winter gales. His destina-
ton could not possibly be reached in
til Christmas was well over.
Wallingford cast a glance out over
the wide stretch of rolling plains with |
only a few scattered shacks to break ,
their endless waste; and then he /
looked back to his bullying suit case. .
The latest and most wonderful toys 7
he could find in the city shops were
crowded into that bag, for his sisters
only boy. Then, not caring whether
or not a highwayman might be looking
In at the window Of the parlor car,
he took a small box from his waist
coat pocket and looked sorrowfully
at a ring from which three exquisite
diamonds flashed back at him.
Wallingford leaned back in his
chair and in imagination pictured his
sisters Joy when slipping that ring
on her finger. He could hear her
scold him for his extravaganza and
chaff him for having no one else for
whom to buy such baubles. He sighed
and returned 1t to his pocket much
as he might have cast 1t to the depths
of the sea; It would do him as much
good there as It would In his pocket
under the present circumstances.
Cd
Christmas dinner over lunch coun-
ter when his eye caught the name OF
Yankville. Yankville probably boast
ed a near-thousand inhabitant, yet
Yankville also suggested the name OF
Everly-Jack EVERY. When Walling-
ford had last heard Of Jack EVERY
the latter was located in Yankville.
That was some eighteen months be-
fore, but there was no reason why he
should not be there still.
It seemed that everyone in Yank-
vile knew the EVERY homestead. 1t
was the only one of any proportions
In the village.
The red glow from an open fire
within cheered Wallingford's numbed
faculties as he rang the bell at the
Everly door.
On the face of her who opened the
door. surprise was the principal ex-
preston. For, Wallingford, his six
feet-two encased in a great fur coat
all dangling with glistening snow
beads and his handsome glowing face
looking frankly into her own, was
surprise for any eyes.
She did not wait for him to explain
his errand but with the matrons priv
ilege of hospitality invited him into
the warmth of the house.
ct was too cold to stand outside
she explained and waited for his
question.
, 81 am Bob Wallingford," he began
meeting the easy cordial expression
|. of her blue eyes. Il am one Of the
belated passengers Of the bridge tie
up and decided to run over and see II
|, Jack Everly would take pity on an
old friend and"
Jack EVERY left Yankville," q
smile played about her lips at men
ton of the illustrious village, "somt
: six or seven months ago"
r Embarrassment, disappointment ant
e surprise mingled equally in Walling
!. ford's face and did not escape the
eyes Of Sylvia Vale. She spoke will
ready tact.
Take off that great coat, anyway
= and come into the fireside. It's N
night to be out"
Il Wallingford followed the slim gray
clad figure in a decidedly chaotic
y state of mind. Mingled with his en-
G barrassment at having walked int
n an absolute strangers house, was tn
O. sudden attraction he felt for this cir
with the sun-lit hair. Something-th
combination perhaps-was making hir
feel like a tongue-tied schoolboy.
u was a most unusual state Of mind 70
E. Bob Wallingford.
X There was a patter Of little fee
and tiny boy Of three years thre'
ic himself into Wallingford's arms.
lie "Oh-h! Are you Santa CLAUSE" b
Or cried gleefully. 81 heard your sleig
,r bells and saw your big fuzzy coat
>. Mamma, isn't he Santa CLAUSE"
The child's mother would hay
~ spoken but Wallingford's eyes plea
ed for silence.
III "You young rascal! You caugl
J. old Sanity this time, didn't you? Ar
in he came especially to find out VIII
st you wanted him to bring down Il
ch chimney"
IT. "Wallingford! How in the name
lis all that's possible did you get here
Dick Elkins, an old chum OF Ne
- York DAYS, stood In the doorway al
held out a glad hand of welcome.
A weight of relief fell from Wallin
III ford's shoulders. He was no longer
'n- stranger in a strange house. And d
ND he imagine 1t, or did glad light col
m also into the eyes of the vomanf
m How about YOURSELF" he ask
when they had shaken hands.
This is my own house and my o.
. sister," laughed Elkins. But whe
in the world did you and Mrs. VI
strike up an acquaintance? He CT
an interrogative glance at his sise
M col