The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-12-12

poignant
After supper kp.- ... rrufnore
lighted their pipes ag. down to
read the week OIL ar., ,..rrs they
had brought over frou r, luils. IL
there was a hint Of aap.o hing Christ
mas In the air II mig, nave ,mauated
from the holly printed calendar Eben
had hung on the bare walls or 1t might
have been waited IN from the Kitchen,
where Wah Lee was cboDplng Il mince-
meat compounded from the united rem.
i1iscences of his employers There was
plenty Of meat In 1t, aud juicy apples
and prunes, because there were no raj
Sins In the house, a whole orange and
4 spoonful of every sort OF spice In the
pantry.
a wind sprang up and sent the pur-
pie sunset clouds to mask the starry
Sky. Snowfakes huttered slowly down
In the outer world, fell faster. thicker,
raced before the wind and battered
dryly against the windows.
play cribf" asked Eben Rowe after
awhile.
Dellmore nodded and produced the
cribbage board and pack of cards
from drawer
All 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.
N'Fifteen northumberland Dell
more was counting when suddenly
there came u muGled thud against the
outer door followed by a Gathering
crash on the veranda and shrill, child
: ish cries
Without a word the two men sprang
to the door and tore II wide open. The
scene that met their astonished gaze
was strange one indeed.
Half sprawled on the low veranda
was small horse. Crowded behind
him. the front wheels fitting on the
steps, was a long top wagon. From
the gloom of the wagons interior glow
ed small lantern hung high against
the inside, and from the wagon there
came the childish cries.
Jerry drunk again" muttered Dell
more with disgust as he yanked out
the form Of a sleeping man from the
wagon seat. Jerry Mink dropped heav-
lily, on the snow Of the veranda and
slept again, quite undisturbed.
Eben went around to the back Of the
wagon. made inquiries and removed
from under the canvas flap a small
slender woman mufIled and yelled and
shivering with cold and fright, and two
little boys. The two children he car
ried inside and set down before the
stove, and with a brief direction to the
woman to draw near and warm herself
Chen returned to the veranda and help
ed Dellmore to throw q blanket under
the PROSTATE horse and presently to
get the animal upon his feet and Off on
TO the ground. One wheel Of the wag-
on was. broken beyond repair
While Eben led horse and vehicle
out to the barn and put them up for
the night Dellmore thumped the drunk
en- stage driver into peevish 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-
err and entered the house Wuh 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
fhpPn fhnnuh nornlv1aA nd L'inp
came and stood beside him
The woman had removed her wraps
and mufling black veil and disclosed
n small, dark eyed, pale face. above
which rippled 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 1t was all the more strange be
cause she bad been living in the hearts
of the owners for many years. 1t 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 stlfily in each
others presence. the two men who
loved Lucy Graham came forward and
shook hands with her 1t was a 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 He had died year ago. and
she had failed in her efforts to sup
port her two children A distant
bachelor cousin had offered them Il
home on his ranch next TO the one
owned by Dellmore & Rowe, and she
had been on her way there when
Jerry Mink had bindly driven his
horse almost into the door OF the Dell
more ranch.
It's twenty miles farther along
You cant get there until some time
tomorrow. said Eben decisively. You
can stay here just az well as not. One
OF US will ride over to the Fails and
ret some Christmas for the youngsters
In the morning"
I'll GO" said Dellmore grutfly
Lucy protested and then yielded
gracefully. She talked great deal
to Eben Rowe. but the twins climbed
on Dellmore's knees and went to
sleep in his arms. AS his cheek was
laid against the chubby hands on his