El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-12-09
Christmas
(By Julio Brandao.)

OW sad CnrlS LulaS was going to
n be this year, she thought. They
Il L would all be coming, Of course.
and the children would laugh. but Ro-
mana's eyes were melancholy, for her
heart was full of sadness.
What had become of Manuel? He
had gone so Far away. and now she did
not know if he would ever come back
or even if he was sick. He had nor
written for some time, and his silence
was worrying her If she only knew
that he was happy it would be enough,
but was he happy Who knows the
slbysses of Destiny Who knows at
what turning fatal disaster is living in
wait for u.s.
She was sitting at the window look
ing across the fields were the CHM
ncys of ali the little houses BEGAN to
smoke now, and where logs Of knotty
wood were roaring in every fireplace,
as If the tongues Of fire spoke a mys-
FERROUS language Of comfort and love.
From the next room rather hoarse
voice called out
Romano, the people from TOTAL are
here Did you hear them Gomez
Yes, father, I am coming"
The majOral cOughed his usual dry
cough and hObbIed about leaning heav-
lily on his rosewood cane.
The people from TOjaIt Perhaps
they bear news from MANUEL" At
this thought, Romano felt her heart
beat faster.
When they were very small. Manuel
and Romano had spent every Christ
mas together and had played and
sung and danced together as happy as
birds
Then the two children had grown I'D
and Manuel had become an orphan
without any money. A relative had
invited him to come to Brazil and ne
had consented to go on the condition
that he was to come back later and
marry Romano, the sweet companion
Of his childhood.
Now months had passed since she
had received a letter Manners sill
ence puzzled and troubled her. Ro-
mana cried, Aunt Monica scolded the
servants even more than usual. and
the majoral, who had been pleased
walked stiffly and refused to play
Ihombre with his old friends.
The solemn grand supper began.
presided over by the maiOraL On the
great sidebOard all the massive silver
and old crystal Of the family was dis
played The children tWittered Ike
birds and as If TO emphasize the peace
and comfort Of this patriarchaI meal.
the wind was bowling outside whip
ping the icy raindrops against Lhet
windows
The rhajoraI laughed boisterously.
Romano alone was sad, she listened to
the rain and the bowling wind break
ing the branches of the trees IN the
park Where was Manuel now2
Then padre SIENNA told them how. at
ml0nlSht, which was approaching.
Christ was born in humble stable
To the stable came the herdsmen 10
adore him." said the padre then came
the three holy men. while an ass and
COW tried to warm the divine child
with their breath.
All nature continued padre SEN
ma IRON the kings loaded with gold,
70 the humblest weeds at the road
slde, adored Christ, the son OF Mary,
the purest and sweetest virgin Of Cali
lea And a star appeared in the sky
and stopped over the roof OF the stable
a miracle teaching men that piety is
ne 1aooer 4eadlnS TO happiness and
that love. the key OF Heaven, had come
to earth
Everybody listened respectfully to
good padre Senna's simple and touch
fnS words Aunt Monica cried, and
even the old majoraFs eyes grew
moist
Then the majOraI proposed a toast
70 his old friends whom he was pleased
and happy to see at his table The
glasses were raised, filled 70 the brim
with a very precious wine. which had
bottle.
Romano, with supreme effort.
suppressed her sObbing but tears
were glistening in her ewes and her;
hand trembled violently as she raised
the glass to her lips Then the ma
5C- a , WORDS were interrupted b.
three resoUnding blows on the front
door Of the house.
The dogs barked and the rain poured
down Heavy steps were heard the
door opened and figure wrapped in
a heavy cloak appeared
Have I come in timer a voice
asked.
Every body Umped Up with cries CT
surprise and JOY There were tears in
every eye Romano rushed towards
the door and threw herself into the
arms Of the new arrival
Manuel Manuel! Have you really
come at last7"
Romano