The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-01-02
ne was 20 a'aTT that fs47 this very

| From the standpoint Of complete
surprise the Christmas gift party was
a success all the I.a-.>ilinners came
| laden with eaiatit'> uf every tlescr1)-
ton and Soiiie brought substantial
sums of nluliry rs II contribution to
! their favorit,, munster. Even people
! from other char iit'> Ia the village
came and brought gift. fu Frank
Bradberry WAS well liked alI over.
1t was very r,paS;i,t Ia l'e 80 well
remembered. to he 50 i,rHrtiIy greeted.
to realize that he walls really beloved
! by these people And yet. as he stood
| there among the familiar faces. there
was an aching tug ut the ministers
heart. He WAS longing for sight of
Frances fair. sweet face. and yet he
| knew she would not he there Ii his;
instinct had warned him thus. con
versatiOn he had overheard only EN-
phaSiZed that knowledge.
| ''IIave the He.,"s come" Ann bib
BILE had asked Mrs. Deacon Fremont
In stage whisper.
Laws. no. Ann. don't expect they
| will. either" returned Mrs Fremont.
| "Why not? Siins always brought
something ut donation parties He
sent five bushels Of potaters to the last
| one we had
| HE wont now. Ann" said Mrs. FIRE.
mont. lowering her voice. because Ia
called there and SiIas said he wouldn't
send Il potater.''
Maybe he'll send something else.
Potatoes amt been very good this
year anyway" retorted the optimistic
| Ann.
Maybe be won't l should think
you'd remember another reason than
that" Mrs. Fremont spoke mysteri-
Ously.
"Oh. l see. Well. would be sur
prised if they did come. but should
have thought Silas would have sent
something"
Hes getting queer since Martha
died.
Getting queer?" shifted Ann Dibble.
Hes always been as queer as Dick 5
hatband" They say he's acted more
human since she died"
HE wasn't never real cruel. Ann.
He was only severe. | expect he only
thought he was doing the best by Fran
ces when
Good land" Ann Dibble jumped
nervously rs the minister's tall form
brushed past them with Il hurried apol-
ogy. WAS that him standing there
back Of u.s.
ut must have BEEN" acknowledged
the chagrined Mrs. Fremont. Some
how | got the notion it was foolish
Peter Wood"
Il hope he won't take no offense at
what we said" worried Ann Dibble.
"Twan't anything bad" she added
hopefully. Folks have got to talk
about Silas Hegg once in awhile"
! land Frances, too" reminded AIRS.
Fremont in self extenuation of her
mention Of the girls maine.
Contrary to everybody's expectations,
Sias Hegg did appear at the Christ
mas party. He came all alone. and
he did not so at once to the minister
and offer his greetings. Instead be lin
|
and there in subdued sort of way.
quite different from his former aggres-
sive attitude. The young minister 81 W
him in the distance. and his heart con,
tracted with pain He wondered if
Frances had come. too. and he found
/ himself peering over the heads of the
people for u glimpse of the girls FAIR
face.
1t was not to be seen.
Then jealousy smOte him. He won
dered if Frances Hegg had grown tired
of waiting for him. He wondered if
somebody else had succeeded him liz
her affections and then he scored him.
self severely for doubling her at all.
At last Silas Hegg met him face to
face and could no longer avoid speak
ing to him Frank Bradberry's face
was grave and pale as he shook hands
with the big farmer. and he felt a
pang of sympathy at the mans great
grief over the loss of his wife. Martha
somehow since Martha died I've
learned lots of things, Mr.. Bradberry,'
said Silas meekly Il used to think
that money was everything. but I've
! found it amt. I've found I'm pretty
unhappy man without my wife. even
j if I've. got comfortable balance in
the bank
The minister did not find it difficult
to speak words of comfort to FKinces
stricken father. When they parted Il
new understanding had sprung up be-
tween them.
II amt brought gift with me. Mr.
Bradberry.'' said Silas as he turned
away to permit some Of the company
to take their farewells of the minister.
for the hour was late. but I'm going
to stay awhile. anG maybe you'll walk
over to my house and get it."
Certainly" said the clergyman,
thinking of basket of choice apples
or grapes. of which fruits Silas had
been very liberal before the courtship
of Frances really began.
There were many backward glances
and covert whispers after the prayer
was over and the company went home.
"Silas Hegg's the last one therer'
II wonder what's up?"
That was the burden of the remarks.
The minister and Silas walked 81
lonflr ocrOCC tho Ga1Ie, tho