Graham guardian., 1913-12-19

said anything. hut again he might feel
bashful about 1t, Elvin's quiet. you
, know"
Yes. he Is"
~ was like him. know. when was
cOurting you. Martha. was skeered
II out not hpcaliSe they would care.
| hut only because It wns such kinder
sweet secret didn't want to splle 1t
MI by having to explain everything"
Reticcnt Caleb Wren stumbled
| through this comforting speech and
was rewarded by seeing his wife's
warm smile as their hands claSped.
al see" she murmurrd softly-"I see
how it Is with ,EIvin."
"a wish he could have come out here
just for the day. It's only twenty
miles" Caleb needed little comfort
| ing now.
IL reckon he will. pa" cried Martha.
when the day comes III bet he does
come I'm going to get nll ready for
him Just the same. What say?" =
"All right" smiled Caleb. and with
this enjoyable prospect before them.
although both believed it to be merely
delusive hope. they went on with
their Christmas preparations.
Christmas morning dawned cold and
| clear. Over field and farmhouse and
| winding road the snowy blanket was
spread. and the tops of the ping trees
wore tufts Of white. Through the snow
the tops Of the fence rails showed
black In the sunlight.
a Looks like Il picture" murlnurcd
Caleb us he pcercd from the window.
II guess there's good sIeighing." re-
spondPd Martha. II wouldn't wonder
II Elvin came out In Sleigh
Caleb said nothing. Ills beart was
heavy within him. He had missed the
cothpanionship of his only son when
the hoy had gone to the city to work
but Elvin had been keen to come home
at every opportunity, Sundays and hol-
idays invariably found him arriving on
the first train.
This would I've sad Christmas for
Caleb and his wife. in spite of the
wreaths of green laurel that Martha
had hung In the windows and the pan
try filled with good things to eat.
The dinner was on the table. There
was Il place set for Elvin. and Caleb
had just thrust the blade of the cary
ing knife into the brown breast of the
turkey when there came the jingle of
sleighbells. Caleb paused In his carv-
ing and listened. Martha grew quite
pale.
The bells came nearer. A sleigh was
entering their yard. 1t passed the WIN
dow. n cutter with two persons.
Martha and Caleb reached the door
together.
He has Gomez exclaimed Caleb ex-
citedly.
"Of course he has. expected him."
reproved Martha. for she had faith In
prayer. and she had prayed MS only
mother can.
Standing in the doorway. they saw
their handsome son assisting n girl ont
Of the sleigh. such n, sweet faced.
brown eyed. honey looking girl that
Martha's heart warmed to her at once
She felt proud OF Elvin. She might
have known that he would choose the
right kind Of girl.
Elvin's face was flushed and happy
as he led the girl to his parents.
Mother and father" he said slowly.
"this is Miss Winters. She's friene
Of mine. and I invited her out to eat
Christmas dinner with us. You see. |
couldn't stay away"
"Come right in. dearie." said Martha.
and she bent and kissed the girl. while
Caleb shook her hand warmly.
II was just carving the turkey" said
Caleb as he set another place at the
table.
"I'm afraid you'll think 1t strange
that I came home with your SON." said
Miss Winters as she emerged from her
furs. a demure slip of girl with whom
Caleb fell In love Mt once
"Nbt Mt all We're real glad to see
your cried the delighted Martini.
"IIl explain everything mt table"
promised Elvin. and he did.
Miss WWters was au orphan who
boarded In the same house with Elvin
Wren and who by the same fortune
worked beside him In the same office.
He had planned to take her to n hotel
for Christmas dinner. hut MS the day
approached he grew TO thinking of the
farm and Of his lonely parents So he
suggested to Dulrir Winters that ihey
ride out TO Fenwirk and surprise his
people.
It was n joyful ocrnsion for both
Martha and Caleb BEFORE them they
saw enacted the same sweet story Of
awakening love TINT both nf them had
experienced In their own y0uth Martha
had mentally planned the wedding he.
fore they reached the mince pie and
she told Caleb nfterward that she Just
knew that when Elvin and Dulrie were
married Elvin would come back to
the farm and that Elvln's wife and
children would comfort them IN their
old age.
~ don't dast contradict you. Martha"
he whispered. mot after what you ex-
pected to happen today and what has
happened. It's been a happy Christ
mas. wife"
"1 just prayed. Caleb: that's how 1t
happened" said Martha.