Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-12-26

white fakes. Uncle Petcr looked from
the front door at the film of white
OVERLAPPING streets and honsetops and
uttered mental prayer that there was
to be white Christmas
'Huccum dat wagon a-stoppin heah?"
he queried as a long cart lnden with
Christmas trees stopped before the
door.
Fifteen minutes later Uncle Peter
hobbled into the Kitchen. his eyes
showing great expanses Of white and
his mouth open in amazed excitement
Lawdy!' he breathed heavily. "Yo
kin never guess what's happened. 10
Sie."
Aunt 10 looked up from the nuts she
was cracking
Speak up. niger" she said calmly
"MaSsa Rogers done sent up Christ.
de doors and windows De tloris mans
up dere now fixin' EN-. I'm all of Il
neap. Josie; my stummick's weak"
aunt 10 pushed Il brown pitcher full
OF cider toward her excited spouse.
Take some of dat cider. Peter. and
cam yo'self If what yo' say is true
den MaSsa Roger done lose his haid
He's cr*zy. crazy as Il LOOM
Up in the drawing room the florist
and his assistant We're working rapid
ly. transforming the stiff apartment
into Il bower of greenery with ropes OF
evergreen and holly and with feStoons
about the pictures and doors and
wreaths gay with holly i'm every win.
dow. From room to- room they went
not forgetting the library and the hig
hall. When the men had gone the
servants formed an awestrirkrn group
In the dining room. which brentllcd the
atmosphere Of Christmas from cil:,nde
Hers to roomy fireplace.
pore Massa Roger. He's mad MS :,
hatter,' was the general conclusion as
they went about their tasks
=
Roger Burdick scarcely recognized
himself as he whirled in Il taxcah
from one shop to another. each time
emerging with an armful of packages
which he put in his cab to start afresll
in another direction.
Almost before he knew it the grave
student. the man who had forgotten
Christmas. had caught the spirit OF tile
Christmas crowd OF shoppers He ex.
changed laughing gances with other
men who We're as heavily laden as
himself He whistlel checrily as he
went to and fro.
Once he met Hodges. the curator OF
the museum. and that withered and
ancient gentleman WAS conveying two
eager girls and Il hey through the toy
department Of one Of the shops
My grandchildren" smiled Hodges
and Burdick. who had never given
thought whether the curator WAS mar.
ried or single Or otherwise than q
walking bundle Of useful information
smiled back and gave q hearty Christ
mas greeting
1t was while he was puzzling bis
brain over the choice Of an apron FOL
Sukey. the housemnid. that he heard a
low. rich note Of Inughter ut his elbow
He turned and saw Doris Allen
stately and more beautiful than the
promise Of her early girlhood when
be had known her. She had lived
abroad for many years with Il married
sister, and they had never met since
that fatcful Christmas day SO many
years ago.
Roger Burdick!" Doris held out Z
little gloved hand. and It was irnme
diately lost In Rogers large grasp
isn't Christmas the very best seasor
Of all? 1t brings out old friends who
appear to be buried the greater part Of
the year"
Il am Just beginning to learn thu
real blessings of Christmas" said Rog
er. suddenly feeling very young.
What are you trying to bny-aI
apron?" smiled Doris. -
Roger nodded. "l'or Sukey. my
houselnaid. Which do you like best
Doris. this fancy one with the pinI
bows or the plain ono?"
I'm sure Sukey would like the pint
bows replied Doris seriously. "l'
Uncle Peter still with you. and A"n
JoY'
Eyes. You know my fathers serv
ants remained with me. I'm dOin:
some Christmas shopping for them
There isn't any one else to make
Christmas for" He said 1t quite prac
tically while he was paying the sales
woman for his purchases.
When he turned around the frs
thing be, saw was the beautiful LEI
hand OF l. iris resting on the counter
She had removed the glove. and Of