Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-12-13

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s7xa5 stood in the middle of the
asIS room. As Katherine spread
s71s'as tissue paper over the black
Bilk dress, neatly folded on the top tray
ehe heard her mother say for the fifth
time within the hour, II just can u
make up my mind to leave you alone for
the Christmas holidays"
CHOW, MOTHER proclaimed the girl
in her full sweet voice, sit is all settled
that you are going Your trunk is near
ly packed. The expressman is ordered
your ticket is bought, and l have no
doubt that regiment of your doting
relatives are already Mt the depot wait
ing to meet you. So put your heart and
soul in the trip and stop worrying about
leaving to her own resources for few
days your perfectly capable, full grown
daughter
Mrs. Wharton, gazing lovingly at her
beautiful daughter, said, "You who
have been under a nerve strain all win
ter teaching those restless youngsters,
are the one who need the trip-not L -
at is not my parents who are going
to celebrate their golden wedding,'
said Katherine, "it is yours. Just
think how you would feel if you
couldn be at the family reunion at
so great and rare an occasion. -
''If only we both could co. sighed
the little lady wistfully as she tackled
a jet ornament On her last years hat.
"That is out of the question: de-
clared Katherine, eve had to scrimp
and plan enough to get your ready,
dear. With our meager life insurance
money and my teachers modest check,
we can t do much in tho way of travel
ing, can weq'
"No, I suppose not" answered the
mother plaintively with quicker be-
tween her eyes. al woulaa t mind so
much leaving you if it weren't for the
Christmas holidays. All young folks
should be celebrating and having a jolly
time 1 fear you will be lonesome, be
cause we are uracquainted in this
strange city.
ooh, l shall manage ali right, dear, -
proclaimed Katherine cheerfully, as she
took last look in the closet to be
sure nothing was forgotten. ~ am not
the kind to sit with my hands in my
lap and NOPE and indulge in self pity.
l shall read, sew, write letters and 60
Christmas window wishing. Maybe
some Of the neighbors might call. The
people in the apartment below appear
to be nice and sociable. The little boy
is in nv room in school The time will
run away; so don 7 let me hear another
word on the subject" commanded the
girl with assumed sternness, as she bent
over the woman and playfully pinched
her pretty white cheek.
Then, after few moments hesita-
tion, the fond mother said wistfully,
"Have you quite decided about Harry
Walker, child9 This Christmas season
might have been a different one for
you"
az believe so, mother" answered the
girl as she lowered the lid of the trunk
and turned the key. 81 might love
Harry well enough to live with him,
but the man / marry want to love
80 we'll that I can MT live without
him.
"Are you sure that you know your
own mind-that you viii not regret
your decision 2" inquired Mrs. Wharton.
"No, that is the trouble. I am not
certain whether what feel for Harry
is love or friendship and l do want
to be sure. Sometimes when the school
DAYS are long and hard, when every
thing goes wrong from the minute that
Tony Hawkins comes dragging in ten
minutes after the tardy bell has rung
yuntil the time when Susy Grubbs breaks
the ink bottle the last thing in the
afternoon; when we have to worry our
Door heads over the inevitable rent
gas. clothes, ct cetera, bills. Then in
the back Of my brain, l wonder if
have ouixotic notions on the subject OF
marriage, and If / shall ever feel any
warmer affection Tor anyone than dc
for Harry
~ like him tremendously" went on
Katherine "and miss him dreadfully
since lie has decided not to come again
until send for him. But when l think
of living with him always-always-
always-maybe even until our COLDER
wedding day, It decide to marry
him.
"That question you must settle fol-
yourself, daughter. 1t is your own life
that YOU must lead and | would not un
duly want to influence you. Bat | must
say that ] consider Harry a splendid
lnan-one whom ! feel confident would
make good, kind husband for you.
think it would be well not to be tc
hasty in your final decision.
"Oh, you dear old thing laughed
Katherine bugging her mother i'm
petuously, ''you think it is the duty
of practical mother to give me worldly