Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-30

/ this Christmas does feel n little funny
/ To all OF us. Don't you think so. Mis-
Moran
/ Il donno." said Mary thoughtfully
but what. when folks stop chasing
after Christmas and driving il before
them, Christmas may turn around and
come to lind them
"Mebbe So" Mis- Moran said. with
bright eyes; ''mebbe so. Oh. Mary"
she added. "ain't IL nice he's coming?''
Mary looked at them. frowning n lit
tie. 1t seemed like the thing had to
happen" she said. It'll fit itself in
Before dark she took last look
about the chiId's room. The owl pa
per. the puppy wash basin. the huge
calendar with its picture OF a stag. the
shelves for whatever things OF his
own he had. all pleased her anew.
She had laid on his table her grand
fathers Bible with pictures OF Asiatic
places. Below his mirror hung his
fathers photograph. that young face.
with the unspeakable usefulness of
youth, looking somewhere outside the
picture. 1t made her think of the pas
sionate expectation in the face of the
picture that Jenny had brought.
Young folks in pictures always
look like they was setting store by
something that amt true yet" Mary
thought. 1T makes you kind of feel
you have to pitch in and make what
ever it is come true a little
1t was when Mis- Winslow came
back toward { o'clock that there was
news OF Jenny. Mary had been twice
TO her door in the course of the day
and had come away feeling in her in
quiry strangely outside the moment
and alien TO its incidence. as If she
were somehow less alive than those in
Jenny's house.
"Jenny's got little girl" Mis- Wins
low said
Mary stood staring at her. 1t seem
ed impossible. 1t was like seeing the
hands of time move. like becoming mo-
mentarily conscious of the swing and
rush of the earth. like perceiving the
sweep of the stream of stars in which
our system moves. She was startled
and abashed that the news so seized
upon her. Little that had ever hap
pened to herself seemed so poignant.
so warmed its place in sensation.
While Mis- Winslow's mind marked
time on details of time and pounds, as
is the way with us immortalS when
another joins our ranks, Mary was
receiving more consciousness There
are times when this gift is laid on
swiftly. as with hands. instead OF com |
ing when none knows. Rather than |
with the child whom she was to meet, |
her thought was with Jenny as she |
left Mis- Winslow in the doorway and |
went down the street.
Expect you back in about half an |
hour if the trains on time" Mis- |
called.
Mary nodded and turned into the |
great cathedral aisle that was Old !
Trail street. now arched and whitened.
spectral in the dark, silver with star
light.
The night before Christmas. And in
not one home was there any prepare
ton for tomorrow. Mary thought, I'M
less one or two lawless ones had brok-
Pm bounds and contrived something
from little remembrance for some
body to a suet pudding. II was strange.
she owned. No trees being trimmed.
no churches lighted for practice and
the shops closed as on any other night
Only the postoffice had light-she went
n to look in her box. After was there
1t the telegraph window. and he &C
,oSted her.
Little boys comm tonight. is hep
lie said. as one of the sponsors for that
arrival.
I'm on my way to the train now"
'fary answered. and noted the Christ
mas notice with its sOiled and dog
AIRED list still hanging on the wall. 1T
vas n good move" she insisted TO her
elf rs she went out into the empty
treet again.
You got merry Christmas without
10 odds of the paper or me either"
.ffer called after her. but she did not
nswer save with her Thank you. Mr..
Affer."
Why do they all pretend to think
IS so fine for me-" she wondered
To cheer me up. guess she thought
rimly.
Tonight they were all sharing the
Ioofness from the time. an alootness
,hich she herself had known for years.
II save Jenny. TO Jenny's house. in
efence of that dog cared paper in
lie LII lisitl IOLlt-
ot a Christmas of present trading"
ot n Christmas of things ut all. but
hristmas. Unto them child was
orn.
"Jenny's the only one I'm this town
lat's got real Christmas" thought
larry on her way TO meet her own lift
e guest.
The Simeon Buck North American
nv Goods Exchange was dark. TOO.
I'D from its cave OF window the gray
/. Nicholas looked out. bearing his
ig-and he tonight an idle. mummy
ling OF no significance. The Abel
mes General Merchandise Emporium
as closed. but invountarily Mary
opped before it. In its great plate
ass window single candle burned.
he stood for a moment looking.