Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-12-11

A - nAAE 8A0hG 0Nt FOf8 -"
Christmas paper Id rather stand up
here with my word broke this way
than with 1t kept 50 good it hurt me
Is 1t half past I yeti"
Il wish Ellen Bourne was here" Mis-
Bates observed. she sem her salad
dressing over and lent her silver and
her Christmas rose for the table. but
come she would not. wonder If she
couldn't come over now II we sent after
her last minute:"
Simeon Buck. appearing a few min
utes later at the kitchen door to set a
basket inside. was dispatched for Ellen
Bourne. the warming over and the cot
fee pot collectively. He took with him
Abel Ames. who was waiting for him
without. And 1t CHANGED that they
knocked at the Bournes' door just after
Ben Holders had driven away with the
little boy. so that the men found the
family still In the presence of the little
tree.
"Hello.' said Simeon. aghast. Christ.
massing away all by yourselves. III be
bound. like so many thieves. rec'lect
not seeing your names on the paper
mo. ! didn't sign Ellen said. II
voted against It that night at the town
meeting. but ! guess nobody heard me"
"Well." said Simeon. land SO here
you've got a Christmas of your own
going forward. neat as a kittens
foot
"Ain't you coming over to Mary Cha
yah's?r Abel broke In with a kind of
gentleness. "All of you?"
Ellen smote her hands together.
II meant to go over later" she said.
land take'- She paused. Il thought
we'd all go owe later she said. Il
forgot about it. Why. yes. | guess we
can go now. can't we? All three Of
ns?"
Abel Ames stood looking at the tree.
He had guessed that she might have
dressed it for no one who would see
Vt. He looked at Ellen and ventured
what he thought.
Ellen" he said. IF you amt going
to do anything more with that tree to
night. why not take some of the things
off and have Matthew set 1t on his
shoulder. and bring 1t over to Mary's
for the boy that's coming?'
Ellen hesitated. would they like
it?~ she asked. Would folks?"
Abel smiled. "Ill take the blame,"
he said. land you take the tree" And,
seeing Simeon hesitate. Nov let's stop
by for Mis- Moran's coffeepot." he
added. Hustle up. The local must
be in"
So presently the tree, partly Invested
of its brightness. was carried through
the streets to the other house-in more
than the magic which attends the car
rying In the open road of a tree. a stat
ne. a cart filed with flowers, for the
tree was like some forbidden thing
that still would be expressed.
HE might not come till Christmas
is way past" Ellen thought, follow
ing. She'll leave it standing a few
days. We can go down there and look
at tiff he comes"
A little way behind them. Simeon
and Abel. with the ~coffeepot and the
warming oven. were hurrying back to
Mary's. They went down the desert
ed street where Abers candle burned
and Simeon's saint stood mute.
When l was a little shaver" Abel
said. 'they used to have me stand in
the open doorway Christmas eve. and
hold a candle and say a verse for
get the verse. But I've always liked
the candle in doors or windows, like
tonight. Look at mine over there now
amt it like somebody saying some
thing?"
WELL" said Simeon, not to be out
done, when we come by my window
Just now the light hit down on it, and
| could of swore | see the saint smile"
Like enough" said Abel placidly;
like enough. You can't put Christ
mas out. l see that two weeks ago."
He looked back at his own window.
IF the little kid that come in the
store last Christmas eve tries to come
in again tonight" he said. he won't
find it all pitch dark, anyway. I'd like
to know who he was"
Near the corner that turned down to
the Rule factory they saw Ebenezer
Rule coming toward them on the Old
Trail road. They called to him.
'Hello. Ebenezerg' said Abel. "Ain't
you coming In to Mary Chavah's to-
night?"
81 think not" Ebenezer answered.
"Come ahead encouraged Simeon.
As they met Abel spoke hesitatingly.
"Ebenezer." be said. II vas just
figuring on proposing to Simeon here
that we stop in to your house. l was
thinking" he broke off, how would
it be for you and him and me. that
sort of stand for the merchandise end
of this town. to show up at Mary's
house tonight. Well, it's the women
have done all the work so far, and |
was wondering how it would be for
three to get there with some little
thing for that little kid that's coming
IN har We couId find somefhinp thai