Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-12-25

1850
separation has been all your fault"
Not at all: 1t has been yours. But
We have not met for recrimination.'
"You are right. For my part. / am
content to await Franks coming and
then have the whole affair over with
forever"
Yes. forever"
He drew Il newspaper from his peck
ct and began TO read. She took up a
book. Several minutes OF silence pass.
ed. when the maid appeared and said:
"Please. ma'am. Mrs. Albright has
just had a telephone from Mr.. Frank
to say that he can't come for half an
hour. He says that to pass the time
you may both see the children. IL you
like"
"I1l go to them Mt once said Edith.
"Mr. Frank said that they We're to
be brought in here"
There WAS no. need for further dis
cussion. for n racket was heard ON the
landing above. and four youngsters.
the oldest Il boy of eleven. the young
est a girl of four. came tumbling
downstairs with shouts and whoops,
and. rushing into the room, the boys
jumped into their mothers arms. the
girls INTO their fathers,
"Oh. mammal. We're so glad you
come back for Christmas"
"Oh. papa. We're SO glad you've
come back for Christmas!'
"And we're so glad you're not going
away any more too"
"Who told you that:" asked the IA.
ther.
Uncle Frank"
BY this time the claldren. in order
that they might caress both parents at
once had drawn them 50 near together
that father, mother. boys and girls
were mingled in a single group.
what have you got for me for
| Christmas. mammal
"What hay you got for me for
Christmas. papa?"
81 want a h~obbyhorse.."
81 want II drum!
Il want a doll with a wax head and
light. curly hair and eyes that close
when she goes to sleep"
These few requests do not express
the din that greeted the parents. They
are merely given to enable the reader
to form some idea of that din.
The father and mother gave each
other a meaning look.
Edith" said the former. this is
Franks doing. He has doubtless sur
missed that | have learned that women
who don't rare a snap of their fingers
for me are a mighty poor substitute
for this"
And you're going to stay with us
for Christmas always: Say yes. mann
ma. Say yes. papa"
There was a ring at the doorbeil.
A panied expression returned to the
faces of the husband and the wife.
Frank was coming with the papers
they were to sign. When he came in
he stood at the doorway looking into.
the 0 at the scene before him.
Father and mother were in the center.
the children crowding around them.
Frank, you rascal" said Luther,
this is your doing"
We'll If it is | never did a better
job"
1T all came true. Uncle Frank.
didn't itT'
what came true. dear?~ asked the
mother.
"Why. Uncle Frank told us that If
we could wait till Christmas he prom
Used that we should have you both
home again TO stay ever so long"
Uncle Frank is right, sweetheart
said the father. Our being away from
you so long is all Dapa's fault. and he
won't ever do so any more. He prom
ises his little boys and girls that"
This statement was received with a
clapping of hands and a shower of
kisses for papa. each child struggling
for place to impart the kiss.
Where are you going. Uncle Frank? 2
called one of the children, seeing that
Frank Elwood was making for the
door.
I'm going to spend a bachelors
Christmas all alone by myself. II |
had such a home as this you had bet
ter believe / wouldn't do anything to
pull it down oyer my head and over
the heads of a good woman and a lot
of innocent children"
Right you are. Frank. But you're
not going to spend your Christmas
alone. You're going TO spend it right
here in the home you've saved from a
permanent wreck"
The mother said nothing She dared
not trust her yoice TO speak She went
to Frank. put her arms around his
neck and kissed him. while one of the
girls took his hat AWAY from hin. ind
the Youngest boy. Selling mis- cane. "a
pered around the room using it for II
horse.
Christine entered aud announced din
ner.
Dinner" exclaimed Elwood. II
thought we We're brought here for an
other purpose than dinner Can it be
true that we are all to dine together
In our own home on Christmas eve