The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-01-09
,ye all nv . frames and 20 centimey,

gave all my . frames and 20 centimey.
and you too"
ITO be sure. we did gladly. dear"
Tie lad fixed his eyes upon Betty's
face as he whispered gently. He was
!: stranger"
She turned her head away. She rose
and went to the window. Peter Van
Zandt saw her shadow as he passed;
saw her hand 80 up to her eyes.
"You said ] must always entertain
the strangers. They We're sometimes
angels. and even if they were not still
l must entertain them" little Peter
went Oh.
Betty came back to her grandson.
Knelt down OH the rug near him and
the cats. Yes. dear. | know
"Grandmamma. ] could make you cry
with much pleasure if you say to me
thing last Christmas. another thing
this Christmas time. about the stran-
gers, l could!!" His dark eyes fash
ed just as Betty had seen Peter Van
Zandt's eyes fash long ago. and his
lads voice was tense, fierce.
She took his little rebellious hands in
hers. Dear. by and by you will com-
prehend. there are wicked men who
do harm to little children. They are
strangers sometimes. One has to be
on their guard"
HE who calls me monsieur is not
/ wicked. grandmamma. l am sure. All
his small arms went around her
neck careSsinsly. his face hot. against
her-'please. grandmamma, do not for
bid that l speak with this stranger
this year. please. He is noble like
well-like you:."
Every well. then. you may, but prom
Use me. dear. on the word of a gentle
man. you will not 80 anywhere with
him. eh:"
The boy raised his right hand: Fol
de la Quereau. srandmamma. never"
Betty kissed him and drew him closer.
Presently he asked: Shall We have
q Christmas tree. grandmamma? Do
they have one here?"
Betty sighed. 'Yes. Pierre. they
have Christmas trees here. of course.
but we will not have one this year.
We are not happy enough yet"
"Will we be happy:"
Maybe"
els Christmas a sad time here.
grandmamma:"
Sometimes. dear. But we, you and
I and the pussy cats, we will make it
glad. Well try it. Stradivarius and
Ole Bull and Paganini shall have new
collars and saucers of ream and fish,"
whereupon the child began to gambol
with his pets. and presently they. and
he after them. had galloped up the
steep stairs to the garnet.
While Betty sat by the fire and strug-
gled with herself. Had she not fallen
upon her knees? Had she not BUNDLED
her soul? Was she not living in Pc
ter's house?
Did not the little boy bear Peters
unliked name? Had she not nailed her
antipathies to the cross Of remorse?
Were not her nerves racked each day
by the tortures of the violin she had
elected that Peters namesake should
learn to play upon? Had she not NAM
ed the very cats in remembrance of
the fiddle masters of the world? Then
Betty. laughing Betty. smiled as she
heard the child's feet scampering in
their play over head.
She was the same Betty that she had
been years and years ago, full of little.
whimsical conceits. child and woman
both in one. BY and by the p%attering
footsteps died away and the log burn
ed down on her hearth and the 10
blew and flew and beat at her panes.
The early twilight crept on. and Betty
alone there heard nothing but the tick
ing Of the tall clock out On the landing.
Would Peter yer knock at the door
Of her side of the old house?
AS she knelt that was the cry of her
bitterness. She felt the C~hristmastide
coming. people were counting up the
days to 1t already: the little lad was
wistful over it.. All. would the blessed