Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-01-23
The Christmas
House
The Story Of How II
Received It's Name
By CLARlsSA MAcKIR


Thurstons. Marks long illness, the
consequent loss Of his position and bis
inability to ecu work Of any sort
finally resulted In the sale of their
household effects and in giving up the
few ROOM they called home.
The day before Christmas actual
want stared them In the face. Mark
had placed the trunks that contained
their few effects In a storage ware
house. and now, hampered only by a
couple OF travelling bags, they faced
each other In the waiting room of the
railroad station. II was warn In
there. and they had no place to call
home. Little f~our-year-old Teddy sat
down on the leather suit case and
swung his fat legs with careless In
0fference to the fact that his unhappy
young parents had sold his crib and
that It was very uncertain where he
would lay his sunny head that night
that night Of all nights, when little
children hasten to bed 30 that they
may awake betimes to discover the
gifts Of Santa Claus.
Editha turned her pale little face to
the worn and haggard countenance Of
her husband.
mark. what shall we do1" she whls-
pered tensely.
Marks lips frightened. i've got ex-
actly S3.45." be said grimly. zone
dollar Of that I will spend on railroad
tickets to take us out OF this merciless
city. The rest we will need when we
get there"
"Get where. Mark"
Get to Rosedale. You remember
that my Uncle Phineas lives there"
"But. Mark. deari Your Uncle
Phineas treated you cruelty when you
were a boy. You said you would
W. appeal to him
Dear said Mark gravely, there
are situations before which pride and
resentment melt like snow under a
~scorchlng SUM-"
Once in the train the Thurstons look
ed drearily ont Of the windows at the
bare brown earth overhung by lower
ing gray clouds from which the snow
was drifting in scattering fakes. 1t
was growing colder. and the passen-
gers in the coach talked about the de-
lights OF a cold and snowy Christmas.
while the children Chartered about the
gifts they expected from Santa CLAUS
OF the meeting with cousins or grand
parents. Every n vas anticipating a
joyous Yuletide.
"Rosedalel" shouted the brakeman.
The Thurstons left the train and
watched the long string Of cars as it
wound out Of sight around a distant
bend. Then they turned their faces to
the bleak little station, the empty plat
form and the pine clad hills that sur
rounded the little village.
1.-THE place is not Ear from here" said
Mark as he picked mp the bags. Can
you walk a little way, Teddy. boyT"
Course l cam" assured Teddy i'm
portantly as he gripped his mothers
hand.
The three stepped along the road.
nov covered with u 6lmy veil Of white,
Woods stretched on either side of
them until suddenly they came upon a
great open space where there was set
a long. low. old fashioned house. The
gates were closed. the wooden shut
tiers covered the windows, and an air
of desolation pervaded the place.
"Wait here" said Mark to his wife,
and he went through the gateway and
around the house to the back door.
After awhile he came back.
THE house is empty" he said slowly.
"a card or the back door says that my
uncle is spending the winter in the
city with his daughter. Come. let us
move on"
They dragged their way YEARLY
through the snow until they came to
another house. This was a large,
square. comfortable looking habltation
and the red rays Of the declining sun
turned the windOwpanes into glowing
danes that gave the place an air OF
fictitious warmth and welcome.
"What a pleasant house" said Edltha
ln%voluntarily.
YES" murmured Mark i~ndifferently,
ITS the old Patton place"
Editha fingered by the gate. She
glanced at the four great chimneys
and saw that there was no smoke com.
ing from them. The shades in some OF
the rooms were drawn closely, and the
house appeared to be untenanted.
"Walt a moment. Mark" she cried
suddenly. and before he could question
her intention she had sped up the path
and disappeared around the corner OF
the house.
Presently she appeared with rosy
cheaka and aiming aVea-
Come. Mark" she said, with deci'
sion; this is where we are going to
spend Christmas"
Mark stared. what do you meanT
he asked.
II mean that the people have gone
away. the house is closed. and-Oh
Mark. there Is no place for us to spend
Christmas. aud our baby is cold ant
needs rest Can't you understand
Let US stay here over Christmas. Sure
" the people who live here cannot b
80 stony hearted that they would deny