The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-12-24

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~A moment to put them in
order. Then like an en-
bodied cyclone she burst
into her elder sisters room, intent
upon tissue paper and seals and all the
other necessities for making beautiful
Christmas bundles.
What Calista saw there made her
freeze in her tracks, as if the high
wind CT Destiny, which had borne her
thus far, had suddenly become a dead
calm. Margaret, her beautiful, lovely
Margaret was standing with frightened
lips that twitched and quivered. In
her hand, which hastily dropped to
her side, but not before Calista had
seen, was clutched a photograph. And
the whispered words on her lips re-
peated themselves over and over in
Calista's mind, while amazement held
her, dumb. 1T grows worse, the ache
worse as the days 60 BY" Not until
Calista had interpreted the meaning
of those words did she find her voice;
then she said blandly:
II came for I'm wrapping up my
Christmas bundles" Seeing what she
wanted lying on Margaret's desk, she
went for them.
Meanwhile, a brave control touched
the quivering lips of the elder girl. She
was indeed fortunate, she thought,
that it was only Calista who had dis.
covered her momentary alteration
For that was what it was. How could
it be anything else? What girl with
any pride would allow herself to-
No, she hadn't cried! The man did
not live who could make her weep
for him.
You'll return what you don't need
Calista. dear?" she said, sweetly.
eyes" answered Calista briefly, and
went.
And then, just to prove to herself
that she had regained her sanity, Mar
garet Wesley looked again at that pic
ture in her hand-looked, and felt a
quick contraction of the throat, a sud
den piercing sting upon her eyeballs
ana uONu upOu Iuc pACIul0 uAOPPSu
tear.
Calista, on the other side of the door
was saying to herself:
'She was going to cry. Her eyes
were teary. 1t was Jasper's picture
she was trying to hide" And then
childlike, in spite Of her surprise the
gathering forces of her sympathy were
completely overwhelmed to the de-
mands of Christmas. And why not!
After all, Calista's mind was too youth
full to be deeply concerned about
lovers quarrels and broken engage
ments and such things. And she had
made such marvellous purchases.
Indeed as they lay spread out on the
bed it did seem as if only genius OF
a little girl could have reached such
decisions. There was really lovely
box of handkerchiefs, embellished
with the pinkest of pink paper, fol
mother. That gift had put tremen
dous hole in her pocketbook. And a
pair of suspenders for daddy. These
two presents we're the first purchased
and while Calista still held the leash
in her fancy. Afterward, let the sad
truth be revealed at once (but then
Calista was such little girl, how
could she be expected to prove bigger
minded and stronger than grownupsD
she succumbed to this intoxication OF
glittering, cleaning, glowing displayed
wares.
For brother Jim-that nice green
tie" Calista hummed softly to herself
Ia tune improvised for the occasion
"For sister Nell-that story book.
hope she reads it all to me. And
baby boy can have that rattle. Uncle
Fred that nice glass pitcher" She
paused and added soto voce: Il got
it in the beautiful Ten Cent store
And he's going to be married, SO he
can use it," Then the song went on
"And Auntie Madge that box OF
soap" That was from the Ten Cent
store also, but then each cake was
done up In shiny red paper, and there
were three cakes in a box. And sis
ter Kate string Of beads, Once more
the song reverted to everyday speech:
Maybe she'll lend them to me once
sii, 4 while cause gave them to her
And lister Margaret Calis.a