Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1914-03-26

Sarah and she Immediately departed.
After the deor had closed behind
Mrs. Dean, Martha leaned forward in
Caleb she said in a strained voice.
eyes, Martha"
Ibid you hear what she said?'
Eyes; you mean about ElyinT' He
came into the room and sat down be-
side her rocking chair.
"She said he had a girl. Isn't it
funny he hasn't said anything about 1t
to us?" Her voice trembled.
Caleb shook his grizzied head. May
be It seems strange to US that he hasn't
said anything. but again be might feel
bashfuI about it. Elvin's quiet, you
know"
Eyes, he is"
"a was like him, | know, when l was
counting YOU, Martha. I was skeered
to death for fear my folks would find
it out. not because they would care,
but only because it was such n kinder
sweet secret I didn't want to spite it
all by having to explain everything"
IIetItPnl die wren stumbled
through this comforting speech and
was rewarded by seeing his wife's
warm smile as their hands clasped.
~ sec" she murmured s~oftly-"I see
how it is with Elvin."
81 wish he could have come out here
miles" Caleb needed n little comfort
ing now.
81 reckon he will, pa!' cried Martha.
when the day III bet he does
come. I'm going to get all ready for
him just the same. What say"
"AH right" smiled Caleb, and with
this enjoyable prospect before them,
although both believed it to be merely
Il dcIusivc hope, they went on with
their Christmas preparations.
Christmas morning dawDed cold and
clear. Over field and farmhouse and
winding road the snowy blanket was
spread, and the tops of the pine trees
wore tufts of white Through the now
the tops Of the fence rails showed
black in the sunlight.
Looks like Il picture" murmured
Caleb as he pcercd from the window.
Il guess there's good sIeiGhing," re
spondcd Martha. Il wouldn't wonder
If Elvin came u in a Sleigh
Caleb said nothing. His heart was
heavy within him. He had missed the
companiousbip of his only son when
the boy had gone to the city 10 work.
but Elyin had been keen to come home
at every opportunity. Sundays and hol-
days invariably found him arriving on
the first train.
This would be 4 sad Christmas for
Caleb and his wife, in spite of the
wreaths of green laurel that Martha
had hung in the windows and the pan
try filed with good things to eat.
The dinner was on the table. There
was n place SET for Elvin, and Caleb
had just thrust the blade of the cary
Ing knife into the brown breast of the
turkey when there came the Jingle OF
sIeighbells. Caleb paused In his cary
ing and listened Martha grew quite
pale.
The bells came nearer. A sleigh was
entering their yard. 1t passed the win |
dow. a cutter with two persons.
Martha and Caleb reached the door
together.
HE has Gomez exclaimed Caleb ex-
citedly.
"Of course he has. | expected him.
reproved Martha. for she had faith In
prayer. and she had prayed as only =
mother can.
Standing In the doorway. they ga
their handsome o assisting a girl b d
of the sleigh. such q sweet faced.
brown eyed, honey locking girl that
Martha's heart warmed to her at once.
She felt proud of Elvin She might
have known that he would choose the
right kind OF girl.
Elyin's face was flushed and happy
as he led the girl to bis parents.
Mother and father be said slowly,
this is Miss Winters. She's q friend
OF mine, and | invited her ont to eat
Christmas dinner with rs. You see, I
couldn't stay away.
Come right in. dearie.r said Martha.
and she bent and kissed the girl. while
Caleb shook her hand warmly.
Il was just carving the turkey said
Caleb al he set another place az the
table.
I'm afraid you'll think ii strange
that I came home with yaur son said
Miss Winters as she emerged from her
furs, q demure slip OF d girl with whom
Caleb fell In love at once.
Not at all. We're real glad 10 see
your cried the delighted Martha.
IN explain everything at table"
promised Eivin, ard he did.
Miss Winters was an orphan who
boarded in the same house with Elyin
Wren and who by the came fortune
worked beside him In the same Office.
He had planned to take her 10 d hotel
for a Christmas dinner, but as the day
approached he grew TO thinking OF the
farm and Of his lonely parents. So he
suggested to Dulcie Winters that they
ride ont to Fenwick and surprise his