The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-12-23

! Sulleful one went grinning away.
mere was a long silence in tn,
ness came this little colloquy:
Efnellne, you aren't getting to sleep
l-know I'm not, John. Christ
mas eve keeps one awake, somehow. !
always did"
| oht,des ! don't suppose TIL,
l children realize at all, do they?"
on, no - oh, no, They dom
.eallze-they never WILL, till--they'r,
: mere themselves. It's all right. thinl
- thlnk at least Guy will be down to
+, morrow. dent your"
guess maybe he will" Then, afte,
d snort silence. "Mother-you've got
ways got me, dear"
Yes" She would not let him hear
the sob in her voice. She crept close
anu spoke cheerfully in his best ear.
And you've got me, Johnny Boy!"
Thank the Lord, / have!"
80, counting their blessings. thew fell
asleep at last. But, even in sleep one
Sc. o. lashes was strangely wet.
christopher Jinks, what a drift"
lucky we weren't two hours later"
Sh-h-they might hear u.s."
Nan, stop laughing, or III drop a
down your neck!"
Here, Carol, give me you hand
II plough you through. Large bodies
move slowly, Of course, but go elbows
llrSt and you'll get there"
see Whlz! Can't you get that door
open? I'll bet it's frozen fast,
a hight showed inside the kitchen.
Inc storm door swung open, propelled
by force from inside. A cautious voice
said low: That the Fernald family?"
a chorus of whispers came back at
MISS Marietta Cooley:
Yes, yes-let us in, were f~reezinp, ),
You bet We're the F'ernard family
every man-Jack of us-not one
missing"
oh, Marietta-you dear old thing!"
hurry up-this is their side of the
Carol, your sh-h-ishes would wake
the dead!"
Stumbling over their own feet and
bundles in the endeavor to be prefer
naturally quiet, the crew poured into
the warm kitchen. Bearded Oliver,
Oldest of the clan; stout Edison. big
ralph, tail and lender Guy-and the
two daughters of the house, CAROLYN,
roW1ng plump and rosy at 80; Nan,
slim and girlish at 24-they We're ali
lhere. Marietta heaved a sigh of con-
tent as she ooked them over.
We'll, l didn't really think you'd get
here-al of you. Thank the Lord, you
nave l spose you're tearin' hungry,
peln past 'leven. If you think you
can eat quiet as cats, I'll feed you
~ you're Soin 10 make as much
rumpus as you did comm round the
corner o. the woodShed I'll have to pack
you straight off to bed UP the back
stairs"
They pleaded for mercy and hot food.
They got it-everything that could be
a that would diffuse nc odor of cook
cry through the house. Smoking clam
broth, a great pot of baked beans, cold
meats and jellies-they had no reason
to complain of their reception. They
ate hungrily with the appetites of Win
ter travel.
Say, but this is great exulted
Ralph, the stalwart, consuming a huge
wedge of mince pie with a fine disre-
gard for consequences that might
him. This alone is worth it.
| haven't eaten such pie in a century.
What a jolly place this IL kitchen is!
haven't been home Christmas Inlet
me see-by Jove. / believe it's six
seven-yes, seven years. Look here:
there's been SC excuse for me, but
what about you people that live near?"'
He looked accusingly about. Caro-
Don't talk about it tonight" she
how long it's been.'
We'll get off to bed now" Guy de-
clared, rising. Il can't get over the
feeling that they may catch us down
M ~ F L. kNhAS III VI SAA O.
some hot water or anything
THE dining room doors bolted,"
Marietta assured him. but it might
need ex%plainin' If / had to bring 'em
hot water by way Of h parlor. Now,
go awful careful up them stairs. They
are pretty near over your mas head.
but 1 don't dare have you tramp
through the settin' room to the front
ones. Now, remember that seventh
stair creaks like Ned-you've got to
step right on the outside edge Of it to
keep 1t quiet. 1 don't know but what
seventh stair without touchin' foot to
It,"
"All right-we'I step!"
Who's going to fix the bundles ?"
Carolyn paused to asked as she started
up the stairs.
Marietta" Guy answered. I've Ia
beled every one, so it'll be easy. If
they hear paper rattle, they'll think it's
the u presents we've sent on, and
il they come out they'll see Marietta, |
SO it's all right. Quiet, now. Remem-
Der the seventh stair!"
They crept up, n by one, each to
his or her old room. There needed to |
be no doubling up" for the house was
large, and each room had been left pre-
c1sely as Its owner had left 1T. 1t was
rather ghostly, this stealing silently
about with candles. and. in the neces-
SHY AoT Lie SuppresSlOu Oh Sp6eCH, the |
Of the party rather suffered
eclipse. 1t was late, and they were be-
ginning to be sleepy, SO they were
soon in bed. But. somehow, once COM
posed for slumber, more than one grew
wakeful again.
Guy, lying staring at a patch Of win
try moonlight on the odd striped paper
OF his wall-it had stoppd showing
since they had come into the house,
and the clouds had broken away, leav-
Ing a brilliant sky--discovered his door
to 5e softly opening. The glinimer of
q candle filtered through the crack.
voice whispered his name.
Who lis it," he answered under his
breath.
It's Nan. May I come I'M"
OF course. What's up?.
Nothing. / wanted to talk a min
Ute" h am noiselessly in, wrapped
In q woolly scarlet kimono, scarlet slip
pers on her feet. her brown braids
hanging down her back. The frost
bloom lately on her cheeks had melted