The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-12-23

perhaps next year we'll try a gathering
of all the clans. But Just for this year
l--honestly--I do awfully wish you'd
give me my way. II you'd seen those
TWO last Christmas -- &
He broke off, glancfng appealingly al
Oliver himself To his surprise that
gentleman shifted his pipe to the cor
ner of his mouth and put few per-
tinent questions to his younger broth
er. Had he thought 1t all out? What
time should they arrive there? How
early on the day after Christmas
could they get away? was he positive
they could all crowd into the house
without rousing and alarming the
pair? ...
"Sure thing" Guy declared quickly.
"Marietta-well, you know I've had the
soft side OF her old heart ever since
I was born, somehow. ] talked IL all
over with her last year, and I'm solid
with her, all right. She'll work the
game. You see, fathers quite bit
deaf now"
Father deaf?"
Sure. Didn't you know it?"
Forgotten. But mother'd hear u.s."
mo, she wouldn't Don't you know
house to Marietta since she got that
/ fall" .
Mother get a fall?" .". f."
/ why, yes!" Guy stared at his
brother with some impatience. Don't
you remember she fell down the back
stairs a year ago last October, and
hurt her knee"
Certainly, Oliver" his wife inter-
posed. II wrote for you to tell her
how sorry we Were. But / supposed
she had entirely recovered"
She's a little bit lame, and always
will be-" said Guy, a touch OF re-
proach In his tone. Her knee stiffens
up in the night, and she doesn't get up
and go prowling about at the least
won't let her. So IL we make a
whisper Of noise Marietta1l tell her it's
the cat or something. Good Lord!
yes-it can be worked all right. The
only thing that worries me is the fear
that can't get you all to take hold
Of the scheme. On my word, ol"--he
turned quite away from his sisterin-
laws critical gaze and faced his
brother with something like indigna-
ton In his frank young eyes-"don't
we owe the old home anything but a
present tied up In tissue paper once a
yearT
/ Marian began to speak. She thought
! Guy was exceeding his rights in talk
Ing as IL they had been at fault. II
was not often that elderly people had
. so many children within call-loya
children who would do anything with
: in reason. But certainly q man owed
! something to his own family. And a
, Christmas! Why not carry out this
plan at some other
/ Her husband abruptly interrupted
, her. He took his pipe quite out OF hil
mouth and spoke decidedly.
Guy, believe you're right. I'll b
sorry to desert my own kids, o.
: course, but I rather think they car
) stand 1t for once. II the others fal
: into line, you may count on me-"
II Guy got away, feeling that tn,
worst Of his troubles was over. II
7 his younger sister, Nan, he hoped Il
find an ardent ally and he was no
disappointed Carolyn--Mrs. Charles
Wetrnore-also fell iE heartily will
the plan. Ralph, from somewhere II
the far west, wrote that he would ge
home or break leg. Edison thoughi
the idea rather foolish one, but was
persuaded by Jessica, his wife-whon
. Guy privately declared a trump-that
he must go by all means. And sc
they all fell into line, and there re.
NAMED for Guy only the working out
of the details. 49,.
!. Mis- Fernald"-Marietta Cooley
strove with all the decision of which
she was capable to keep her high
pitched, niddle-aged voice in order
"fore you get to bed I'm most for
getting what I was to ask you.
s'pose you'll laugh, but Guy-he wrote
me particular he wanted you and his
father to"-Marietta's rather stern
thin face took on curious expression
TO hang up your stockin,s."
Mrs. Fernald paused in the door
way of the bed room opening
from the sitting room downstairs. She
looked back at Marietta with her
gentle smile.
Guy wrote that" she asked. "Then
lit almost looks as II he might be
coming himself, doesn't 1t, Marietta ?"
| We'll, I don't knows I'd really ex-
pect him." Marietta replied, turning her
face away and busying herself about
the hearth. II guess what he meant
was more in the way of a surprise for
a Christmas present-something that1l
60 into stockin', maybe"
TITS rather odd he should have writ
ten you to ask me-" unused Mrs. Fern
aid, as she looked at the stockings.
Marietta considered rapidly. well,
I s'pose he intended for me to get 'em
on the sly without mentionin' II to you,
4 an'put in what he sent, but / sort of
guessed you might like to fall in with
his idee by hangin' 'em up yourself,
here by the chimbley, where the chill
| dren all used to do 1t. Here's the nails,
same as they always was" #s
Mrs. Fernald found the stockings,
| and touched her husband on the shout
4 der, as he sat unlacing his shoes.
\ Father. Guy wrote he wanted us to
| hang up our stockings" she said,
raising her voice a little and speaking
very distinctly. The elderly man be-
side her looked up, smiling.
"Well. WELL" he said, anything to
please the boy. 1t doesn't seem more
than year since he was little fellow
hanging up his own stocking. does It,
mother"
The stockings We're hung in silence.
They looked thin and lonely as they
dangIed beside the dying fire. Marietta
FASTENED to make them less lonely.
WELL" she said, in shamefaced way
"the silly boy said was to hang mine.
| too. Goodness knows what he'll find
to put. into it thatll fit, less it's \
| poker"
They smiled kindly at her, wished
her good night, and went back into
their own room. The little episode had
aroused no suspicion. 1t was very like
Guys affectionate boyishness.
Il presume he'll be down." said Mrs
Fernald, as she limped quitely about
the room, making ready for bed,
Don't you remember how he sur
prised us last year? I'm sorry the 9TH
L Y