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

alarmed II / hear him"
"Ali right, Mis- Fernald; just
though I'd let you know" and the
guileful one went grinning away.
THsre was O long silence In the
sleeping room. Then, out OF the dark
ness came this little colloQuy:
Emeline, YOU aren't getting to sleep.
I--know I'm not. John. Christ
mas eve keeps one awake. somehow. 1t
always did"
n Eyes i don't suppose the
children realize at all, do they?"
"Oh, no oh. no! They don't
realize-they 'never viii, till--they're
here themselves. It's all right. think
III think at least Guy win be down to-
morrow, don't your" A,fe
Il guess maybe he will" Then, after
a short silence. "Mother-you've got
me, you know. You know--you've al
ways got me, dear"
YES" She would not let him hear
the sob In her voice. She crept close,
and spoke cheerfully in his best ear.
And you've got me. Johnny Boy!"
Thank the Lord, havel"
So, counting their blessings, they fell
asleep at last. But, even in sleep, one
set OF lashes was strangely wet.
christopher Jinlcs, what drift"
| Lucky we weren't two hours later"
"Sh-h--they might hear us"
Nan, stop laughing, or I'll drop q
SNOWFALL down your neck!"
~, Here. Carol, give me your hand.
I'll plough you through. Large bodies
move slowly, OF course, but go elbows
first and you'll get there"
Gee whiz! Can't you get that door
open? III bet it's frozen fast"
A light showed inside the kitchen.
The 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, we're freezing"
"You bet we're the Fernard family
every man-Jack Of us--not, one
missing" ..r .r.., f..
"oh, Marietta-you dear old thingl"
Hurry up--this is their side Of the
house." .
| "Sh-h-h--"
the dead" 1881"
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, tall and slender Guy-and the
two daughters Of the house, Carolyn,
growing plump and rosy at 30; Nan,
slim and girIish at 24--they were all
there. Marietta heaved a sigh Of con-
| tent as she looked them over.
WELL didn't really think you'd get
here-ail of you. Thank the Lord, you
have. I spose you're tearin' hungry,
bein' past leven. If you think you
can eat quiet as cats, I'll feed you
up, but IL you're goin' to 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" LIZ. ~.
They pleaded for mercy and hot food.
They got it-everything that could be
had that would diffuse no odor. of cook
cry through the house. Smoking clam
broth, great pot of baked beans, cold
meats and iellies-they had no reason
to complsdn of their reception. They
ate hunsr1Iy with the appetites Of win
! ter travel. ~
"Say, but this is great" exulted
Ralph, the stalwart, consuming huge
wedge of mince pie with a fine disre-
gard for any consequences that might
oyertake him. This alone is worth 1t
I haven't eaten such pie in century
What a Jolly place this old kitchen Is!
Let's have a candy pull tomorrow.
haven't been home Christmas Inlet
@S Seesy seven sSys Je asevf oSe ssFe:
, there's been so excuse for me, but
what about you people that live near?'
He looked accusingly about Caro-
tlyn got up and came around to him
Don't talk about it tonight" she
whispered. we ndV6uL any VI VIC
realized how long it's been"
wen get off to bed now" Guy de-
clared, rising. II can't get over the
feeling that they may catch us down
I here. II either of them should want
some hot water or anything"
"The dining room doors bolted.
Marietta assured him. but 1t might
Il need jexplainin' If I had to bring EN-
hot water by way Of the parlor. Now
go awful careful ND them stairs. They
are pretty near over your mas head
but I don't dare have you tramp
/ through the settin' room to the front
ones. Now, remember that seventh
4 stair creaks like Ned--you've got to
step right on the outside edge OF 1t to
you boys better step right up over that
seventh stair without touchin' foot to
/ It."
! Gan right-weII step!"
/ Who's going to fix the bundles %
Carolyn paused to asked as she started
i up the stairs
"Marietta," Guy answered. 'Tve Ia
beled every one, so It'll be easy. II
they hear paper rattle, they'll think it's
the usual 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 stairl"
! They crept up, one by one, each to
Il HIS vi nGI Olu LhCAG hCCNSO ~
be no doubling up" for the houce was
large, and each room had been left pre-
ciseiy as its owner had left 1t. 1t was
rather ghostly, this stealing silently
about with candles. and. in the neces-
sity for the suppression of speech, the
animation OF the party rather suffered
| eclipse. 1t was late, and they were be-
| ginning to be sleepy, so they were
i soon in bed. But, somehow, once com
posed for slumber, more than one grew
wakeful again. r,-,
Guy, lying staring at 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. Ieav-
ing brilliant slky--discovered his door
1 to be softly opening. The glimmer OF
1 a candle filtered through the crack,
voice whispered his name.
who is it?" he answered under his
1 breath.
ITS Nan. May come in?"
t'Of course. What's upT'
Nothing. I wanted TO talk min
Ute" She came noiselessly in. wrapped
/ In a xyOoIIv scarlet kirnonO scarlet slim